Faith and Riches

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
When you are in the middle of a crisis, what you really believe manifests itself in your words, actions, and attitudes.
Jn 11:21 Now Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. She was voicing past-tense faith.
Jn 11:23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
11:24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." That was future-tense faith.
11:22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." That was now faith, which is present-tense.
2 Co 4:18 While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Now faith stakes its claim on something, even if we don't see it.
2 Co 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Too often we base our feelings on what we see. We become prisoners of our own perceptions; we cease walking in faith. Reality extends beyond what you can see.
Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
He knows how the story ends, so fix your eyes on the unseen and not on what you see.
Eph 4:26 "Be angry, and do not sin", do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
Too often I harbor anger all day. Lord, give me grace to forgive right away.
1 Tim 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
:8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content;
:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
:13 If I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
:14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing,
:15 which He will manifest in His own time. He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
:16 who alone has immortality dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power, Amen.
:17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
:18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
:19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
God measures wealth by the quality of our lives and our generous giving to bless others. Riches are a blessing only to those who make them a blessing to others.

Stop the clock; the blind spot

1 Kings 10:23 So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
:24 Now all the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart.
:25 Each man brought his present: articles of silver and gold, garments, armor, spices, horses, and mules, at a set rate year by year.
:26 And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen; he had one thousand four hundred chariots and twelve thousand horseman, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king at Jerusalem.
:27 The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as the sycamores which are in the lowland.
:28 Also Solomon had horses imported from Egypt and Keveh at the current price.
:29 Now a chariot that was imported from Egypt cost six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse one hundred and fifty; and thus, through their agents, they exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.
11:1 But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites –
:2 from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, "You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love.
:3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.

 
1 Kings 8:11 so that the priest could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

 
Just as the seasons of the year continue, so do the cycles of life – birth and death, success and failure, sin and confession. Although we have no power to stop the clock while we're enjoying good times, we can rest in God's promise that eventually all bad things will end.

 
Rev 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

 
Ps 19:12 Who can understand his errors? Clease me from secret faults.
There are parts of yourself you'll never see without God's help. In one way, you know yourself better than anyone else does. You are the only one who knows your inner thoughts, feelings and judgments, well other than God. In another way, you know yourself worse than anyone else. We rationalize, justify, minimize, forget, and embellish – we don't even realize we are doing it. Our memories are not simply faulty, they're faulty in favor of our egos.

Do you question God? And Don’t give up!

Job 38:1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
:2"Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
:3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
:5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
:6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
:7 when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
:8 "Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth and issued from the womb;
:9 when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band;
:10 when I fixed My limit for it, and set bars and doors;
:11 when I said, 'This far you may come, but no farther, and here your proud waves must stop!
:31 Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loose the belt of Orion?
:32 Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?
:33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?

 
We sometimes like Job when we suffer tragedy dare to aim questions at God. Chapter 38 of Job should give us lots to think about. When God started directing questions at him he must have felt really small. God didn't answer Job's questions. Instead God told him to notice the power and might with which He created the world and His control over every element of it. That alone should be reason enough to trust Him. We can trust God. He has the stars in His hands, surely He can care for us.

 
Ne 2:20 So I answered them, and said to them, "The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem."

 
To turn your failures into successes you need to do two things.

1. Realize that God wants you to succeed because you're His child.
2. Realize that failure is a teaching tool.

Some options work, some don't. With God on your side you'll win if you keep trying.

Compassion and Parenthood

Acts 11:19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.
:20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.
:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
:22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
:23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
:24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
:25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.
:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

 
Barbabas was a man of compassion. Compassion is an inner feeling resulting in outward action. It should be our daily uniform of service. By God's grace, may we be known for it. True compassion is love in action.

 
1 Sam 2:35 Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever.

 
Being the high priest in Israel was a prestigious job, and Eli seemed suited to it. But he failed badly on the home front. His sons did not walk in the same way he did. They turned aside and were dishonest. As a result God told Eli He would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about and did nothing to stop. How would you measure up?

 

 

 

Families

Mal 4:4 Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
:6 And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.

 
Mat 1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
:2 Abraham begot Isaac, Issac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.

 
Luke 1:16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
We can find ourselves in circumstances of separation and danger we did not anticipate. Only from our heavenly Father can we find the perfect forgiveness, example, and inner grace we need. He knows we are all fallen children off fallen parents, and even now He offers us the help of His Spirit and the rescue of His Son. It's never too soon to turn back to God.

 
Jer 3:22 "Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings." "Indeed we do come to You for You are the Lord our God."

 
What's the root of our failures? Failure doesn't lie in the strength of the enemy or our own weakness, or God's reluctance to help us overcome. Israel was defeated by a small town after having conquered might Jericho. Their failure, like ours, was the result of unconfessed sin. Sin unacknowledged will keep you defeated, but sin confessed will bring you forgiveness and restoration that leads to victory. Anything we cling to that's contrary to God's word will cause us to fall before our enemies. Whatever God shows you, confess it immediately and by faith receive His forgiveness and cleansing. Then you'll be able to stand victorious before your enemies.

 

Sin, Forgiveness and Holiness

Heb 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
:11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
:12 saying, " I will declare Your name to My brethren, in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You."
:13 And again, "I will put My trust in Him." And again, "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me."
:14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
:15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
:16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
:17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

 
Is 53:12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong. Because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

 
Sin put Jesus to the ultimate test. But His love endured it, His strength bore it, and His power overcame it. Thanks to Jesus' death and resurrection, we know beyond a doubt that sin will not and cannot win.

 
Jos 7:5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

 
Holiness is a path, not a place. When you're off the path, God's plan is simple – get back on it immediately. Like a child learning to walk, when you fall don't lie down and give up. Get back up and walk again. The moment that brings the awareness of sin should also bring the confession of sin and the assurance of forgiveness!

Consequences and Love

2 Sam 12:1 Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him:"There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.
:2 The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds.
:3 But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him.
:4 And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the way-faring man who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him."
:5 So David's anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan,"As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die!
:6 And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity."
:7 Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: "I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
:8 I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israeal and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!
:9 Why have you despised the commandments of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of Ammon.
:10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife."
:11 Thus says the Lord:'Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbors, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
:12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.
:13 So David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the Lord." And Nathan said to David, "The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
:14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die."
:15 Then Nathan departed to his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became ill.
:16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.
:17 So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
:18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, "Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!"
:19 When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "He is dead."
:20 So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshipped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate.
:21 Then his servants said to him, "What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food."
:22 And he said, "While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?"
:23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."

 
Is 43:25"I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.
Just as David had to face the consequences of his sin so do we. But just as he did we can find our way back to a relationship with God that makes it possible for us to serve Him.

 
1 Pet 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
Your marriage and other valued relationships should be like a mutual admiration society that builds each other's self-esteem and overlooks flaws that could otherwise be destruction. And there's a biblical word for this kind of commitment. It's called love.