|
|||
|
Christianity was supposed to be about becoming like Jesus. | |
We went in the wrong direction. |
| Blog Archive Home | |
| Christian Pioneer - eBook for Cell Phone - The Deceitfulness of Riches | |
|
|
|
|
Chapter 13 - Two Masters
There are certain activities that dovetail or are synergistic. For example when a person goes to the grocery store, he may pick up eggs as well as milk. These two objectives combine in efficiency. However, there are other activities that not only do not mesh, but are in active opposition to each other. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. - Matthew 6:24 It is interesting to note that even though many consider the pursuit of 'mammon' (wealth) to be liberating, the bible still calls it 'serving'. It is not just that these pursuits are in different directions, they shape the traveler in different ways. The person seeking after God is called to surrender self and even his very life. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. - Matthew 10:37-39 The person seeking after wealth is not on a path to surrender, but to acquire. It is our 'taking in' that inflates self and diverts us away from truth and God. If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much; If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above. - Job 31:28 The world has a particular idea of what constitutes 'success'. God offers a completely different one. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. - Luke 6:22-23 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. - 2 Timothy 3:12 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. - John 15:19 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. - 1 John 2:16 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
|
Information about Christianity and the Christian life. |
Pictures and views of our farm | Some of our animals | See some of the old-fashioned crafts we are trying to relearn | ||