Biblical Heart Check, Love of Money

Love of possessions.

We are about to dive deep into this Prayer that David prayed to God and challenges us to do the same;

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Pslam 139:23-24

As we discussed last time, it is scary for us to pray because of the answer that God may give us. We may be going to church. Some may even be reading their Bible all the time and praying daily. However, are there distractions in your heart? We read things like this.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

We read things like this.

“And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

Yet we are told that the heart is evil. Without Yeshua or Jesus, it is. Without the Holy Spirit in you, it is nothing but a flesh-loving heart. It is easily distracted and this is what we will be talking about today. Here is one of the first and biggest distractions of a flesh-loving heart.

Love of money and possessions. The Bible warns against the dangers of materialism and the temptation to prioritize wealth over God. For example, Matthew 6:24 says

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

Why? Because Jesus knows the human heart. He even told us this.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Why? Our love of money and our love for possessions. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” But I thought there was nothing wrong with wanting more. I thought keeping up with the Joneses was normal and a good thing. It helps you to desire to be better. Right? Wrong. Jesus helps you to be better. The Holy Spirit helps you to be better. God changes your heart, and HE makes you better.

What you are talking about is covetousness. Jesus said this.

“And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15

Why?

“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.” Proverbs 11:28

Remember the story of the rich man and his barns?

“And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."'

But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21

Jesus goes on to say this.

“And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.” Luke 12:22-23

I have known workaholics. I have been a workaholic. I worked two full-time jobs and slept every other day or so. It only lasted about 7 months until something had to give. The sad thing is, that some people are so afraid of losing stuff, that they spend half their lives trying to stay one foot ahead of the grave, which puts them in it. You can only go so far on empty until you simply stop going. What is Jesus’s answer for us? His answer for us to have our needs met?

“And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:29-32

You are a prince or princess of Heaven. The Alpha, and The Omega, The Beginning and the End, The Creator of the Universe is now your Daddy. Are you going to worry about the electric bill? The cable?

If having a TV is a worry, you may need to rethink your priorities. If you cannot put food on the table, but you can watch your favorite show, you may want to rethink your priorities. If you cannot go to Bible Study, because you cannot miss your favorite show? Somebody say amen. If you cannot put food on the table because you have a $700.00 a month car payment, you may want to rethink your priorities. If your kids are wearing worn-out clothes and eating scraps, but you can afford those cigarettes and that alcohol, you should check your priorities. I warned you this series was going to sting some. We are doing a heart check. How is yours?

“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” 1 Chronicles 16:11

We are going to end today with this. 1 Peter 4

“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this, they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does”

Talking to you child of God

“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter: 1-11

We do not know what tomorrow will bring. The rich man died on the eve of completing his bigger barn. Tomorrow is nowhere to be found. Jesus tells us that the morrow will worry about itself and is filled with evil. James tells us this.

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”, yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” James 4:13-16

What is your heart's desire? Is it money and stuff? Or are you doing what God said to do?

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Be the child of God, that God calls you to be.

Have you been adopted into the Family of God? Would you like to be? It is simple. Say this prayer. 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 believed He rose from the dead. 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 is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall 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

Email if you wish to contact me, it's truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost, and the peace of our Lord Jesus, be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!