Cold Cash

The easiest way to figure out what's in a persons heart is to simply listen to them for a while. If you meet someone for the first time and within a few moments they begin to talk about baseball; the standings of every team along with the names of various players, it can be assumed that this individual has a liking for baseball. It's obviously a subject that occupies a considerable portion of their thinking. You can tell a great deal about a person by their conversation. I state this because it seems that most professing christians have their hearts planted firmly on planet earth and their conversation gears toward the things of this life. As ambassadors for Christ, we are supposed to be very much in the world, but very much NOT OF the world. When you love the Lord wholeheartedly, you'll think on things above. It seems to me that a whole lot of teaching these days is geared toward this life and being financialy prosperous in it. As mentioned before, financial prosperity is no problem for someone who can keep it in perspective. I would venture to say that the majority of us, including myself, don't fall into that catagory. A common statement is "well the Lord wants us to have nice things. He wants us to have fun." Jesus came that we may have life; that we may have joy unspeakable. When you have that joy unspeakable; when you have rivers of living water bubbling up from within, the things of this world don't hold the importance that they once did. The apostle Paul stated in Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." His joy wasn't determined on the physical environment surrounding him or the acccumulation of "stuff." (Again, the stuff isn't the problem, it's the way that you set your heart upon it.) I Timothy 6:7-10 states For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and rainment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." The name it and claim it crowd will take the first part of verse 10, highlight it, put it on a banner and proclaim "see, it's the LOVE of money not the money." They then will launch into a scripted prosperity message that leaves the ears itching for more and the heart lusting for all manner of material possesions that may provide fun cannot offer fulfillment. The rest of that chapter is ignored such as the "supposing that gain is godliness" statement in verse 5. Jesus told the church in Smyrna in Revelation 2:9-10 "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Try preaching on that at the United Form of Godliness Church and see how it's received. This is a little off the rabbit trail, but there is a purpose for trials. I Peter 1:7 states "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:" I have determined in my heart that if riches should increase, my heart belongs to Jesus. If we lose everything in this world, my heart belongs to Jesus. If trials and persecution come this way (they will) my heart belongs to Jesus. He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. At the risk of sounding redundant, set your affections on things above; not on the things of this world. And one final thought, don't tithe for the lone purpose of being blessed. The Lord has indeed promised give back to us pressed down, shaken together, and running over and he will. But I think that many of us tithe for that reason and not out of a desire to be a blessing to others. Our motivation is amiss if were not careful. Having your affections on the Lord Jesus completly will keep that from being a problem. If you get a chance check out II corinthians 4:17-18. They are very familiar verses but very timely.