Jesus Christ, the Sure Foundation
Corliss Carter
Jun 18, 2009
Jesus Christ, the Sure Foundation, the One Who Trusts Will Never Be Dismayed
Open Letter to the CHURCH
June 11, 2009
An Open Letter to the Church
"Jesus Christ is the Sure Foundation, the One Who Trusts Will Never Be Dismayed" Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic].
(Isaiah 28:16, AMP) See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. (Isaiah 28:16, NIV)
Dear Pastor,
I am thankful for your teaching on the Word of God but it is my prayer that you and all others who preach and teach will make sure that you preach and teach about having a love and a passion for Jesus Christ instead of a love and a passion for the things of this world. Otherwise, people will be led astray and fall away from the faith. Financial prosperity must not be an idol. We must be taught to seek God and God's will and plan for our lives regardless of the consequences.
We must be taught to love God above all things. (Mark 12:29-31) In Ecclesiastes 5:10, the bible states that: He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. (KJV) The Amplified bible defines vanity as "emptiness, falsity, and futility."
The New International version of this verse is even more revealing: Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. The MacArthur study bible, regarding Eccl. 5:10, states: "The love of money is never satisfied" and then references 1 Timothy 6:9-10. I agree that money can never and will never satisfy any person.
First Timothy 6:9-10 in the Amplified bible reads as follows:
9 But those who crave to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish (useless, godless) and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction and miserable perishing. 10 For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs. 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee from all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart.
12 Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned and [for which] you confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses. The MacArthur Study Bible, on these verses, reminds us that "money itself is not evil since it is a gift from God (Deut. 8:18)" and that "Paul only condemns the love of it." The MacArthur study bible goes on to state that: "The man of God is known by what he: 1) flees from (v. 11); 2) follows after (v. 11); 3) fights for (v. 12); and 4) is faithful to (vv. 13, 14).
The Life Application bible states on these verses that: "Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, most people still believe that money brings happiness. Rich people craving greater riches can be caught in an endless cycle that only ends in ruin and destruction. How can you keep away from the love of money?
Paul gives us some guidelines: (1) realize that one day riches will all be gone (6:7, 17); (2) be content with what you have (6:8); (3) monitor what you are willing to do to get more money (6:9, 10); (4) love people more than money (6:11); (5) love God's work more than money (6:11); (6) freely share what you have with others (6:18)." The Life Application bible then references Proverbs 30:7-9 which states as follows: Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, `Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. (NIV)
The Life Application bible states regarding these verses: "Having too much money can be dangerous, but so can having too little. Being poor can, in fact, be hazardous to spiritual as well as physical health. On the other hand, being rich is not the answer. As Jesus pointed out, rich people have trouble getting into God's kingdom.. Like Paul, we can learn how to live whether we have little or plenty, but our lives are more likely to be effective if we have "neither poverty nor riches."
This analysis is truthful and self-explanatory. Basically, this scripture is stating that one should not seek to be too poor or too rich as either state has the potential for turning us away from God. Pastor, I once heard you tell the story of a person who had apparently left the church because he had given monies to the church but he had not received a financial return on his investment. When one thinks about this story, it is obvious that this person loved money more than the things of God and was giving to the church with the wrong motive and when he did not receive the financial return that he was hoping for then this person "fell away" from the church, so to speak. In short, this person loved money more than God and therefore he left the church.
This is exactly what God through the apostle Paul was warning His people against in 1 Timothy 6:9-10. And, I believe that the scriptures bear repeating here:
9 But those who crave to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish (useless, godless) and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction and miserable perishing.
10 For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs.
Oh, how I have come to love those scriptures because they give an answer for the things that I was facing just a few days ago and is the reason why many in the Body of Christ may be suffering right now. A few days ago, after 14 years of being a rededicated Christian and after being homeless for 3 separate times from 2006-2009, I was faced with a financial crisis which threatened to leave me homeless a 4th time. Needless to say, I was frightened and concerned.
After all, I had been regularly and faithfully (not perfectly) serving God for the last 14 years or so, and I thought that financial crises of this magnitude were behind me. My physical circumstances screamed at me that I was about to fail, not only was I not physically employed but my car which I had recently purchased debt-free had a oil leak and would likely need costly repairs.
As negative circumstances closed in on me and shouted that I was going to fail financially, I had to pray and ask for God to help me to hold on to my faith and trust in Him. God had already warned through His prophet, that the devil was behind crazy circumstances as God was doing a great work amongst His people. God said, in effect, to stay focused on Him.
So I had to quiet my emotions and concentrate on God and silence the other voices in my life that were speaking contrary to the Word of God. I had to silence the voice of the enemy and the voices of the media or the world. It was around this time that God began to deal with me heavily about letting go of the things of this world.
When faced with the loss of possessions, we must do what Job did and bow and worship before God and say: Naked (without possessions) came I [into this world] from my mother's womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord! (Job 1:21, Amplified)
I know that some dispute this passage as Job's words and not God's but I believe that God approved of what Job said and did when He said in the following verse: In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly. (Job 1:22 Amplified)
There are those who preach that the reason for Job's trials were due to fear of his children's sins against God (Job 1:5), but I subscribe to a more traditional view that a primary reason Job suffered was so that God could establish his faith and show Satan that Job was indeed a righteous man who worshipped and served God because he loved God (and because it was the right and righteous thing to do) and not because of the riches of this world nor for the things that God gave to him. After Job's sufferings, God further showed His approval of Job's perseverance by blessing Job with twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10).
Job had passed the test of faithfulness to God and Job had passed the "things of this world" test which I believe that we all must pass as true Christians of God before God rewards us abundantly. The book of Job should be studied by all Christians who suffer intense and severe trials. There are so many rich lessons about the true nature of God that can be learned by studying the book of Job.
Many have spoken and written in the defense of sufferings and trials, and I will add my voice as well. Suffering for righteousness sake and trials help to discipline us, chastise us, teach us, prune us for greater works, and strengthen us. Paul said in Acts 14:22: "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God" (NIV, bold emphasis mine)
Psalms 34:19 states: "A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all." (NIV) The Amplified bible says it more decisively: "Many evils confront the [consistently] righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." (bold emphasis mine) It is my prayer that the full counsel of the bible and the full Wisdom of God will be preached in the churches or the people will die (both spiritually and physically) because they will fall away from God when they go through the trials of life that threaten the loss of the things of this world.
The above scriptures remind us that righteous people do suffer for righteousness sake and that those who do not suffer do not fit the category of the righteous. Thus, if one looks at a righteous person, one would likely see a person suffering and going through many trials for Christ. I do believe that there will be a time of peace from sufferings, even on this earth though not without persecutions, but that time will only come after the test of Job has been passed. For some, the test of Job will have to be passed many times according to God's will and sovereignty.
For the record, Job is one of my heroes. In my opinion, there is no other book in the bible which tells a Christian how to deal with hard and inexplicable times and still come out of it with one's faith and trust in God intact than the book of Job. Truly, the book of Job is and always will be a gift to the true Body of Christ.
The Things of This World
In early May 2009, God began dealing with me about getting free from the things of this world and my attachment to them. I believe that God was also revealing to me that many in the Body of Christ also have a love for the things of this world. 1 John 2:15-16 warns against us having a love for the things of this world because a love for the things of this world directly opposes and diminishes our love for God. Sometimes, this decreased love for God happens without us fully knowing it or realizing it. I believe that this is why God was calling my attention to it.
God wants to call our attention to all ungodly attachments which essentially threaten and diminish our love for Him. In 1 John 2:15-16 the bible states: Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].
And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever. (Amplified Bible, bold emphasis mine) The New Living Translation (Life Recovery Bible, 1998 version) of I John 2:15-17 offers even more insight:
Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever. (NLT, bold emphasis mine)
What really caught my eye was the phrase "pride in our possessions". This phrase pretty much reveals where many people's love is and where my love was at the time - in our possessions. I sincerely believe a love for money can have its roots in a love for the things of this world. This is the reason that we have to be very selective about what we watch on television because many of the commercials and programs cater to the god (idol) of materialism.
On a personal note, when I was faced with a loss of my possessions and potential homelessness I had to admit to God that I was both prideful in my possessions and that I had a love for the things of this world and then repent. God lovingly reminded me that I was supposed to love Him with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:28-31) and not the things of this world. He reminded me that by loving the things of this world or caring about them, that I was basically violating the first and greatest commandment. What is even more chilling is the fact that I was extremely tempted to fall away from the faith and God because of these things.
My concern is that if I was tempted to fall away, then how many more Christians are tempted to fall away and do fall away from faith and trust in God when faced with the loss of money, possessions, or the things of this world? This is the reason that I believe that a love of money and a love for the things of this world is extremely dangerous for the Body of Christ and that the Body of Christ must be consistently warned against having a love of money and a love for the things of this world.
I do believe that God is raising up prophets to warn against a love of money and a love for the things of this world. And, as the Life Application bible puts it: a prophet is not just someone who can predict the future but someone who speaks for God and who proclaims the truth about God's word. (See Life Application Bible Notes on Luke 2:36, 37)
The Life Application Bible had this to say about 1 John 2:15-16: "Some people think that worldliness is limited to external behavior - the people we associate with, the places we go, the activities we enjoy.
Worldliness is also internal because it begins in the heart and is characterized by three attitudes:
(1) the cravings of sinful man-preoccupation with gratifying physical desires;
(2) the lust of his eyes-craving and accumulating things, bowing to the god of materialism; and
(3) boasting of what he has and does-obsession with one's status or importance. When the serpent tempted Eve (Genesis 3:6), he tempted her in these areas. Also, when the devil tempted Jesus in the desert, these were his three areas of attack (see Matthew 4:1-11). "
The Life Application bible goes on to state that "by contrast, God values self- control, a spirit of generosity, and a commitment to humble service. It is possible to give the impression of avoiding worldly pleasures while still harboring worldly attitudes in one's heart." (underline mine)
Two things stand out: first, if Eve and Jesus were tempted this way then we all either have been or will be tempted this way and God is calling upon us to pass the test. The second thing that stands out is that some of us, Christians, think that just because we don't hang out in nightclubs and bars that we are not worldly. But the truth is that we may not be worldly in our actions but we may be worldly in the thoughts and attitudes of our heart. But thank God that God weighs the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Thank God that even though we may not know what is in our heart, God is able to show us what is in our hearts. I want to note that the sad thing is that sometimes we can think we are not in love with the things of this world when we actually are in love with the things of this world.
We are often unaware of the true state of our heart on this issue until God lovingly but firmly holds up a GIANT MIRROR to our heart and says, "Take a look." We need God to show us what is in our hearts.
As Jeremiah 17:9-10 states:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]? 10 I the Lord search the mind, I try the heart, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. (Amplified, bold emphasis mine)
The New Living Translation says it this way:
9 "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? 10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve."
We must ask God to examine our hearts and show us what is truly in our heart. We do not have the ability to know what is in our hearts on our own. We must depend on God. I John 2:17 says that this world and the things of this world are passing away. Thus, those who follow after money and the things of this world are on a false path, a path that is not meant to last.
The Life Application notes states the following about verse 17: "Knowing that this evil world will end can give you the courage to deny yourself temporary pleasures in this world in order to enjoy what God has promised for eternity." We must begin to value eternity over the temporary pleasures of this world.
The MacArthur bible notes on verse 1 John 2:15 state: "Either one is a genuine Christian marked by love and obedience to God or one is a non- Christian in rebellion against God, i. e., in love with and enslaved by the satanically controlled world system. No middle ground between these two alternatives exist for someone claiming to be born again.."
Two things stand out: the first one is that the world system is controlled by Satan and those who love the world and the things of this world are really loving Satan. Satan is actually hiding behind this world's system, he is pulling the strings of this world, he is the evil spirit behind the curtain orchestrating this entire world system. And, God is indicting this world system in this last hour. God is accusing it of being evil and wrong because it steals, it kills, and it destroys - it is of Satan. People are being lured away from God by Satan. Ask yourself: how many hours per day do I spend watching television on a regular basis or doing other things that take me away from God versus how many hours do I actually spend with God, seeking God and doing the will of God. Today, I believe that we have a choice to make: either love a world that is controlled by Satan or love God. Loving God involves obeying God and having faith in God.
John 14:23 states:
23 Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him. (Amplified)
The New Living Translation puts it more boldly:
23 Jesus replied, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. The cleverness of Satan is that he has almost got many of us thinking that he is invisible, that he is not involved at all. But, he is behind it all and we, as Christians, must separate ourselves from the things of this world because of this very reason.
In the movie, "The Lord of The Rings: Return of the King," the main character Frodo was bitten or stung by a spider and the venom of the spider numbed him and made him limp and fall asleep. The spider then wrapped him up in his web. This scene is very similar to what happens to most Christians who love the things of this world. The things of this world has numbed them and dulled their senses to the things of God and caused them to be ineffective in the things of God.
The world system is what kryptonite was like to Superman, it renders us powerless and ineffective in the things of God. Yes, this is exactly the goal of this world system: to render us powerless and ineffective in our walk with God. Our walk with God requires holiness and consecration or separation from the things of this world in order for us to be truly powerful and effective for God Jehovah. The second thing that stands out from MacArthur notes on verse 1 John 2:15 is that we are in a war and we are either on God's side or Satan's (this world's) side, there is no middle ground.
God has been speaking through His prophets that He desires a church (a bride) that is on fire for Him and for the things of God. If we are pursuing the things of this world and taking pride in our possessions it pretty soon becomes clear that we have lost the love for God and the Holy Ghost fire and the power that the church is supposed to have, the very thing that is supposed to be unique to the church. And, this is dangerous. This means a weak, ineffective, immature church without teeth or power. We are no longer on the offensive but instead we are on the defensive and Satan is winning (at least, for the time being).
God has said that He wants a bride who is on fire for Him and God is re-igniting His church inviting His people to come back to Him so that we can begin to advance the Kingdom of God in these last days. We must get rid of a focus on self, and on building our own ministries and instead focus on building the Kingdom of God which has no end.
Briefly, I would like to go back to the MacArthur bible notes on 1 John 2:16
"All that is in the world" in which it states: "While the world's philosophies and ideologies and much that it offers may appear attractive and appealing, that is deception. It's true and pervasive nature is evil, harmful, ruinous, and satanic. Its deadly theories are raised up against the knowledge of God and hold the souls of men captive." (bold emphasis mine)
In addition, MacArthur gives us the following definitions and insights: Lust in this context is "a strong desire for evil things", the flesh "refers to the sin nature of man; the rebellious self dominated by sin and in opposition to God" and the eyes are what Satan uses as a "strategic avenue to incite wrong desires."
The pride of life: "the phrase has the idea of arrogance over one's circumstances, which produced haughtiness or exaggeration, parading what one possessed to impress other people..." Again, MacArthur thoughtfully states on verses 16 and 17: "The world is the enemy of the Christian because it is in rebellion and opposition against God and controlled by Satan..
The 3 openings presented, if allowing access to sin, result in tragedy. Not only must the Christian reject the world for what it is but also for what it does. The Christian also must not love the satanic world system because of its temporary nature. It is in the continual process of disintegration, headed for destruction.. In contrast to the temporary world, God's will is permanent and unchangeable.
Those who follow God's will abide as His people forever. While God offers eternal life to His children, the present age is doomed...." I took and still do take much comfort in I John 2:17 which I will repeat again: And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever. (Amplified Bible)
This scripture freed me to choose God over the world for why would I want to hang on to something that is passing away? And, this is my question for all those who love the things of this world: why would you want to hang on to something that is passing away and doomed to destruction? It makes no sense. It was almost as if God was saying: "my child you don't have to hang on to the things of this world, look, they are passing away." I hope and pray that the truth of this scripture gives you the strength to turn away from the things of this world and the comfort in knowing that you are making the right choice when you choose to love God over this world.
A few weeks after God began dealing with me about the things of this world, I discovered the key to lasting joy: Rejoice in the Lord!! (Isaiah 61:10)
Isaiah 61:10 (NIV) states:
10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. I decided to take my hope and my joy out of my possessions and out of the things of this world and put them in God Jehovah instead.
I learned that I was not supposed to allow the loss or the potential loss of material things make me sad or turn me against God or turn away from God. I told God that if I had to go through homelessness (which is my personal mission field assignment from the Lord) a fourth time, that I would go through it with a joy and a praise in my heart for Him but I would not let the loss of the things of this world get me down anymore. I released all things into God's hands and my whole emotional mindset changed from sadness to joy.
I started rejoicing in the Lord. No longer was my hope in material things instead my hope is in God Jehovah. The Lord is my portion, therefore I will hope in Him. (Lamentations 3:24) On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. I believe that this is a lesson that God wants the Body of Christ to learn as we advance into these last days so that we can release the things of this world and fall in love again with our first love, Jesus Christ. (Revelations 3:2-5)
Luke 21:34 and 36 warns against loving the things of this
world when it states:
34 But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be
overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and
nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares
pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you
suddenly like a trap or a noose; 36 Keep awake then and watch at all times [be
discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength
and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together]
that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.
There will be intense sorrow, intense sadness, and horror for those who fall in love with and love the things of this world and attach themselves to them. Because, when these people are threatened with the loss of these things they will be sorely tempted to turn their back on Jesus Christ and I am talking about seasoned believers.
Unfortunately, many in the church have become so enamored with the things of this world that they have lost their ability to see the things of God clearly and wisely. However, with God's help and with the church's repentance and obedience, restoration of godly wisdom and insight is possible. We, as Christians, must begin to ask ourselves, who is the greater treasure: God or the things of this world? God Jehovah!! We must begin to say: it's only things that I am faced with losing not Jesus Christ. I still have Jesus, who is the Greater Treasure.
Job showed his detachment from the things of this world when he said: Naked (without possessions) came I [into this world] from my mother's womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord! (Job 1:21, Amplified, bold emphasis mine)
We must not love possessions, instead we must love God Jehovah (Mark 12:28-31). Don't worship possessions, instead worship God Jehovah. (Luke 4:8)
The Myth of Financial Independence
Financial independence is a myth and those who are trying to pursue this independence will find themselves in a frustrating and elusive pursuit.
In an article entitled "Where is Your Value" in the May/June 2009 Christian Living magazine, Dave Ramsey states: "Independent of What?"
"We Americans have developed a concept in the last several decades, and we all strive for it- being "financially independent." Independent of what? Can you gain enough money so that you never have to worry or be cautious again? Can you gain enough money to protect your family from injury or sickness? Can you accumulate enough money to be guaranteed you won't lose everything due to war, famine, or the collapse of financial markets? I have never read about or met anyone who could hoard that much money. You can become a better manager and gain more control and peace in the handling of finance, but you can never be totally independent as long as you are alive. Money is active, and you must keep managing it and moving it no matter how much you attain. You can do well-and I expect you to-in handling your money.. but this pursuit should not become all-consuming. You must be careful of spending all your energy and time trying to reach "financial independence" because that place is as nonexistent as the god of that golden calf."
(Christian Living Magazine, May/June 09, page 27)
To the extent that we are teaching or promoting the idea that money will solve all of our problems this is false and misleading, and an elusive promise due to the fact that money simply cannot solve all of our problems, but God can. And no amount of money no matter how large could ever make us independent of God or not dependent on Him or not in need of Him to help us in this world.
Thus, even the largest amount of money cannot keep problems like sickness, disease, or death away. I want to speak to all who are pursuing money and lovingly say that you are on the wrong track. The only required pursuit, the only pursuit necessary is a pursuit of God by becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ and pursuing Him. A pursuit of money and a love for the things of this world will lead you to a dead-end and will, ultimately, cause one to either fall away from the faith or to be strongly tempted to do so.
Many of us have seen the news reports of those who put their faith and trust in the idol of money and when faced with the loss of money and the things of this world these people committed murder and then suicide because they failed to trust in God to see them through the temporary crisis. God, in His infinite wisdom, already knows that the pursuit of money will lead to nothing but pain, troubles, and sorrow. Therefore, in His word, He tells us what the necessary pursuit is and who and what we should love: Matthew 6:33 (Amplified, bold emphasis mine) But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. and The Two Great commandments, Mark 12:28-31 (Amplified, bold emphasis mine)
28 Then one of the scribes came up and listened to them
disputing with one another, and, noticing that Jesus answered them fitly and
admirably, he asked Him, Which commandment is first and most important of all
[in its nature]? 29 Jesus answered, The first and principal one of all commands
is: Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord;
30 And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and
out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind
(with [your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and
with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. 31 The
second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There
is no other commandment greater than these.
Thus, God, in Mark 12:28-31, has already made clear and established what all of our priorities should be and to follow after a love of money and the things of this world is to be in direct violation of these two commandments.
Our Attitudes Towards the Poor
Nothing shows our true motives than our attitudes towards the poor. Yet, Jesus' mission was to preach the gospel to the poor and He regularly pronounced blessings upon the poor and condemned those who were rich and relied on those riches.
1 THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound (Isaiah 61:1, AMP)
20 And solemnly lifting up His eyes on His disciples, He said: Blessed (happy--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, apart from your outward condition--and to be envied) are you poor and lowly and afflicted (destitute of wealth, influence, position, and honor), for the kingdom of God is yours! (Luke 6:20, AMP)
I often think that God has allowed me to experience prolonged poverty in order to see and examine how other Christians treat the poor. God has revealed to me that a large part of the call that He has placed upon my life can be found in Jeremiah 6:27:
I [says the Lord] have set you. as an assayer and a prover of ore among My people, that you may know and try their doings and be like a watchtower. (Amplified version)
The New International Version states it this way: I have made you a tester of metals and my people the ore, that you may observe and test their ways. This is not a call that I sought after or even knew existed many years ago when God placed it upon my life. I just remember going through a period of test after test from the Lord and wondering why He was testing me so much and not long afterwards God took me to this scripture in Jeremiah which I had never known before and revealed to me His purpose for my life.
Since that time, I have written many letters and emails challenging God's people to line up with God's word, will and purpose. One area that continues to trouble me is our attitudes towards the poor. I sincerely believe that our attitudes towards the poor need to line up with the Word of God (how God identifies with and treats the poor). God is watching us and we are held accountable for how we treat and respond to the poor among us. I really do believe that we will be judged by our attitudes towards the poor and how we treat the poor among us.
None of us lives to ourselves. We are all dependent upon one another in one form or fashion. None of us makes it by ourselves. We either have God's help, parents help, a mentor or friend's help, the bank's help etc. to get us to where we are today. So, there is no need for pride or arrogance on anyone's part. Surely we are all dependent upon God for His help, for if God does not give us breath in our bodies and the strength to work, then none of us could live or earn a living for ourselves.
God favored the poor when He called a young girl, reputed to be of limited means, to be the mother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As most people know, the name of the young virgin was Mary.
According to the Life Application bible: "Mary was young, poor, female-all characteristics that to the people of her day, would make her seem unusable by God for any major task. But God chose Mary for one of the most important acts of obedience he has ever demanded of anyone." (Life Application Notes on Luke 1:27,28)
Mary submitted to God even though the risks were huge. "A young unmarried girl who became pregnant risked disaster. And Mary, with her story about being made pregnant by the Holy Spirit, risked being considered crazy as well. Still Mary said, despite the possible risks, "May it be to me as you have said." (Life Application Notes on Luke 1:38)
We should all be like Mary. In Mary's song, she further gives clues as to her financial condition and her true status in life. The Message version of Luke 1:47-55 states (notice, that she was not rejoicing because she had won a million dollars but because she was chosen to be used by God for an important task):
46-55 And Mary said, I'm bursting with God-news; I'm dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened- I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him. He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts. He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold. He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high. It's exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now. One should read these verses in other translations because they are powerful. Many people dance and rejoice because they have gotten or won some money but very few of us can dance and rejoice simply because we love God and we are in service to Him. The Message bible commentary on this scripture states: "Those who see their need of Christ, and are desirous of righteousness and life in him, he fills with good things, with the best things; and they are abundantly satisfied with the blessings he gives. He will satisfy the desires of the poor in spirit who long for spiritual blessings, while the self-sufficient shall be sent empty away."
Sometimes we are taught in Body of Christ that lack is always a curse or it always means that a person or their actions are not approved of by God. The stories of Abraham and Sarah, Hannah, and Zechariah and Elizabeth show us that lack is not necessarily a curse as some teach and preach. But instead lack, in some cases, may signal that some purpose of God is yet to be fulfilled and that a timing issue is involved. Again, the delay may mean that God's purpose is yet to be revealed in someone's life but if one stays faithful to God then God will eventually answer prayer and bring the thing promised.
Jesus Was Rich On The Inside As Well
Although some like to preach on how rich Jesus Christ was while He was on this earth, I prefer to focus on the fact that Jesus did not think it robbery to be identified with the poor or to preach to the poor with love and compassion and to help the poor. By doing these things Jesus showed how rich He was on the inside. In addition, He made the fair treatment of the poor and needy a part of the judgment of unbelievers and believers as described in Matthew 25:31-46:
31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory (His majesty and
splendor), and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of
His glory.32 All nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them
[the people] from one another as a shepherd separates his sheep from the
goats;33 And He will cause the sheep to stand at His right hand, but the goats
at His left. 34 Then the King will say to those at His right hand, Come, you
blessed of My Father [you favored of God and appointed to eternal salvation],
inherit (receive as your own) the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me
something to drink, I was a stranger and you brought Me together with
yourselves and welcomed and entertained and lodged Me, 36 I was naked and you
clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me with help and ministering care, I was
in prison and you came to see Me. 37 Then the just and upright will answer Him,
Lord, when did we see You hungry and gave You food, or thirsty and gave You
something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger and welcomed and
entertained You, or naked and clothed You? 39 And when did we see You sick or
in prison and came to visit You?40And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell
you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of
these My brethren, you did it for Me.
Jesus then goes on to state in Matthew 25:41-46 that those who ignore the needs of the poor and needy will enter into eternal punishment because in ignoring the poor and needy and failing to supply their needs they ignored Him. We are living in a time where the poor (even the Christian poor, even the Christian prophets) are mocked, ignored, ostracized, isolated, and mistreated.
Oh, but let a rich person come into our midst and people are falling all over themselves to accommodate them. This practice was condemned in James 2:1-10 where it states that Christians are not to show favoritism to the rich while ignoring or mistreating the poor. In contrast, God singles out the poor for blessings in Luke 6:20. He states that it will be hard for those who are rich and who rely upon their riches to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew 19:16-24.
He also recognizes and rewards those who give gifts to the poor. The Psalms are full of scriptures about rewards for gifts to the poor and about how gifts to the poor are seen as gifts to the Lord. Also, in Acts 10:1-4, God singled out Cornelius and his entire family for salvation, precisely because of his gifts to the poor:
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion
in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout
and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God
regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He
distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said,
"Cornelius!"
4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The
angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a
memorial offering before God.
The bottom-line is that we in the Body of Christ really do need to reconsider and re-examine our attitudes towards the poor to see if they truly do line up with God and His Word or we risk offending God Himself.
The Righteous Do Suffer
The Book of Job is proof that the righteous suffer and that this suffering does not mean that God does not love or approve of the sufferer. In the book of Job, God declared Job righteous just before Job suffered the great loss of his property, his children, and his health.
8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." (Job 1:8) And then after Job fell down and worshipped God after losing his children and property, God declared him righteous again and stated that Satan had caused God to allow Job to suffer without cause.
3 And the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who [reverently] fears God and abstains from and shuns all evil [because it is wrong]? And still he holds fast his integrity, although you moved Me against him to destroy him without cause. (Job 2:3)
Satan contended that Job only feared and served God for His blessings and he suggested that if God took it all away then Job would curse God and stop serving Him. God then allowed Satan to tempt Job and to see whether Satan's suggestion was true. When Satan's suggestion was disproved by Job's perseverance and faithfulness, then God blessed Job with twice as much as he had before. (The Book of Job)
Countless scriptures (Psa. 34:19, Acts 14:22, 2 Cor. 1:5-6, 1 Pet. 4:12-16, John 16:33 among others) let us know that the righteous face many evils and troubles but God will deliver us out of them all. So why are we surprised when the righteous suffer? This is contrary to scripture.
In John 16:33, Jesus Himself, states:
33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] (Amplified)
John 16:33 is interesting in that it states that in the world we will have challenges and trials, but we are to be of good cheer because Jesus Christ has already overcome the world. It also suggests that troubles in this world are inescapable but we can overcome them through our relationship with Jesus Christ through the peace that we find in Him. Thus, we should not be going around trying to avoid troubles and trials that will inevitably come.
Instead, we should be building our relationship with Christ so that when the storms of life do show up we are able to use this relationship with Christ to withstand the storm. The Life Application bible states on this verse: "If we remember that the ultimate victory has already been won, we can claim the peace of Christ in the most troublesome times."
My goal is not to avoid every single trial and trouble, which is impossible to do. However, my goal is to try and stay close to God so that when the storms of life do come then I can withstand them and outlast them until the victory is won and the storm is over. There is so much fear of trials and suffering for Christ's sake in the Body of Christ that people have forgotten that God is here to see us through it all. We are never alone and with His help we will always triumph. In 2 Corinthians 2:14 it states: But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere. (Amplified)
Therefore, there is no need to fear any trial because we know that God is with us and will deliver us so long as we are obedient to Him. I like to say that the true disciple of Christ is never defeated and can never be defeated. The one who trusts will never be dismayed no matter what the world says, thinks, or does. (Isaiah 28:16)
The Laborer Is Worthy of His/Her Wages
In the Body of Christ, we have lost the ability to recognize among us those who work and labor for the Lord and the things of God. We think that everyone should have a corporate job at all times and earn a paycheck from man at all times and while that is nice God does not always allow it at all times for His people.
We need to begin to recognize that working for the Lord is an assignment from the Lord and sometimes it may be a full-time job. Also, we need to be taught that every full-time worker for the Lord is not in the church pulpit but there are many disciples of Christ out working for the Lord in the field. Field ministry has a legitimate right to support just as much as church ministry.
There are missionaries at home and abroad who do the work of the Lord that need our support both financial and spiritual through prayers. There are prophets at home and abroad who do the work of the Lord who need our love and support both financial and spiritual through prayers.
There are those who like to preach how rich Jesus was while on earth, but even Jesus had the financial support of those who followed His ministry.
Luke 8 made note of the many women who followed Jesus and the disciples and it states that "these women were helping to support them out of their own means." (Luke 8:3)
In addition, Jesus, Himself, sent out seventy two disciples and He told them to find a house, stay in the house, and eat and drink whatever was given to them "for the worker deserves his wages." (Luke 10:7)
These disciples were doing the work of the Lord and Jesus said that they deserved to be paid for it. Our society, even the church society, is so money-oriented and worldly focused that we think that everyone should be working at a corporate job and if they are not then they should not be supported. We have lost the ability to see, love, and appreciate God's laborers among us. We tend to only recognize those in the pulpit and this is wrong.
I am not advocating that someone pay someone for sheer laziness but if you know that someone is working for Christ and you have proof of this then that person deserves your love and support including your prayers.
Paul stated in Romans 15:27 that those who gave spiritual things should be blessed in return with material things. There needs to be a recognition that God's laborers everywhere need our support (whether it be financial or spiritual) and that these laborers are not just in the pulpit but there are many who are working in the field both at home and abroad.
We need to listen to the Holy Spirit as to who to help and when but not be ignorant of the fact that God has given full-time assignments to many of His disciples to work in the fields and to gather up the harvest of souls and those who willingly do this labor or work are indeed worthy of our wages.
A whole new education needs to take place within the Body of Christ of the true things of God, or the Body of Christ will not be effective in the world the way we are supposed to be. The church's blindness and ignorance to these things is further persecuting the prophets and disciples of God and adding to our burdens instead of alleviating them.
As Jesus said, "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Luke 10:2)
The Importance of Discipleship: Disciples vs. Church-Goers
It is time for the people in the church to begin to follow Jesus Christ for themselves and become true disciples of Jesus Christ. Discipleship is the only way to truly have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Being a church-goer is not the same as being a disciple of Jesus Christ, because the latter requires a great commitment. There are too many church-goers in the church and not enough disciples. Church-goers love the things of this world and have not made a denial-of-self commitment to Jesus Christ.
Disciples of Christ have decided to lay down their lives for Christ and have decided to turn their back on the things of this world. Too often people preach that people should come to church when they should be preaching that people should become disciples.
Jesus did not call church-goers, instead He called disciples. Church-goers will never be able to be effective and fruitful for the Kingdom of God because they lack the very knowledge and power of Jesus Christ, Himself. Disciples on the other hand, have the very power of Jesus Christ operating on the inside of them and thus, can be extremely effective and fruitful for the Kingdom of God. I have met church-goers and I have met disciples of Christ and there is a big difference on where their focus is and their knowledge of the things of God.
Church-goers are self-focused and self-centered, but disciples of Christ are, by definition, Christ-focused and Christ-centered.
Jesus told us to go and make disciples, He did not tell us to go and make church-goers.
If we can get more disciples of Christ, then we can set this world on [spiritual] fire for Jesus Christ. Strive to be a disciple of Christ because all church-goers without a sincere and total commitment to Christ will be judged and are in danger of falling away from Jesus Christ when the going gets rough. Let those who fit the description of a church-goer without a total commitment to Christ, simply repent of their sins and turn towards Christ.
One cannot be a true, long-lasting, stable Christian without a subsequent decision (after salvation) to become a disciple of Christ. It is impossible to be a true long-lasting Christian without becoming and being a disciple of Christ. I realize that this is a process, but it is a process that must be entered into or a lack of long-lasting commitment to Christ will result. In order to truly be like Christ, one must do what Christ does. One must become a disciple of Christ by studying the life of Christ, following Christ, obeying Christ and by doing what Christ tells them to do. It is as simple as that.
Christ's words can be our guide, if we can make a decision to continuously live by them:
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be
My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself
and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly
to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].
25 For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security
here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and
security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his
life [his blessed life in the kingdom of God]? Or what would a man give as an
exchange for his [blessed] life [in the kingdom of God]?
27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory (majesty, splendor) of His
Father with His angels, and then He will render account and reward every man in
accordance with what he has done. (Matthew 16:24-27)
Out of the greater commitment of discipleship, however, comes an intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ as Jesus reveals the many facets of Himself only to His disciples. We must begin to make disciples as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:18-20:
18 Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be). (Amplified)
We must begin to preach true discipleship, a total denial-of-self discipleship and not a watered down version of discipleship. The same kind of discipleship that Jesus taught and that Paul embarked upon is necessary. Jesus has already given the guidelines for true discipleship (study Matthew 16:24-27) and if we deviate from these guidelines the church will not be effective or powerful but will instead be ineffective and powerless.
True discipleship will be the only thing that will bring the victory. We must begin to read through the bible on a regular basis and find out for ourselves who Jesus truly was and is and not rely upon others to define Jesus for us. We must seek to know Jesus for ourselves and He is found in the scriptures. We cannot rely upon others, because others may give us only a watered-down version of Jesus and not the Jesus who is a real God who can help us to deal with real problems but a Jesus who is also strong, tender, loving, and compassionate. Jesus is the God of truth, justice, and mercy.
Bottom-line, if we say that we want Jesus then we must want discipleship. We cannot have Jesus without true self-denial discipleship. One cannot have one without the other, it is an impossibility. One cannot have Jesus without discipleship. Those who think they can are sadly mistaken. There is a high cost to discipleship and Jesus encouraged us to count the cost but the rewards are Jesus. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the greatest reward that any of us could ever have and all that we have and own should be used to increase and develop our relationship with Him. Only true disciples are able to see the true treasure of Jesus Christ, church-goers will be blind to this fact and go on pursuing money and the things of this world.
This pursuit of money and the things of this world will result in fruitlessness, ineffectiveness, and powerlessness while discipleship and a dedication to following Jesus Christ will result in fruitfulness and being effective and powerful for the Kingdom of God.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to draw attention to the words of scripture found in Isaiah 28:16. When I was asking God within myself: God can I really trust you to bring me out, to bless me, if I continue to follow You wherever you lead me? His response to me can be found in Isaiah 28:16 which states: Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic]. (Isaiah 28:16, AMP)
The New International version puts it another way: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed. (Isaiah 28:16)
The words, at the time, that leapt off the page at me and immediately comforted me were these: "the one who trusts will never be dismayed." Through His word in Isaiah 28:16, God was letting me know that anyone who puts their total faith and trust in God would never be ashamed, disappointed, dismayed or destroyed no matter what happened. I had His word on that. His word is good enough for me. I believe that this is God's message to anyone who wants to step out on faith and leave behind the things of this world and follow Jesus Christ as a true disciple.
This is what I called discipleship without worry because God assures us in Isaiah 28:16 that everything is going to be alright if we will just trust in Him to see us through. Oh, what a blessed assurance and peace to know that the person who trusts God will never be ashamed or dismayed. Jesus Christ is our only true and sure foundation upon which to build our lives and when we build our lives upon Him by pursuing Him then we can rest assured knowing that the victory is ours. Isaiah 28:16 says to me that if we place our faith and hope in Jesus Christ and Jesus alone (not money or the things of this world) then we will never be dismayed.
Finally, God is saying in Isaiah 28:16 that Jesus Christ, not money or the things of this world, is the proven and sure foundation for all of humanity to rest and pin our hopes upon. Jesus is the solid rock and foundation upon which we can all stand knowing that He will never leave or forsake us. On Christ the solid rock we stand (not love of money or the things of this world), all other ground (love of money and the things of this world) is sinking sand.
By clinging to God, as a belt clings to the waist of a man, only then will we be able to withstand the perilous times and successfully resist the temptation to fall away from the faith. Christ is our sure bet in these perilous times. A love of money and the things of this world will ensure our defeat but if we pursue Christ and follow Him as a true disciple then we will overcome this world and receive a crown of glory in the time to come. Let us become true disciples of Jesus Christ and embrace the full counsel of the Word of God without fear, knowing that Jesus Christ will never leave or forsake us.
Hebrews 13:5 reiterates this further when it states: 5 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]
These are the things that must be preached and taught in the coming days if we are to avoid a huge falling away from the faith of Jesus Christ. I believe that I have been led by God to write these things in an attempt to avoid this falling away. As we stand on the solid foundation that God has given us through Jesus Christ, we will successfully avoid the pitfalls that come with loving money and the things of this world.
Finally, God has already given us Someone who we can believe in and trust in and His name is Jesus Christ. God has already shown us the way to success, the path to travel upon, the road to choose. Jesus Christ is the sure foundation (given to us by God Jehovah, Himself), not the love of money or the things of this world.
Please let God's words in Isaiah 28:16 be your guide in the coming days ahead. Let's accept God's greatest and precious gift of Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life to Heaven in the coming days ahead. (John 14:6) There is only one sure way to keep from falling away from the faith and it is by putting our faith and trust in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. My Trust is in God Jehovah!!
(Additional Reference Scriptures: Proverbs 11:4 and Proverbs 11:28)
Sincerely, Corliss Carter (cncarter2001@yahoo.com