Are you rich before God?

 Are you rich before God?

Jesus said,

"Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 

"Then he said, ‘This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  

And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' 

"But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 

"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 12:15-21.

Let me start here by saying there is nothing wrong with being rich. Its what emphasis you put on your riches that counts. Do your material possessions come before God? Do you use your wealth to further the kingdom of God and help others less fortunate?

Jesus said,

"No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money" Matthew 6:24.

So the question becomes; If you claim to be a Christian which master are you serving?

Please think about it.

Your master

  Your masters

Jesus said,

"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 16:24.

Now let me say one thing. There is nothing wrong with being wealthy. The problem comes when your wealth is more important to you than your faith in God. 

The apostle Paul states,

"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.

Money should never rule your life. Many people over the years have fallen away from God by getting mixed up with the so called “prosperity doctrine”. Pastors and evangelist that say if you give to God, (usually their ministry), God will give you back more than you could ever imagine. 

God never promised us a life of luxury free from pain. 

Jesus said,

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.  

Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.  

They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.  John 15:18-21.

Thus my question to you is. Where is your faith? Who is your master?

Please think about it.

Are you a good steward?

Are you a good steward?
The apostle Paul writes,

“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ 

and stewards of the mysteries of God. 

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

                                                                         1Corinthians 4:1,2.

In biblical times a steward was someone who looked after his masters belongings as though they were his own.
So it is with anyone who truly believes in Christ Jesus. We are entrusted with the teachings of Jesus. Jesus speaking to his disciples said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
Making disciple and teaching them all that Jesus taught is a sacred trust. We must not pervert the truths Jesus and the disciples taught in any way. The apostle Paul said,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15.
Thus my question to anyone who considers themselves a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus,

Are you correctly handling the word of God?

Or

Are you twisting the word of God to match what you believe?

Please think about it.