“Then He said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves against every form of greed; for not even when one has an overflowing abundance does his life consist of nor is it derived from his possessions.” Luke. 12:15.
Mark Twain was an American writer, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by the pen name Mark Twain, He was praised as the greatest humourist the United States has produced. Mark Twain, became morose and weary of life. Shortly before his death, he wrote, "A myriad of men are born; they labour and sweat and struggle;...they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each other; age creeps upon them; infirmities follow; ...those they love are taken from them, and the joy of life is turned to aching grief. It (the release) comes at last--the only unpoisoned gift earth ever had for them--and they vanish from a world where they were of no consequence,...a world which will lament them a day and forget them forever."
That is a whole heck of a lot of lamentation for a renowned humourist. I can bet on my life that there's nothing humorous about how his life turned out despite his fame and notoriety. We live in a materialistic world driven and powered by the pursuit of the mundane. The sad reality however is that the mundane is not an end in itself but a means to an end. Money can give you transient happiness, but can't secure your eternal destiny. Materials can give you comfort, but can't bring you deep rooted satisfaction found in living in God's will. Money can afford you the best hospital, but doesn't guarantee your wholeness only God can.
The church today seems to be fixated with the materialistic gospel. We all need money because it solves a great range of problems. And God blesses his children with great things of life as they walk in his accurate will and remain obedient to his instructions. But nowhere are we encouraged to jeopardize our lives in the bible are we asked to expend our efforts pursuing materialism. In overcoming materialism, it is important to first understand what drives it. The mad pursuit of material goods often stems from: The illusion of happiness: Society teaches that acquiring more possessions will lead to lasting happiness, but this satisfaction is often fleeting. The thrill of a new purchase quickly wears off, leading to a desire for the next new thing. Nothing, no-one, gives you eternal happiness like being in God's will and living in daily obedience for the rest of your life. Selah!
FURTHER READING:
“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.” Matt. 6:19-21.
“He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.” Eccle. 5:10.
DECLARATION:
Dear Abba Father, Thank You for the gift of life and the privilege of salvation. I come before You today to confess my tendencies toward greed and the love of money. I repent for any time I've allowed financial worries to dominate my thoughts and actions, or have idolized wealth. I choose to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, trusting that You will supply all my needs. Please give me a heart of contentment and teach me to find satisfaction in what I have. Grant me wisdom to manage my finances well, to be a good steward of the resources You provide in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen!
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
Titus. 2:1-15.
Titus. 3:1-15.
Phile. 1:1-25.
Heb. 1:1-14.
QUOTE FOR THE DAY:
“Before You Get Money, Get Wisdom. Real Riches Are The Possessed Inside.”
