God or this world
The apostle Paul wrote,
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." 1 Timothy 6:10.
Sadly here in North America where I live there is a movement called the “prosperity doctrine” or “name it claim it” doctrine.
Those who believe this believe that if you have enough faith in God He will make you healthy and wealthy all the time. That if you give to God (usually meaning the ministry of a particular evangelist or church) you will prosper materially.
Sadly many people follow these false teachers and fall away from God when things don’t work out.
While being wealthy is not wrong. It is the value you place on your wealth, and for that matter your well being. That matters. If you put them ahead of God it is wrong.
Jesus said,
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also....
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money Matthew 16:19-21,24.
If we look at the example of the apostles we see that God came first. They were not wealthy men. They also were willing to be beaten, thrown in prison, and even die for what they believed. All but one died a martyrs death.
As believers in Christ Jesus, particularly here in North America and the western democracies we need to take a look at our life and see who our first love is, God or the things of this world.
Please think about it.
