SADLY MANY PEOPLE TODAY falsely ADMIRE THE RICH
AND DESPISE THE POOR PERSONS.
JOB HIMSELF KNEW FIRSTHAND WHAT IT MEANT TO BE
POOR AND RICH.
Job 29:2 KJV) Oh that I were as in months
past, as in the days when God preserved me; 3 When his candle shined
upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; 4 As I
was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers
of oil; 7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared
my seat in the street! 8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and
the aged arose, and stood up. 9 The princes refrained talking, and laid
their hand on their mouth. 10 The nobles held their peace, and their
tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 11 When the ear heard me,
then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: 12
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had
none to help him. 13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came
upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 14 I put on
righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. 16 I was a
father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. 17
And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his
teeth.
(Job 30:26 KJV) When I looked for good,
then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came
darkness.
(John 1:11 KJV) He came unto his own, and
his own received him not.
(John 1:12 KJV) But as many as received
him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that
believe on his name:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of
the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
(Jer 12:1 KJV) Righteous art thou, O LORD,
when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore
doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal
very treacherously? 2 Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root:
they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far
from their reins.
(Prov 19:22 KJV) The desire of a man is his
kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
Some of us still do have a real difficulty
in understanding the main reasons why our close loved ones, some
of the pastors, elders, church attendees, would now next hate us,
despise us, try even to kill us, when we are trying simply to honestly follow
after God, to live a simple God honoring lifestyle. See also https://pbulow.tripod.com/history.html
One of the main reasons that they do reject even
us is that they are still under conviction for their own sins, and they do not
want to repent, change, for they still do wrongfully want to rather to
purse their own materialistic, immoral life style and not God's, and they do
not want to really give up these idols of theirs, of their Baalim God.
Thus they reject us cause they do not want to give up their own immoral
life styles, their worship of a materialistic life style as well.
(1 Sam 18:23 KJV) seeing that I am a poor
man, and lightly esteemed?
(Prov 28:3 KJV) A poor man that oppresseth
the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
(Eccl 9:15 KJV) Now there was found in it a
poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered
that same poor man.
(Job 34:19 KJV) How much less to him that
accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the
poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
(Psa 34:6 KJV) This poor man cried, and the
LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
(Job 34:28 KJV) So that they cause the cry
of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the
afflicted.
I AM ALSO STILL ALWAYS SURPRISED by the
fact as to how many poor persons have been told that they are not welcome to a
specific church by the pastors, elders, members there as well. This is
wrong and still very unChristlike too. See also https://pbulow.tripod.com/church.html
(James 2:2 KJV) For if there come unto your
assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a
poor man in vile raiment;3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the
gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the
poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not
then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich
in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love
him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and
draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy
name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according
to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of
the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and
yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
(Lev 19:10 KJV) And thou shalt not
glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard;
thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your
God.
(Lev 23:22 KJV) And when ye reap the
harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy
field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy
harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the
LORD your God.
(Deu 15:7 KJV) If there be among you a poor
man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD
thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand
from thy poor brother:8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him,
and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he
wanteth.
(Deu 15:11 KJV) For the poor shall never
cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine
hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy
land.
(Deu 24:14 KJV) Thou shalt not oppress an
hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy
strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:
(Deu 24:15 KJV) At his day thou shalt give
him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and
setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be
sin unto thee.
(Lev 19:15 KJV) Ye shall do no
unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor,
nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy
neighbour.
(Prov 14:20 KJV) The poor is hated even of
his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
(Prov 14:31 KJV) He that oppresseth the
poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the
poor.
(Prov 19:4 KJV) Wealth maketh many friends;
but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
(Prov 19:7 KJV) All the brethren of the
poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth
them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
(Prov 19:17 KJV) He that hath pity upon the
poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him
again.
(James 2:14 KJV) What doth it profit, my
brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save
him?15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and
filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the
body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is
dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have
works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by
my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the
devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man,
that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father
justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made
perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham
believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called
the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified,
and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot
justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them
out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith
without works is dead also.
(Job 24:2 KJV) Some remove the landmarks;
they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof. 3 They drive away the ass
of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. 4 They turn
the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves
together...6 They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather
the vintage of the wicked. 7 They cause the naked to lodge without
clothing, that they have no covering in the cold. 8 They are wet
with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
9 They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the
poor. 10 They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away
the sheaf from the hungry; 11 Which make oil within their walls, and
tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst. 12 Men groan from out of the
city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to
them. 13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not
the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. 14 The murderer rising
with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.
15 The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No
eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. 16 In the dark they dig
through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know
not the light. 17 For the morning is to them even as the shadow of
death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of
death.
(Psa 10:2 KJV) The wicked in his pride doth
persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the
covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. 4 The wicked, through the pride
of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his
sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. 6 He hath said in his
heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. 7 His
mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief
and vanity. 8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the
secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against
the poor. 9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in
wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his
net. 10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by
his strong ones. 11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he
hideth his face; he will never see it. 12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up
thine hand: forget not the humble. 13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn
God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. 14 Thou hast
seen it: for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand:
the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his
wickedness till thou find none.
(Psa 10:16 KJV) The LORD is King for ever
and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land. 7 LORD, thou hast
heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause
thine ear to hear: 8 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the
man of the earth may no more oppress.
(Psa 40:17 KJV) But I am poor and needy;
yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no
tarrying, O my God.
(Jer 11:14 KJV) Therefore pray not thou for
this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear
them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.
(Jer 11:15 KJV) What hath my beloved to do
in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh
is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.
(Jer 11:16 KJV) The LORD called thy name, A
green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult
he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
(Jer 11:17 KJV) For the LORD of hosts, that
planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of
Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to
provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal. See also https://pbulow.tripod.com/angry.html
(Jer 11:18 KJV) And the LORD hath given me
knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou showedst me their doings. 19
But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew
not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree
with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living,
that his name may be no more remembered.
(Jer 11:20 KJV) But, O LORD of hosts, that
judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy
vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
(Jer 12:3 KJV) But thou, O LORD, knowest
me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like
sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of
slaughter.
(Jer 12:4 KJV) How long shall the land
mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that
dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He
shall not see our last end.
(Jer 12:5 KJV) If thou hast run with the
footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?
and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then
how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
(Jer 12:6 KJV) For even thy brethren, and
the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea,
they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak
fair words unto thee.
(Jer 12:7 KJV) I have forsaken mine house,
I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the
hand of her enemies. 8 Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest;
it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it. 9 Mine heritage is
unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye,
assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.
(Jer 12:10 KJV) Many pastors have destroyed
my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my
pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it desolate,
and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate,
because no man layeth it to heart. Se also https://pbulow.tripod.com/pastors.html
(Jer 12:12 KJV) The spoilers are come upon
all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour
from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall
have peace. 13 They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have
put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of
your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
(Jer 12:14 KJV) Thus saith the LORD against
all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my
people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and
pluck out the house of Judah from among them.
(Jer 12:15 KJV) And it shall come to pass,
after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them,
and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his
land. 16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the
ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my
people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.
17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that
nation, saith the LORD.
(Jer 11:21 KJV) Therefore thus saith the
LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the
name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand: 22 Therefore thus saith
the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the
sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine: 23 And there
shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth,
even the year of their visitation.
While I understand that there is still not such
thing as a little bit pregnant, and if you give the devil an inch in your
life, he will take a mile of it, I have always wanted to understand more
how come people who are materialistic oriented next also to be involved
in and in pornography, and even in adultery too. I understood the
fact better when God explain to me that unrepented, unrestrained lusts,
covetous causes the same person to steal next too what still does
not belong to him or her.
I was just
starting this devotional based on my Bible readings this
morning on understanding more why even some of our family members,
and the supposedly religious people do hate, reject us when we try to
follow after Christ like they rejected Christ.. and this related
TEXT appeared by email from a great Christian brother.
" Luke 12:15 And He said to them,
"Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist
in the abundance of the things he possesses. .. .
Greed
Luke 12:15 And He said to them, "Take heed
and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the
abundance of the things he possesses.
It seems as if one of the traps, which is most
effective in today's society, is covetousness, better known as
greed. We are bombarded with advertisements, via the TV, urging us
to acquire more, and better. Our brain puts the two together, and we
began to think "more" is "better." Is it? Being told the United
States of America has approximately six percent (6%) of the world's
population, yet, we have acquired over fifty percent (50%) of the
world's wealth. If we are to believe those TV commercials, we should
be the happiest people on this earth. Are we???? Look at our
rate of murders, rapes, robberies, and recently, the extreme greed shown by
some of our corporate executives. Executives stealing from the
stockholders, and building forty (40M) and fifty (50M) million-dollar
homes; "speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a
hot iron."(1 Tim 4:2) Do you really think these people are
happy???
The desire to have "more," can become insatiable.
When you develop the desire to have more, just for the sake of having "more,"
you will find selfishness, unwholesome-eagerness, avidity,
avariciousness and gluttonous creeping in; and there is a good
possibility, you will become predatory. I want you to understand: As
long as you believe "more is better," you'll never be satisfied.
Why? Because you'll never live long enough to gain it all.
He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves
abundance, with increase. (Eccl 5:10)
Let's take a look at you,
my friend. Have you subscribed to the "more is better" myth?
Be honest now; when you achieve something, or acquire something, do you
take the time to enjoy it? Or do you focus on the next, new
gadgets? The "more is better" myth is actually "greed." God's Word
labels it as covetousness! or lustfulness.
To deal with covetousness:
1. Be thankful for what you already
have. Count your blessings, starting with what the lord has done
of you.. name them one by one, count your many blessings, ..and it
will surprise you what the Lord has done.
2. When old
slewfoot slips the "more is better" feeling to you, look back at the
time you gained the "more," only to realize it wasn't "better." Realize
that if you want "more" now, you will want even "more and more " later; it
never ends!
"Better is a little, with the fear of the LORD,
than great treasure with trouble."(Prov 15:16) Better is a dinner of
herbs, where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.(Prov 15:17)
Better a handful with quietness, than both hands full, together with
toil and grasping for the wind.(Eccl 4:6)
Do you still really
want to know how to be happy? OK, A guaranteed formula: "Godliness
with contentment is great gain."(1 Tim 6:6) If you really desire
happiness, be content with what you already have.Try it; you'll like
it!"
If God did not supply it to you then you really may not need
it even to now serve Him with Joy.
(1 Sam 2:7 KJV) The LORD maketh poor, and
maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
RUTH IN CONTRAST TO MANY OF US TODAY SHE WAS ONE
WHO CLEARLY LEARNED CONTENTMENT WITH WHAT SHE HAD AND SHE ALSO HAD THE RIGHT
PRIORIES AND GOD NEXT REWARDED HER FULLY FOR THIS AS WELL
(Ruth 3:10 KJV) And he said, Blessed be
thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast showed more kindness in the
latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men,
whether poor or rich.
(Job 20:4 KJV) Knowest thou not this of
old, since man was placed upon earth,5 That the triumphing of the
wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment? 6
Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the
clouds; 7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which
have seen him shall say, Where is he? 8 He shall fly away as a dream,
and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his
place any more behold him. 10 His children shall seek to please the
poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.11 His bones are full of
the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust. 12
Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
13 Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his
mouth: 14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps
within him. 15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up
again: God shall cast them out of his belly....18 That which he laboured
for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his
substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein. 19
Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath
violently taken away an house which he builded not; 20 Surely he shall
not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.
21 There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for
his goods.22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits:
every hand of the wicked shall come upon him. 23 When he is about to
fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain
it upon him while he is eating. 24 He shall flee from the iron weapon,
and the bow of steel shall strike him through...( 27) The heaven shall
reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him. 28 The
increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day
of his wrath. 29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the
heritage appointed unto him by God.
(Est 9:22 KJV) As the days wherein the Jews
rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from
sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them
days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to
the poor.
(Psa 72:11 KJV) Yea, all kings shall
fall down before him: all nations shall serve him. 12 For he shall
deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the
needy. 14 He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and
precious shall their blood be in his sight.
(Job 5:15 KJV) But he saveth the poor from
the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.
(Job 5:16 KJV) So the poor hath hope, and
iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
(1 Sam 2:8 KJV) He raiseth up the poor out
of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among
princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the
earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.
(1 Sam 2:9 KJV) He will keep the feet of
his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall
no man prevail.
(1 Sam 2:10 KJV) The adversaries of the
LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the
LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his
king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
(Psa 41:1 KJV) To the chief Musician, A
Psalm of David. Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver
him in time of trouble.
(Psa 41:2 KJV) The LORD will preserve him,
and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not
deliver him unto the will of his enemies. 3 The LORD will strengthen him
upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned
against thee.
(James 5:11 KJV) Behold, we count them
happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the
end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender
mercy.
(Job 42:7 KJV) And it was so, that
after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the
Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for
ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to
my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant
Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your
folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my
servant Job. 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar
the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD
also accepted Job. 10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he
prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and
all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him
in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that
the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and
every one an earring of gold. 12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of
Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six
thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
13 He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14 And he called
the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name
of the third, Kerenhappuch. 15 And in all the land were no women found
so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among
their brethren. 16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and
saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. 17 So Job died,
being old and full of days.
(Mal 2:1 KJV) And now, O ye priests, this
commandment is for you .2 If ye will not hear, and if ye
will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts,
I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I
have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
(1 Pet
4:17 KJV) For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of
God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not
the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the
ungodly and the sinner appear?
(Luke 19:46 KJV) Saying
unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it
a den of thieves.
(Rev 3:19 KJV) As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
(Mal 3:8 KJV) Will a
man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee?
In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have
robbed me, even this whole nation.10 Bring ye all the tithes into
the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now
herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of
heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to
receive it.
Malachi was specifically firstly written to the Levites,
and they are they ones accused of the wrong doings firstly here too. Jesus
began his ministry in the sole Temple too with a whip..
Next note
this recent relgious US southern Baptist editorial about the... "Five things
that can cripple a church By J. Gerald Harris, Editor Published March 16, 2006
The dear Lord Jesus loves the church and has given Himself for it, and He
obviously wants the church to be healthy and vibrant. The devil hates the
church and since its inception has been hurling all the weapons in his
diabolical arsenal in an effort to cripple its witness and its effectiveness.
Let me mention five of the things that weaken the church and minimize its
effectiveness. First, there is the problem of a scandalous leadership. (
past Liberals included). When immorality bred by lust or greed is found among
the leadership of the church the results are devastating. That is precisely
why pastors, church staff and lay leaders such as deacons must have lives
marked by physical chastity, moral purity and spiritual integrity. I
have pastored a church that was marked by a staff member who was guilty of
immorality of the worst sort and the results of his sin had a devastating
impact, not only upon him, but also upon his family, friends, the church and
even the community. In fact, the church may still bear the stigma of that
heinous sin. Someone said that it might take the church a generation to
overcome the humiliating and ignominious scars suffered from the grievous sins
of one staff member. Second, there is the problem of a discordant member
( Constituent members) . I am not speaking of the person who registers an
occasional disagreement. I am not referring to the person who may infrequently
raise a voice of dissent. I am speaking of the person who is born in the
objective mood and negative case – the person who is never happy with what
happens in the church and actually creates dissention. In Proverbs
6:16-19 the Bible actually tells us that there are some things that God hates
or considers an abomination and one thing God despises is the person who sows
seeds of discord among the brethren. Such an individual can make life
miserable for the pastor, sandbag decisions in a church business meeting,
discourage other church members, repel the lost and summons an ominous cloud
over the entire church. Third, there is the problem of apathy. ( too
many Canadian ostriches not dealing wiht the wrongs of others) Vance
Havner said, “We have anarchy in the world, apostasy in the professing church
and apathy in the true church.” An indifferent, indolent, lukewarm church
nauseates God and renders the church helpless and ineffective. One pastor went
down to the train station every day to see the one westbound passenger train
that came through their small town each afternoon at 4:30. One day the ticket
agent, who saw the pastor watch the train pull out of the station each day,
asked, “Preacher, why are you always here to see the 4:30 train pull out of
the station?” The weary pastor said, “I just like to see something
moving forward that I don’t have to push.” Did you hear about the
company that makes blank bumper stickers? They’re for people who don’t want to
get involved. Too many churches have too many people who just don’t want to
get involved. Such apathy cripples the cause of Christ and paralyzes the
effort to build healthy kingdom churches. Fourth, there is the problem of
inflexibility. ( Stubbornness and Laziness are often the main factor behind
this too) Some churches do not grow because the members are so unwilling to
change, so unyielding, so set in their ways. I have known Sunday School class
members that were so married to their class that they would never agree to
serve anywhere else or move to another class or help start another
class. Some classes have their own budget in order to purchase their own
chairs, carpet their own classroom and purchase their own television in case
they want to watch a certain television preacher instead of have their own
teacher teach the lesson. The class is like a country club and for the most
part visitors and new members are not welcome unless they are
“approved.” Gordon Venturella says, “Inflexibility leads to idolatry;
and change is the only road out of self-centered control to servanthood.” Yet
many churches are inflexible – unwilling to change. Fifth, there is the
problem of purposelessness. ( One's wrong goals lead to a larger personal
void..) One church put a sign on their church door in 1963 that stated, “Gone
out of business. Didn’t know what our business was.” Thomas Carlyle said, “A
man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder – a waif, a nothing, a
no man. Have a purpose in life, and, having it, throw such strength of mind
and muscle into your work as God has given you.” The same is true of a church.
Proverbs 29:18 emphasizes: “Where there is no vision, the people
perish…” Is your church avoiding the problems that cripple the family of
God?" and it looks like ours does...
It might have been unintentional but
quite revealing anyway that this above editorial wrongfully too did not
include anything about tithing, money, helping the poor and needy persons.,
and note this seems to applies to most of the churches, Baptist,
Pentecostal etc.,
I know for a fact also
that Robbing God of his tithes, misappropriating them and denying the
poor their portion of the tithes devastates any christian or church as
well. (Isa 3:7 KJV) In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not
be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a
ruler of the people.
There is also no question that most Christian
churches, people do people abuse the tithes, ( giving to God 10% percent of
one's total income) the evangelical churches and pastors included and they do
also steal from the tithes by not giving the local poor people in their local
church their applicable portion of the tithe. All churches should be doing
this good work of giving to the poor people too if they actually practiced the
laws of tithing set forth in the Bible.
(Luke 16:1 KJV) And he said also unto his
disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was
accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he
called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an
account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Deuteronomy
26:12-15 (NIV) 12 When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your
produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the
Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your
towns and be satisfied.(Luke 16:9 KJV) And I say unto you, Make to
yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they
may receive you into everlasting habitations. 10 He that is
faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is
unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not
been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the
true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is
another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? 13 No
servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the
other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve
God and mammon.
Furthermore the Old Testament Levites, and the
poor persons who could enjoy the benefits of the tithes they did not
own or could not own any land, or a house. The Lord God
stated that the Levites would have no inheritance of land but would be given a
portion of the tithe instead. Such an injunction would also apply today to
anyone claiming a right to a tithe too.
Numbers 18:20 (NIV) 20 The LORD
said to Aaron, "You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have
any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the
Israelites..
It is also undeniable still that tithing was, is a
ministry of social welfare and the only church ministers and poor persons who
can, could collect tithes were those who do not own any property or lands
personally too.. still applicable today too. That makes many rich
pastors already who own properties and who get tithes immoral thieves..
undeniable too. Sadly most people realy do not support poor people
unless they are poor or till they become poor themselves, walk in their
footsteps. The Richer people tend
not to help the poor people and that is a fact I have expereinced. Rich
and poor persons tend to be still equal sinners.. All churches should be doing
this good work of giving to the poor people too if they actually practiced the
laws of tithing set forth in the Bible. and there is
more..
There is still a great need to help the poor people
more EVEN ABOUT THE CAUSES OF POVERTY...
(Mat 7:1 KJV) Judge
not, that ye be not judged.2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be
judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest
not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother,
Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own
eye?5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then
shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
(Prov 27:23 KJV) Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and
look well to thy herds. 24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown
endure to every generation?
Neither poverty or prosperity are self inflicted, self caused for God
for his own will makes one person rich and the either person poor..
(Prov 22:2 KJV) The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them
all.
Prosperity is often as a result of one's OWN past family wealth
and MOST poor people generaly come often from a poor family
(Psa 10:2 KJV) The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let
them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
See also
Please do See
also
THERE IS ONLY
ONE FAITH FOR PERSONAL SALVATION , FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST ALONE, AND ONE
BODY OF CHRIST, GOD, AND ONE TEMPLE, IT IS THE CHURCH OF JESUS THE
CHRIST.
Do now Find more
answers in the
Bible
(John 3:16 KJV) For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into
the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be
saved.
A house divided against itself
cannot stand (Mark 3:25) applies to Churches, and
our homes, and our marriages too.