Wealth and Riches

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” – 1 Timothy 6:17-19

    Where is our hope, our delight, and our desires? The western world and other parts of the world in this generation has seen an abundance of prosperity. In many places such as the United States and Europe the general population lives in greater richest not only when compared to the rest of the world, but also when compared with the generations of man. Many live with great wealth – homes with several different rooms, indoor plumbing, a vast host of a variety of delicacies to feast upon, transportation that conveys us quickly to distant places and does so in comfort, the ability to learn a variety of skills and explore different occupations, scores of clothes to choose from, and more. In other places, today, and in other generations, these riches are not known. And for many of us, including me, these riches have become so common, that we have forgotten how much we have been given and these riches have become what is expected and demanded and even have  become considered a necessity, instead of a blessing.

    As God has been blessing me with these abundances, I see my own sin and how easily riches can corrupt the heart, and how easily the desire for comfort and the desire for security can affect my decisions, whether I am poor or rich. And these desires in my heart are sin creeping up to rot the blessings the Lord has given me. John wrote, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eye and pride in possessions – is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

    As I eat the food with my nice clothes at a comfortable table in a modern home that the Lord has provided, can I consider it my right to have these things, when others can only afford basic nutrition; some eat the same thing for every meal, every day; and some die of starvation? Can I consider it a right to have a fancy home with many rooms and indoor plumbing, when families of different generations have to live in one room in other parts of the world? Is it a necessity to have a closet full of clothes, when others have so little?

   For those who see these things as a necessity, the scripture gives this warning . . ."Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."

    The things we have are not a necessity or a right or a privilege, but a blessing. And we should always be thankful for what the Lord has granted us, giving Him glory. Paul states,

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Earlier Paul writes,

“7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

    What we are and what we do are founded in Christ. In Him and through Him, we have are being, we have our life. In Him alone are we rich. Christ gives us the strength to live whether in plenty or in want. And in Him we can do all things, that is of faith. What we have is not important. Whose we are is.

    What we have is not ours, these possessions are the Lord’s, we are only stewards of them. And we will one day have to give an account for are stewardship. If we lived our lives trusting in these possessions, hording them for ourselves, and finding our delight in them, not only will we find ourselves hoarding what is rightfully the Lord’s and not ours, and essentially robbing the King, we will also find that our hope has rotted away with these hoarded possessions. “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eye and  pride in possessions – is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

    Our attitude should not be how do I get a nice home, or how do I make sure I am eating well, or how do I have nice clothing. Our thoughts should be on how we can be faithful stewards of what is the Lord’s. How do I let Christ’s strength work in me, so “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Our treasure is Christ and our passions and our love and our devotion are for Him. So let us throw aside all that hinders and entangles us and run with our eyes upon Christ, desiring and longing for Him, being enamored and captivated by his beauty, and having pride in His possessing us, for in this the love of the Father is truly in us, and this does not fade away.

    Christ stated,

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21

    Our treasure is Christ and we should pursue that treasure with all our heart, mind, soul, and body.  Jesus calls to us, “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” And He is honest about the cost of following Him . . . “Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’" Our very lives are His, how much more are our possessions. And He is are King and Shepherd, we follow Him wherever He may lead us. And wherever He leads us, whether in plenty or want, He will give us the strength in all things, and He will enable us to be rich in good deeds. So with joy we cast off all that hinders us and we run with all our might and take pleasure in our freedom.

Christians who harp on Homosexuality have made a mistake: My sincere apology

Christians who harp on Homosexuality have made a mistake: My sincere apology

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

There has been a fervent outcry among those of the Christian faith against Homosexuality and the Homosexual agenda, an outcry that has set these people apart. Homosexuality is treated as a “particularly” horrid form of depravity, as if it were one of the deepest sins of the heart. And the Homosexual agenda is treated as a “particularly” corrupting influence in our society. We communicate to the homosexuals that they are more depraved than others who do not commit such a sin. This angers me and my heart hurts for those who are caught up in this sin.

The reason I have heard from people, so many times, for this reaction specifically towards homosexuality is a misunderstanding of Romans 1, where it states,

For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

These verses are quoted and said to be a descending spiral into the depravity of the human heart, and that here, homosexuality being presented as being “particularly” depraved. However, this is not the argument that Paul gives, at all.

Paul is not talking about the depravity of the heart and its descending spiral. Instead Paul is presenting the madness that comes out of a mind that suppresses the truth of who God is.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

This lack of faith and the suppression of truth is the source of the rotten power of sin that corrupts and erodes mankind and brings them into madness.

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became (futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, . . .”

In Isaiah, God speaks of this madness and foolishness.

Surely he cuts cedars for himself, and takes a cypress or an oak and raises it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow. Then it becomes something for a man to burn, so he takes one of them and warms himself; he also makes a fire to bake bread. He also makes a god and worships it; he makes it a graven image and falls down before it. Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he eats meat as he roasts a roast and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, "Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire." But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god." They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend. No one recalls, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals I roast meat and eat it Then I make the rest of it into an abomination, I fall down before a block of wood!" He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"

Paul goes on describing our insanity . . .

Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

And in this insanity and madness God gave us over to its passions. Here Paul uses homosexuality as an example of the fools we have become because there is an obvious exchanging the natural order of things for the unnatural.

However, Paul is not using this example to state that those who commit these unnatural sexual acts or more depraved than others, He is only describing how insane sin makes us become.

Right after this, Paul describes this madness with other sins. If this is a downward spiral, Paul is describing, then these sins fall below homosexuality, and must be more depraved. How many of these sins have you committed? No, Paul is describing the madness of sin and how utterly corrupt we have become.

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Now, let’s read on to the next verse,

Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. . .

Paul states that we are . . .

all under sin;
as it is written,
"THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
"THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,"
"THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS";
"WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS";
"THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN."
"THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."

Paul in his argument brings all men under this madness of sin. We have all become depraved and corrupted. And this is Paul’s point: sin, itself, from the very conception in the heart of man is utterly corrupting, bringing us all under the wrath of God.

So why do some Christians have a special indignation toward homosexuality? Do you who speak out against laws promoting homosexuality also speak out against laws promoting divorce (something that has devastated our society)? Do you who harp about homosexuality outside the church, get angry over adultery and promiscuity and divorce that is so prevalent within the church? How about the sin in your own life? . . . . Do you have contempt for the kindness and tolerance and patience of God, who saved you from such filth?

Paul in his letter to the Corinthians tells the church “not to associate with sexually immoral people –“. But he is quick to say, “not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.” His judgment is on those who are in the Church. “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler – not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside.”

The Gospel brings a compassion and conviction to sinners. Christ was known as a man who associated with “sinners and tax collectors”. He brought the Gospel into the madness of this world. He loved those who were unloved and were considered “great” sinners. He spoke the truth and called for repentance, but He did so to all men.

Should we speak out against homosexuality. "Yes", a definite "Yes". It is a horrible and devastating sin. And we do not have to fear to call sin sin. If we love, we will speak out against it, but we must speak out against it in a biblical way. We need to get off our high horse and be real with who we are without Christ and come to the homosexuals as people under the same corruption and filth and madness, people with just as much need of the Gospel as they. Some harp about “specific” sins, without looking at their own, but it is the fact that we are all sinners that keeps us from God. So we have nothing to boast against someone who has done a "specific" sin. Unless I repent, I will likewise perish, and I need the grace of God, through Christ Jesus.

To forgive - Do we believe?

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift. – Matthew 5:23,24

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. – Colossians 3:13

Why is that we don’t believe? When our hearts are hurt, we run, we hide, we push others away, but we don’t believe. God has called us to forgive. God has called us to love. God has called us to love even in the hardships and the hurts and when we are sinned against. He has called us to love when love is not returned. He has called us to love our enemies. He has called us to this, not because we are capable of loving or bearing the hurt and pain and suffering, but because He is our refuge and He knows our hurt and pain and our broken heart. And He knows what it takes to heal our hearts. It takes being near Him and making Him our refuge. When we push others away and choose not to forgive, we disobey God, who has called us to grow in love, and we run away from trusting God to be our shelter in the pain. We cannot fully heal till we have forgiven. And even in those situations where it seems impossible to forgive, there is a God full of compassion, who longs to walk along side with us, who longs to hold us and to be with us and to give us the strength to live. We can live our lives seeking to protect ourselves or we can allow God to protect us to be our shelter. So do we believe? Our we willing to trust, and to love, and to forgive?

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." – Matthew 18

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. – Luke 6

Read this : Love is worth fighting for

Scripture verses - trust when afraid

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

--Psalm 62:8

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
--1 Peter 5:6,7





The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

--Philippians 4:6,7

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

--Luke 12:32

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

--Matthew 6

fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
--Isaiah 41:10

Christianity is not exclusive

“And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.’”


“And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.’ And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”


Some have said that Christianity is exclusive. I don’t believe this. . .


Christ asked for another way. Jesus asked God, “if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me”. Christ was in agony as he prayed, so much so that He sweated blood. If there was another way, he wanted it. And if it were possible, it would have been done, for Christ's prayer would have been answered, by a Father who loved his Son. Christ went to the cross and experienced God’s wrath because it was the only way to bring about our salvation. There was no other option. Our salvation was bought at a great price. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God loved us and did what it took to save us by paying a high price, the only price, He gave His Son, so that whoever believes in Christ should not perish but have eternal life.


Yes, Christianity does say that only those who are in Christ will be saved and those outside of Christ will experience everlasting torment. But this is not exclusive. The calling is not exclusive, it is for everyone who comes. What should be said is that it is the only way and the greatest way for the salvation of mankind. and instead of being exclusive, it is God making a way for anyone and everyone who believes in Christ. His arms are open wide and He calls out, “Come”. And anyone who hears His voice and does come is accepted.

Christmas

Merry Christmas

I wrote this from thinking about the holidays and how I have to go to a family where Christ is not celebrated or is wanted. And I know many of us are in similar situations. I also wrote this just because of life in general and from my experiences with ministering to others. I hope this brings some encouragement to hold on to the vision that the Lord has laid before us:

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.” . . . In a whisper, God was on the move. . .

God came into the world . . . in the mundane and in the midst of glory. “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.” (Matthew 1:23). “And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger” (Luke 2:7). This babe, God in flesh, did not come into comfort or safety, but instead He chose not to be sheltered from the reality of this world and to became acquainted with sorrows, grief, and suffering. In His life, He did not turn His head from these things, but went to those who were broken hearted, hurting, blind, sick, and in bondage.

This gives me hope in this world where we preach the glory of the Kingdom, in the midst of a fallen and ugly world; a world that, at least for my part, most of the time does not make sense, a place where we are not protected from the reality of life. There are hard family situations, hard friendships, and hard circumstances. We witness to people whose hearts seem so hardened and darkened and held captive by sin. We walk with people through addictions. We persevere in prayer for those in bondage. We suffer with those who suffer. And we see the sickness of this world.

Our place in this world is as our Lord’s was, not in greatness or comfort, but in the poverty of laying our lives down for the gospel. As the scripture says, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8

I do not know about you, but I need a gospel like this that meets the gates of hell, that meets the world as it is and does not put any façade on it. It is a comfort to know that we have a gospel, and a Lord, that does not hide from the reality of this world but is able to touch the brokenness, hurt, bondage, and suffering. And in this we can cry out, “He is with me. He is with me.”

This does not mean that there is not beauty and joy. At Christ’s birth, glory came to earth. Let us not forget, that in the midst of the manger was a King, so beautiful. Whose heart would not be gripped with tears at the site; it stirred angels to sing? The manger makes it all the more beautiful, not less so. In its meeting the world in reality, it presents a beauty that is real and relevant. It is not so lofty that it cannot be reached, but instead comes down to reach us. It is this beauty and joy that He presents in us as we give the gospel to others. So let us not look for comfort or safety, but let us pursue beauty and love and truth and a vision and a dream bigger than our own: something that is real.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

----I was talking with a lady the other day, who as a child was hit by car, and suffered severe damage. She was physically awkward and also socially awkward. It was fun talking with her and letting her know that she was valuable. She gave me a poem she had written. From the poem, you could tell that she had been hurt by lot of rejection over the years; a lot of people passing her by because she was different. People not considering her valuable enough to take the time to get to know. As I am writing this tears are building up. That was a small part of the poem, the rest of the poem talked about her longing to be with Jesus, and how His love remains true and never fails.
----And I am sure His arms are eagerly awaiting to hold her.
----Why are we so much like the priest and the Levite, who walk on other side, avoiding and passing by those who are hurting? Christ demonstrated that love is willing to give of ourselves and touch the wounds of the outcast to be there for them in their hurt and even in the things that are not pleasant.
----Father, test my heart in this. And rip anything out that keeps me from pursuing those who are hurting and different. God, don’t let me just be casual in my effort, but to reach out in your love, to pour out my life as you did, and to touch the broken hearted