Mt 6:24 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. IN VERSE 24 OF THAT SAME CONTEXT, AND IT’S INTRESTING TO NOTE THAT Jesus USES THE ARAMAYIC WORD, MAMMON TO REFER TO MONEY IN THAT CONTEXT. AND THAT INTRESTING BECAUSE THIS, THE WORD IS ONLY FOUND HERE IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 6:24 IN WHICH Jesus SAYS YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON, THE USES OF THAT WORD, AND ALL THOSE USES AND ALL THE CONTEXTS Jesus IS GIVING MONEY, WEALTLH AND RICHES A PERSONAL CHARACTERISTIC, HE IS PERSONAFYING RICHES AND WEALTH, AND PERSONAFYING IT, AS, A RIVAL GOD, MAMMMON IS NOW A RIVAL GOD... TO GOD HIMSELF, AND Jesus SAYS YOU CANNOT SERVE THIS GOD, AND THE GOD IN HEAVEN, YOU CANNOT SERVE BOTH GODS AT ONCE, WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE A CHOICE, AND SOMETIMES WE FAIL TO SEE THE IDOLATRIST NATURE OF RICHES AND WEALTH, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN FIND OURSELVES SERVING, IN OUR LIVES AND THAT’S WHY IN COLLOSIANS 3:5 PAUL SAYS GREED AMOUNT TO IDOLATRY, Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: BECAUSE MAMMON AS AN IDOLATRIST GOD, CAN BE THE ONE THAT WE END UP SERVING, IN OUR LIVES, IF WERE NOT CAREFUL, GREED CAN BE THE IDOL IN OUR LIVES IF WERE NOT CAREFUL. IF WERE NOT WILLING TO MAKE THAT APPLICATION IN OUR LIVES, DO YOU KNOW THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WERE CHALLENGED WITH, TO NOT HAVE OUR WALLETS, WE ALL HAVE SOME DOLLAR BILLS AND THERE ARE SOME COINS IN OUR POCKETS, OFTEN TIMES WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO BEGIN TO SEE THAT WELL THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT IS JUST A MEANS OF EXCHANGE, IT JUST SOMETHING TO GET THINGS THAT WE WANT, BUT MONEY IS NOT JUST AN ABSTRACT MEANS OF EXCHANGE, IT’S A PATENTIAL IDIOL OR GOD, IN OUR LIFE THAT SEEKS NOT JUST TO IMPACT OUR LIFE, BUT TO DOMINATE OUR LIVES. TO RULE OUR LIVES, TO CONTROL OUR LIVES, IF WERE WILLING TO LET IT, IF WE CHOOSE TO SERVE THAT GOD IN OUR LIVES, IT WILL MOST CERTAINLY DO SO, IT CAN DOMINATE LIKE NOTHING ELSE, IN ROMANS CHAPTER 6:16 WERE TOLD BY PAUL, YOUR ARE THE SLAVES TO THE ONE WHO YOU OBEY, WHO’S CALLING THE SHOTS IN OUR LIVES?? THOSE EXTRA OVERTIME HOURS, SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT TIME AND A HALF?? SO WE CAN AGAIN PAT OURSELVES A LITTLE BIT, AND GET THOSE OTHER THINGS OF THIS LIFE THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO US, WERE SLAVES TO THE ONE WE CHOOSE TO OBEY, 2PETER 2:19 SAY 2Pe 2:19 while they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. BY WHAT A MAN IS OVERCOME, BY THIS HE IS ENSLAVED, MANY A MAN HAVE BECOME ENSLAVED TO WEALTH IN THIS LIFE, AND EVEN IF NOT SINFUL, MONEY AND WEALTH CAN BE THAT ENCUMBERANCE WHICH HINDERS OUR ABILITIES TO RUN THE CHRISTIAN RACE, EVEN IF WE SAY ‘’’TRUST ME, IT’S NOT MY IDOL, IS IT AT LEAST AN INCUMBERANCE IN YOUR LIFE, SOMETHING THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF HEBREWS 12:1-2 THE IDEA OF RUNNING THE RACE WILL LEGS AND WEIGHTS AS THEY ARE TIED AROUND YOUR LEGS, HOLDING YOU BACK, IT CAN BE THAT AS WELL IF NOT AN OUTRIGHT IDOL OR GOD IN OUR LIFE, THAT’S WHERE AGAIN WE ARE CHALLENGED TO MAKE THAT APPLICATION IN OUR LIFE, THE INSINEOUS NATURE OF MONEY, MAKES THE WARNING IN 1CORINTHIANS 6:10 ALL THE MORE SERIOUS, READ IF YOU WILL, WITH ME FROM 1COR. 6:10 A PASSAGE THAT WE SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH, BUT WE NEED TO REFLECT UPON THESE WORDS, BY PAUL, TO THE YOUNG MAN TIMOTHY WHERE HE SAY BEGINNING IN 1TIM 6:6 1Ti 6:6 but godliness with contentment is great gain. 1Ti 6:7 for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 1Ti 6:8 and having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 1Ti 6:9 but they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 1Ti 6:10 for the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1Ti 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses DROPPING DOWN TO VERSE 17 HE CONTINUES 1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 1Ti 6:18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. THERE ARE SERIOUS WARNING THAT PAUL HAS FOR US IN THIS CONTEXT, DO YOU NOTICE THE WORDS THAT HE USED, INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, TO REFER TO THE SNARE, HE REFERED TO THAT WHICH WAS FOOLISH AND HURTFUL, WHICH DROWN MEN IN DESTRUCTION AND PERDITION, THAT’S THE LOVE OF MONEY, THAT’S HAVING MAMMON IN OUR LIVES AS THAT RIVAL GOD, IF WERE WILLING TO GIVE IT THAT PLACE OF HONOR IN OUR LIVES. IT’S THAT SNARE, THAT PLUNGING INTO RUIN, THAT WILL BRING ABOUT IN OUR LIFE, THE TEACHING OF THIS PARABLE IS TWO FOLD, EITHER LEARN TO USE THE MONEY GOD BLESSES US WITH, TO HIS GLORY, WITH A VEIW TO OUR LONGTERM SPIRITUAL GOAL TO BEING WITH HIM IN HEAVEN ONE DAY OR WE ALLOW MONEY TO BE OUR MASTER AND FIND OURSELVES ETERNALLY REGRETTING OUR INABILITY TO ACT SHREWEDLY, WITH WHAT GOD HAS BLESSED US WITH, OF ALL THE NATIONS OF PEOPLE, THROUGHOUT ALL THE HISTORY OF MANKIND, UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, HAS THERE BEEN A PEOPLE MORE BLESSED THAN US, HAS THERE BEEN A GROUP OF PEOPLE MORE BLESSED WITH SO MUCH IN THIS WORLD, AS WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY, IN THIS TIME, AND WERE CHALLENGED IN REGUARDS TO THE APPLICATION OF THIS PARABLE, TO BEGIN TO TRUST IN THESE THINGS THAT GOD HAS BESTOWED UPON US, RATHER THAN THE ONE WHO HAS BESTOWED THEM TO US IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE PERHAPS LEARNED SOME LESSONS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IN OUR COUNTRY, TRAVIS SPOKE OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD, IS GOD TRYING TO GET OUR ATTENTION IN REGUARDS TO THE USE OF MAMMON, AS A GOD IN OUR LIVES? HAVE THE EVENTS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS PERHAPS SERVED AS HIS DEVINE WAY OF TRYING TO TEACH US A LESSON, THAT PAUL IS TRYING TO TEACH IN 1TIM. 6: HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THE POINT IN VERSE 17? WHEN HE SAY INSTRUCT THOSE WHO ARE RICH IN THIS PRESENT WORLD 1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, That they be not high-minded, Nor trust in uncertain riches, But in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE THE MONEY THAT WERE BLESSED WITH WE CAN PUT IT INTO A BANK ACCOUNT, AND YOU SEE THOSE LETTER ON THE DOOR THAT SAYS FDIC, AND WE SAY THAT’S ROCK SOLID, I KNOW THAT WHATEVER MONEY I PUT THERE, THERE IS NO UNCERTAINTY, WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE WERE TEMPTED TO TAKE THE UNCERTAINTY OUT OF RICHES, WERE TEMPTED TO VEIW THE RICHES OF THIS WORLD, THE STUFF THAT WE CAN CONCRETELY HOLD ON TO. AND FEEL THAT NO ONE WILL BE EVER TO TAKE IT AWAY, WHY, BECAUSE, I HAVE THOSE LETTERS FDIC THERE AT MY BANK, IT’S SECURE. HAVE WE PERHAPS LEARNED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT THE UNCERTAINTY OF RICHES, THAT PAUL TALKED TO TIMOTHY ABOUT THE FACT THAT RICHES ARE UNCERTAIN, THAT THOSE THINGS THAT WE TRY TO HOLD ON TO, WE LIKE TO BE FIXED AND PERMANENT, IT MAY NOT BE AS PERMANENT AS WE THINK THEY ARE, WE NEED TO LEARN THESE LESSONS, WE NEED TO STOP TRUSTING IN THE THINGS OF THIS LIFE, AND ALLOW MONEY TO CONTROL OUR LIVES, BRETHEN WERE ARE YOUR INVESTMENTS, WHERE ARE THOSE THINGS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO YOU, IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 6:19-21 CHALLENGES US TO MAKE OUR INVESTMENTS, SPIRITUAL INVESTMENTS, TO MAKE THOSE TREASURES IN OUR LIFE NOT TEMPORAL TREASURES WHERE MOTH AND RUST DESTROY, THERE ARE INVESTMENTS THAT WE CAN MAKE, THAT ARE SPIRITUAL IN NATURE, WHERE PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY, 2Ti 1:12 for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. THAT IS THE TYPE OF INVESTMENT THAT IS SECURE, WHERE ARE OUR INVESTMENTS?? IN LUKE 12:13-21 Lk 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: Lk 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? Lk 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. Lk 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. Lk 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? WE READ ABOUT THE MAN WHO HAD THE BARNS ARE WE LIKE THIS MAN WHO HAS BEEN BLESSED BY GOD?? HE HAD MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR, HE HAD THE BLESSING OF THIS LIFE IN ABUNDANCE, BUT HE SAID TO HIMSELF, I KNOW WHAT IM GOING TO DO, IM GOING TO TARE DOWN MY BARNS AND BUILD BIGGER BARNS, AND THEN I’LL SAY TO MYSELF, SOUL EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY. BUT IN THAT CONTEXT IN VERSE 20-21 GOD SAID YOU FOOL THOSE THINGS THAT HE THOUGHT WAS SO SECURE IN HIS LIFE AND SO PERMENANT THAT HE COULD COUNT ON TO PROVIDE HIM WITH THE ENJOYMENT THAT HE THOUGH WAS HIS, BUT WAS TOLD BY GOD THIS VERY NIGHT YOUR SOUL IS REQUIRED OF YOU, AND NOW WHO WILL OWN WHAT YOU HAVE PREPARED, SO IS THE MAN WHO LAYS UP TREASURES FOR HIMSELF, AND IS NOT RICH TOWARD GOD. WE WILL EITHER USE MONEY TO SERVE GOD OR WERE GONNA USE GOD TO SERVE OUR MONEY, THAT IS THE CHALLENGE AND THAT’S THE PRINCIPLE THAT WE HAVE TO APPLY IN OUR LIVES, WE WIILL EITHER USE OUR MONEY AND MATERIAL POSSESSIONS IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE PREPARE OURSELVES FOR AN ETERNAL FUTURE WITH GOD IN HEAVEN, OR WE GONNA USE IT TO SERVE THE HERE AND NOW. AND JUST AS THERE WAS TO BE A DAY FOR THE STEWARD TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT, FOR THAT WHICH HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO HIM, WE ARE ALL GONNA HAVE A DAY OF RECONING, IN WHICH WERE GONNA HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR OUR STEWARDSHIP, WHILE WE ARE HERE UPON THIS EARTH, ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THAT STEWARDSHIP, ARE YOU PREPARED TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT FOR THOSE THINGS BEFORE GOD,
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 02:34:55 +0000
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