A Sure Challenge to Your Faith

In God’s graciousness and love for us, He gives us so many warnings and things to avoid throughout Scripture. We ought to know this isn’t to suck the fun out of life, but rather to protect us and keep our focused centered on Him. It’s also to show us there is a clear line between good and evil; what honors God and what dishonors Him.

Dear friends, are we listening?

Hear, O my people, and I will warn you–if you would but listen to me, O Israel!

“But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.” Psalm 81:8;11-12

Invasion of the world [in our homes] invites invasion of the heart [in our relationship with God]. The world will fight to steal God’s place, and it is such a fight. Especially here, among such wealth, security, comfort, and convenience. These things are a blessing until they become a curse. This isn’t just about the poverty of other people; it’s about principle, too.

It’s the world’s principles against God’s principles.

When we have wealth, we trust in it. When our security lies within our [perceived] freedom and protection, we rely on them. When food and television satisfy and comfort us, we run to them. When people or circumstances don’t put us out of our way or burden us, we allow them.

How opposite is this from what Christ has called us to?

Wealth

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor…When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Luke 18:22-23

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:19

Security/Comfort

 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. Matthew 16:25

Convenience

If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:41-42

When we chase after these things, rather than God, it will be destructive. Not *might be*, will be.

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator–who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.” Romans 1:25-26a

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. Romans 1:28

{Just read the whole book of Romans, for a clearer picture and greater understanding} 🙂

Did you catch that? The people God created, people like us, chased after the things in the world — believing lies instead of His truth!

It has been difficult to open the Bible and read the verses, actually taking them at face value, rather than trying to explain them away.

Pray for Open Eyes

Once God opens my eyes to these things, I can no longer pretend they aren’t there or I don’t know. I also cannot keep it to myself. One of the most important prayers for people who follow Christ is that He would open our eyes. Even if just a little at a time.

Can I just be blunt? I find there is no lovely, eloquent way to put this, but friends, I truly believe our wealth has blinded us. We may not all be swimming in money and I know many people are suffering from financial hardships. It is hard to see past those circumstances at times. I know. I’ve been there.

But I’ve also learned that when we do look passed them to see the next person’s more dire needs, suddenly we don’t have as little as we first believed. And maybe, just maybe, we even have enough to share.

Walls Get Built

When our goal is to live in the security and comfort of our own wealth, we build up walls so other’s cannot take what we have — even when they have nothing.

So, when I read

“No one 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.

in Matthew 6:24, I cannot deny the truth of these verses. I cannot pretend these verses were meant for someone else, anyone else, other than me.

I cannot serve God and hold tight to my money. It’s one or the other and the proof is found in my own actions.

Wealth can lead to all kinds of unpleasant consequences if we allow it to take us over.

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. 1 Timothy 6:10

It causes issues in many areas of our lives. Because of great wealth, I believe we are not nearly as dependent on God as we should be. I don’t believe we are as close to God as we could be. All the money we have buys all the distracting gadgets we remain glued to. It buys our security and our comfort.

Having my finances properly prioritized doesn’t put me in “right standing”, but it is evidence of my faith in action.

What do I truly value? Does my life really reflect that?

For His Glory,

Christin Slade, ChristinSlade.com