'Is not life more than money?'

[MrVersatile48]

From http://www.crosswalk.com

Does Jesus Call Us to 'Shop til We Drop'?
This devotional was written by Jim Liebelt


Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will be also.  Matthew 6:21 (NLT)




All things being equal, I’m glad to be a Christian, living in America. Many of us, myself included, have been blessed with the material prosperity that is common to average Americans. Today, the day after Thanksgiving Day, marks the official start to another holiday shopping season. Many of us will venture out to local malls, fighting the crowds to get the best deals as we work through our Christmas shopping lists. Yet, I am troubled by the notion that somehow our material prosperity is directly related to our relationship with Jesus.

Some time ago, I read a newspaper article that referred to the opening of a new mall in this way:

“… a pastor was so moved by the retail magnificence around, that he quoted Scripture, ‘Jesus said, I came that you may have life and have that life abundantly… and what do you suppose abundance means? This, of course!’â€Â

Does the abundant life really mean that Jesus came to help us focus on our ability to shop ‘til we drop? I don’t think so! Try telling that to the millions of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who will regard themselves blessed if they are able to eat a meal today.

Jesus did come to give us life to the full, but the abundant life He was referring to is spiritual in nature. It’s a life where God infuses us with His Spirit, molds us into the image of Christ and overflows to others who observe and can be influenced and blessed. (See Matthew 5:16, 2 Corinthians 2:14-15; 9:12)

Yes, many of us are blessed in material ways. Yet, we ought not confuse material blessing as a spiritual status symbol. For the Christ-follower, material blessings should always be seen as a means to an end – not the end in and of itself. Make no mistake, God expects us to use everything we have for His honor and His glory. Jesus said, “Much is required from those to whom much is given…†(Luke 12:48)

Today, if you venture out to do holiday shopping, take a moment to thank God for your material blessings. While you are at it, be sure to guard yourself against a materialistic attitude in which you focus on getting more for yourself, as opposed to using your material blessings to serve and bless others.





To comment on today's devotional, click here .





GOING DEEPER:

1. Read Matthew 6:19-21. How have you been tempted recently to store up “treasures on earth�

2. What steps can you take to guard yourself from having a materialistic attitude?

FURTHER READING:


Mark 8:36; 1 Timothy 6:17-19

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our Wed night focussed on the Beatitudes - 'beautiful attitudes' of Matt 5

We were reminded that the amazing moves of God in Africa, Asia & Latin America confirm Jesus' blessing 'the poor in spirit'

He told John's disciples to say what they saw - not only the prophesied healing miracles, but that 'the poor have good news preached to them'

How often we in the west have let 'the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word'?

The Almighty Creator chose to take human form in a smelly stable & to serve - even knowing the thoughts of men's hearts as they plotted repeatedly to trap & kill Him

We closed on Wed with Philippians 2

Philippians 2 (New International Version)

Imitating Christ's Humility

1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to deathâ€â€
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.



God bless!

Ian

 

[MrVersatile48]

Timely Word 4 Today:-

* Forward this to a Friend

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Gift of Love



Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father
has sent me, I am sending you." (NIV) John
20:21


The opening lines in the Christmas song "The Gift
Goes On". . .



"The Father gave the Son The Son gave the Spirit
The Spirit gives us life So we can give the Gift of
love."



* What are you giving out this Christmas?

* Are you more concerned with the physical gifts
you're giving than the love you're sharing?

* How are you sharing God's Gift of love?

* How are your actions demonstrating to others
that Christ's love lives within you?

* Do your words point people to the Giver of love?


* Who around you needs the Gift of love?

Don't wait another day, eagerly share the Gift of love
that's been given to You by the Giver of eternal life!


Written by
Marji "Mike" Kruger

For more on a relationship with God. . . -

http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=svoop9bab.0.ggg ... 4027&ts=S0
217&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anchorlife.org%2Fhtml%2Fwhy_bother.htm

 

[destiny]

I think material prosperity can pull us away from Jesus if we aren't careful.

Some of the closest times we have had with the Lord was birthed through a crises, or being put in a position of having to depend on the Lord to meet our needs.
I don't just mean financially, but also the crises of having to believe for a loved one who is on the path to destruction, or a sick relative in need of healing, or a child who is callous towards the things of God ...and the list goes on and on.
The times when we have been blessed financially have been birthed out of a willingness to give to those (outside) of the family who were in need.
When we are blessed materially it is so we can give it away and not hoard it up for ourselfs.
Abundant life has nothing to do with money, but everything to do with being born again. When you are born again old things pass away and life becomes brand new. You are filled with an inner joy which doesn't depend on outward circumstances.
The Love of money depends on an outward thing to fill an inward void and it will never satisfy your soul.
It really is more blessed to give than recieve; this isn't just talking about money, it's talking about giving of yourself in a way that can help someone else.

I think we are put here to be like the church in the book of Acts..
Acts 2:44-45

That kind of living would definitely cut christians out of welfare lines plus there would be no hoarding.
The spirit of love and generosity was so great in the early church that the believers willingly and joyfully surrendered their own property and possessions in order to minister to the needs of other saints. They went so far as to sell land and houses to take care of one another.
I'm sure we would be called a cult if we began living like New Testament saints.

I didn't mean to ramble this long but this is something I have thought a great deal about.