- Watch your words
- Guard your heart
- Trust in Jesus
- Place no trust in anything on Earth or in this Life
- Not money
- Not man
- Not life on Earth as we have known it
This is not what Jesus planned … but mankind wanted Satan’s rule … and this is due to the evil of Satan … so this tribulation to come with everything in the vials (Revelation 16) to be poured out … the vials' contents were put there due to Satan’s plan and Mankind’s rebellion. If it were not for Free Will … and Mankind choosing evil over good … we would all have been living in the Garden of Eden. THAT was God’s plan! Do not lay this evil that is soon coming at the feet of Jesus … for it is not HIM that is responsible for it. This generation needs to KNOW this is not Jesus’ plan!
We should not trust in wealth, but in God’s provision and blessings. The New Testament does not support the ‘Health and Prosperity’ preaching that we hear today. Instead Scripture tells us the opposite:
- Jesus came to earth as a baby, was born in a stable and then He lay in a manger (Luke 2:7). Not in a king's palace.
- Jesus had no place to lay His head (Luke 9:58).
- Jesus lived in Nazareth. (Not a wealthy place).
John 1:46 (NKJV)
46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
- The disciples had no guarantee of a daily meal. Instead they took the charity reserved for the poor (Matthew 12:1).
- John the Baptist, whom Jesus called the greatest born of women (Matthew 11:11) and yet he wore clothing of camel's hair and ate locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4).
Wealth can actually get in the way of Eternal Life. We trust in our earthly wealth and do not place our trust in God. The rich young ruler for example (Luke 18:18-30). How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. (Luke 18:24). There are some in the New Testament that appear to have wealth. Two examples are Nicodemus (John 19:30) and Lydia (Acts 16:14).
I find no scriptures that tell me to expect a ‘guarantee of wealth'. Instead, we should have a proper attitude about it. Our wealth cannot save us (1 Tim 6:17). KNOW that GOD provides what we need (Phil. 4:19) … I have been living a wilderness training at God’s feet for over two years now … and I can assure you that He provides for me (through people and circumstances). I trust Him and have learned He is my Everything!
Philippians 4:11-13 (NKJV)
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The Bible does promise Jesus' faithful followers Heavenly Riches – Eternal Life (Ephesians 1:18). The early church gave up their earthly wealth (Acts 2:12-25). They expected something far greater (Mark 8:36).
For believers, wealth is a blessing from God. We use it for His purposes. We are not to covet it. It isn’t a reward for our obedience. It isn’t something we should expect. Wealth is not inherently bad … but Jesus said
Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV)
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Hold on tight to Jesus! The rough seas are surely coming and the mooring lines must be more than secure!
Anna