*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*JESUS IS A LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT (2)*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Luke 12:15 *And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
Becareful not to allow what you have to determine your joy and/or happiness in this world.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
Jesus warns us of the dependence or the intense craving for possessions in order for us to attain full satisfaction or fulfilments in life.
It is not to say living comfortably is against God's will.
God wants us to be in plenty, in good health, and all-around abundance 3 John 2, but it must never be at the cost of focusing on Christ.
We must remember that the same life and people that celebrate us are the same life and people that would destroy us.
So several of God's word warns us of too much dependence of people and what we possess at the cost of loving God, ref Ps 20:7, Prov 21:31; 23:5, Lk 12:13-34.
People and possessions have made life comfortable, and they have made life miserable.
People can be very unreliable, so are wealth, position, material possessions, etc.
Only Christ is larger than life. He made us all good, and some chose to prove that He made them like Him.
David took to himself some 400 people *".....that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain....."*, 1 Sam 22:2
These 400 men, whom David became commander over, were part of those who wanted to stone him in Ziklag in 1 Samuel 30: 6.
The Bible's remark that *".....David encouraged himself in the Lord his God......"*, 1 Sam 30:6, meant he was disappointed about how these people turned against him. There was no one to encourage him, so he almost might have seen life unworthy of living. So his only recourse was to encourage himself rather than ask God to take him away.
Keep on doing good, but be one with God.
Do not do good just for moral or natural sake but for spiritual sake.
Be not just religious, be spiritual. Be a spiritual man, 1 Cor 2:14
Oneness with God saved David, 1 Sam 30: 7-31.
While giving gift is a proof of godliness, Prov 22:9;14:21, the scriptures warn us that it could be a snare, Exd 23:8, Deut 16:19, Is 5:23, Prov 17:23. So doing good may not be proof of God's presence, ref 2 Tim 3:5.
Paul's word implies that people will do us evil that may provoke us to retaliate.
Why would people do you evil?
It is either they, without any reason, hate and do you evil, Ps 37:12, or you did them good but they repaid you with evil, 1 Pet 3:19, Rom 12:17.
So God warns us that regardless of either or both of the aforementioned, *"Do not repay evil for evil."*
These passages also warn us to be prepared for those who will not do good for the good you did them.
What have people done to you that has made your life regrettable?
Are you like David?
What material possessions did you have that you so loved or people or things you trusted that are not living up to expectations or have suddenly vanished and have made you feel so empty?
Are you like Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes?
Neither David nor Solomon asked God to take away their lives!
Nothing in this world is reliable.
If they vanish, you would wish you die.
Solomon warns in Prov 23:5: *Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.*
Christ is the only secure way, Prov 18:10.
He will protect you and your loved ones and possessions in Jesus name.
The hope we have in Him is not only to get us out of life's trouble. It extends to eternity!
He does not want you to be miserable, Matt 11:28-29.
As you hope for His mercy here so you will also get the reward eternally.
1 Corinthians 15:19 *If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.*
The hope Christ gives is not only for now.
It is a sustainable hope to keep you alive and eternally with Him.
Do not rush to go. Do not ask Him to take you away.
He is a life-giving Spirit!
*Remorse corner.*
God did not create us to rely on what we possess as a measure of our lives. This is because nothing in this world is reliable!
He created you to remember that when you have earthly possessions, add unto this Christ and His virtues..
*Call to Word action.*
These Christ virtues are
*And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;*
*And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;*
*And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.*
*For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.*, 2 Pet 1:5-8.
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Rather than ask God to take you away, ask for His restoration and comfort.
He fixes everything!
*Prayer.*
Lord, please help me. Let me see that life is good with You. Do not take me away despite life's trouble, but give me hope, encouragement, comfort, and restoration to live life more abundantly in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day.
God bless you.
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