So to continue on with the debate in myself with regard to the aforementioned things, I ask "According to God’s word what is the purpose of material wealth in the life of a Christ follower?" Is it to enjoy a simple life of pleasure with friends and family? No, that can’t be with so many warnings against the follies of riches. His word says I am called to be a servant of others, "washing each others feet" so to speak. His word clearly says that the treasures of this life will not last, and that I should instead store up treasure in heaven (Matt.6:19-21). We are told in James 1:27 that true religion is taking care of widows and orphans and keeping oneself unspotted from the world. Can I keep myself unspotted and remain living the life society tells me to live? I don’t believe it’s possible, I must follow my Master’s example, and look to providing the needs of others before providing for my own selfish cravings (no matter how I may justify them). For answers to my questions I must look to His word because He is my Master and Teacher and Friend. He has prepared all the answers I’ll need to know before I need to know them. Wow, knowing God is incredible, even if I only know Him just a very infinitely little bit. Anyway His word says "Do not be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others as more important than yourselves. Care about them as much as you care about yourselves and think the same way that Christ Jesus thought: Christ was truly God. But He did not try to remain equal with God. Instead He gave up everything and became a slave, when He became like one of us. Christ was humble. He obeyed God and even died on a cross. Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored His name above all others. Philippians 2:3-9." Then this is what I am to be and how I am to live and function as a believer, and as someone reborn in a new and everlasting life in Christ and in the Church. So why does the Church have such trouble with this? Yet even Jesus in Revelations had to tell the Churches to return to Him. This is not a new issue that we struggle with, it has been going on since the church was young.
Note: to be continued
2 comments:
Good thoughts John. I find that even though we as Christians know this, we don't live it out. Our flesh is so quick to dismiss sacrifice.
I have to admit it was a big transition to go from reading your anonymous comments on my blog to reading your serious side.
Great thoughts John... oh, and you should turn "word verification" on in your Blogger settings... that way you won't get these stupid advertisments. Later Bro.
Your right Kyle, I originally wrote this a while ago as a reminder to myself, but thought that it could be a good reminder to those who read my blog. It was also a quick and easy way to start.
"Word Verification ON!!" I hope that worked
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