November 17th 2024
Tis The Season To Be Holy And Thankful For The Families Jesus Has Provided For You!
Mark 8:36 (NIV)
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Living in a country that strives to follow a democratic form of government we are taught to strive to gain wealth, and then to believe what we amass is ours, because we earned it through our own volition. Yet, if we also become a believer in Jesus Christ, we are then taught that everything we possess on this earth is given to us through blessings from God. In the selected verse Jesus warns us to not set our sights on becoming rich in worldly possessions, and in doing so we do not leave time for worshipping God!
John wrote about striving for wealth because we love the world. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. (1 John 2:15-16). Developing pride in worldly actions that are sinful is in direct opposition to what Jesus tried to teach when He walked this earth as the Son of Man. As is, spending all our time amassing earthly possessions instead of studying God’s Word to gain a worshipful attitude in your lifetime!
Jesus once said, “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Luke 16:13). Many people, even believers, have trouble determining where their focus is on this determination. In our world today, it is not very popular for people to think of themselves as servants. We are told we should help ME first, and then if you have time, be willing to help someone else! People today love to take selfies, which place them in the center of the picture!
Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." "Which ones?" the man enquired. Jesus replied, "‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’" "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Matthew 19:16-21). You see this rich man loved his money and what it offered him, more than he was willing to do what was needed to seek his eternal salvation.
Paul taught Timothy to observe that the love of money could cause someone to become evil, to gain more money or to maintain their amassed wealth. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1Timothy 6:10). Note this verse does NOT say the love of money is the root of all evil, it says, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil!” So, some evil is done for some other reason than the love of money! Envy and lust are two of the feelings that cause a lot of us to commit sins.
If you are one of those people who does not like to be referred to as a servant, then how do you feel about being referred to as a slave? For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. (1 Peter 2:15-16). So, are you okay being referred to as your style of living as, “live as God’s slaves.” Okay Peter was not referring to followers of Jesus as being slaves to other humans, but to “live as God’s slaves.”
Do remember though that when Jesus still walked this earth it was considered as a normal practice for people to own indentured people as slaves and to work for them, and for them to be considered as property of the family. In just a couple of weeks we will be entering the Thanksgiving season, and we will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day. Hopefully/prayerfully you will be able to spend some time then with your family.
Do not forget to spend some worship time with the family you are a member of at the church of your choice. At the worship service Jesus has promised to be there with that church family. Remember Jesus promised, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20). If you do not attend a church on a regular basis, you are missing a wonderful blessing of having a special family that Jesus is the head of, and the Holy Spirit is a guiding light to that earthly family!
Tis the season to be holy and thankful for the families Jesus has provided for you!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Mark 8:36 (NIV)
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Living in a country that strives to follow a democratic form of government we are taught to strive to gain wealth, and then to believe what we amass is ours, because we earned it through our own volition. Yet, if we also become a believer in Jesus Christ, we are then taught that everything we possess on this earth is given to us through blessings from God. In the selected verse Jesus warns us to not set our sights on becoming rich in worldly possessions, and in doing so we do not leave time for worshipping God!
John wrote about striving for wealth because we love the world. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. (1 John 2:15-16). Developing pride in worldly actions that are sinful is in direct opposition to what Jesus tried to teach when He walked this earth as the Son of Man. As is, spending all our time amassing earthly possessions instead of studying God’s Word to gain a worshipful attitude in your lifetime!
Jesus once said, “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Luke 16:13). Many people, even believers, have trouble determining where their focus is on this determination. In our world today, it is not very popular for people to think of themselves as servants. We are told we should help ME first, and then if you have time, be willing to help someone else! People today love to take selfies, which place them in the center of the picture!
Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." "Which ones?" the man enquired. Jesus replied, "‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’" "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Matthew 19:16-21). You see this rich man loved his money and what it offered him, more than he was willing to do what was needed to seek his eternal salvation.
Paul taught Timothy to observe that the love of money could cause someone to become evil, to gain more money or to maintain their amassed wealth. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1Timothy 6:10). Note this verse does NOT say the love of money is the root of all evil, it says, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil!” So, some evil is done for some other reason than the love of money! Envy and lust are two of the feelings that cause a lot of us to commit sins.
If you are one of those people who does not like to be referred to as a servant, then how do you feel about being referred to as a slave? For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. (1 Peter 2:15-16). So, are you okay being referred to as your style of living as, “live as God’s slaves.” Okay Peter was not referring to followers of Jesus as being slaves to other humans, but to “live as God’s slaves.”
Do remember though that when Jesus still walked this earth it was considered as a normal practice for people to own indentured people as slaves and to work for them, and for them to be considered as property of the family. In just a couple of weeks we will be entering the Thanksgiving season, and we will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day. Hopefully/prayerfully you will be able to spend some time then with your family.
Do not forget to spend some worship time with the family you are a member of at the church of your choice. At the worship service Jesus has promised to be there with that church family. Remember Jesus promised, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20). If you do not attend a church on a regular basis, you are missing a wonderful blessing of having a special family that Jesus is the head of, and the Holy Spirit is a guiding light to that earthly family!
Tis the season to be holy and thankful for the families Jesus has provided for you!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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