Seek First the Kingdom of God Part Three

The love of money

One of the hardest things to overcome, when you are trying to "Seek first the Kingdom of God" is realizing that God, does not care about money. He really doesn't care about money. "Yes he does. He wants ten percent of mine. What are you talking about? Everyone cares about money." No, not really..

Matthew 22:

20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

When talking about Tithing, God said this..

Malachi 3:

8 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.

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house." So that those that have little, or nothing of their own, will be taken care of. That the needs of the Church, are met. So that the Pastor, Rabbi, Teacher, whatever, is able to teach, and not worry about going out and plowing the fields themselves.

You see, Tithes and Offerings are not solely financial. The Churches need money because of the systems WE set up. Not God. We declare this shinny rock valuable. We declare this piece of paper valuable. God did not come up with the concept of money. We did.

In many cases, we have put this money, before God himself. Mankind has made money our Life. Our Banks have become Churches. The Stock Market, has become god. It gives, it taketh away. Money has in essence, become our god.

God says, no. God says He is God. One of the hardest things for us to do, IS....

Matthew 6:

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

It's hard because we have to give up on our god, money, to truly worship the real God. We have to go against the grain. Against the World System. We have to see God as greater than it. Able to supply our needs. This is why it is so hard for some to obey this commandment. By not giving God ten percent, you are in essence, saying that you need to rely on yourself and what you can provide for, to meet your needs. God says, rely on Me. God will show you, that by trusting Him to meet your needs, that ninety percent will go far further than that one hundred percent. Trust me. I can tell you this one from experience. Mathematically? It makes no sense. But it is true.

Remember what Jesus said to the Rich man?

Luke 18:

22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Most people who are rich, are rich because they put money first in their lives. The seek it, protect it, some share it, and they love it. They have a false sense of security and comfort. God doesn't care how much money you have. It does not impress Him. 

What would impress Him is if the Rich man DID sell all he had, feed the poor, clothed the naked, and helped those in need. Then, the Rich man would be using his resources for the works and Will of God. He would be blessed even more abundantly than he is now. Jesus told him to put God first. He went away because he could not give up his money.

You see, money is a tool. It is not good or evil. The LOVE of money is evil. Money as a god in your life, IS evil. But money that people use, again, because of our system, for good, is a blessing. If someone was to receive a million dollars, turn around and give most of it away, is it evil? If I have a million dollars, I go out and build a shelter for poor homeless children, is the home evil? No. If I receive a million dollars, and I invest in it, making more, bank it, and use it for my own desires, is it evil then? No. I sin, by putting it before God. Money itself is nothing. In....

Luke 12:

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

The problem comes in when we decide that we must worship money. When that is all we care about. When we wake up thinking about it, work hard trying to get it, and get it more abundantly, and die trying to protect it. We leave little room for God.

We have people that learn how to negotiate the Stock Market for you. They become your Priests. They tell you what the Stock Market will or will not do. They instruct you on the best investments to make, and those to stay away from. They make a lot of money themselves, controlling your money.

In...

Hebrews 13:

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

And in...

Matthew 6:

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

God wants you to be mostly concerned with God, and doing His Will. He tells us he is our Father, and we are His Children. He know's what we have need of. He wants us to rely on Him. Not man. Not ourselves. But to have a real one on one relationship with Him.

Sometimes we just need to stop worrying about our finances and the future we are trying to protect for ourselves, for none of us truly know what lies ahead tomorrow. Today may very well be your last day on Earth. So who's stuff does all your stuff become? Jesus makes it really clear in....

Luke 16:

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.

And again in....

Matthew 16:

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

God doesn't want you worrying about the electric bill. He doesn't want you worrying about where your next meal is coming from. He doesn't want you to concern yourselves with the cares of the world. He is you Father. He is your Daddy. He wants you to put Him first in your life. You can make all the promises you want. You can say all the words you want. God knows your heart.

If He knows that you would do something righteous with a million dollars, could He give it to you? Yup. If you will do nothing but squander it, chances are, you will never see it. See, God does not care if you are the head of the multi billion dollar company, or the one who's responsibility is to clean the toilets. He wants to be first in your life. Not money. Not Idols. Not even loved ones. He wants to be number one in your life.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus IS Lord of all!