yourself.” Pray today and seek the Lord about every direction for your life in terms of family, career, health or whatever the case maybe because he will direct your steps.
Amassing the Kingdom not the Pockets
What shall I render to the Lord for all of his benefits towards me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord, Now in the presence of all of His people (Psalm 116:12, NKJV).”
I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1, NKJV).”
“Bless the Lord all my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name.” Thank God for yet another privilege to speak as the “Holy Spirit gives thee utterance.” God is an awesome God and worthy of all of the praises and I am thankful and humbled that he chose me as an instrument for his glory, that is why I thought it necessary to talk today in reference to what is our true motivation for what it is that we do as it relates to God’s work and advancing the kingdom? Because like it or not, as Christians our first focus should be faithful obedience and total submission to God’s will for our lives and serving him until he returns.
It is quite evident as we look all around us that people need God at the forefront of their lives. They chase after money, status, position, titles and all the things that the world tells them makes a person whole and complete but often times more than not, they find that after acquiring these things, they are still empty and unfulfilled. Why? Because what they are searching for through things is a fallacy. It isn’t things that makes us who we are but it is God that completes us! So having stated such, we as people of God need to understand that going after stuff should not be our main focus and objective either but chasing after God and winning souls for him. Too many people engage or entangle themselves in the cares of life to the neglect of their relationship with God and the Bible tells us emphatically that, that is a tool of the enemy to get us distracted that we may become fruitless (Luke 8:14, NKJV).”
I don’t know about you but I desire to live a life that is obedient and surrendered to the will of God. I am not imperfect nor am I claiming to be but it is my desire to serve God while I have time. I recognize that there are innumerable opportunities all around me to bless others and if I allow myself to make money and the “world’s goods” my focus then I can’t be all God requires me to be. If what I do is motivated by fine cars, fine houses, “people praises,” titles, positions and all other insignificant things, then when those things are taken away, my passion and focus goes with it. But if what I am doing is for God’s glory and not my own, then no matter what happens on this “side of life,” I will keep my eyes upon him, “looking unto God which is the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:2, KJV).”
I don’t know who is reading this article today but I implore you “do all to the glory of God (Colossians 3:17, NKJV).” Let all that you do in life be motivated by your love for God and pleasing him, let all that you do be to see other’s lives spiritually transformed and walking in relationship with God. Let all you do not be motivated by money as it is sure “ we brought nothing with us when we came into this world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it (I Timothy 6:7, NLT ),” so, let all you do be a testimony of the awesomeness and faithfulness of God in operation in your life so that people may see you more than just another “motivational speaker” or “life coach” but one that is loving, faithful and surrendered to God, living a life that is pleasing in his sight and therefore being “salt and light” unto the earth (Matthew 5:13-16, NKJV).”
God already knows that in order for us to survive on this earth that we need to be able to financially support our families. He knows how the world operates and he knows even the things that you need at this moment but the word of God states that “if you seek first the kingdom of God and all of his righteousness then God in his time will provide the things that you need (Matthew 6:33, NKJV).” If God provided “manna” to the children of Israel (Exodus 16:35, NLT), then surely he knows how to provide for your needs and the needs of your family.
But, it is when we make “mammon” our focus that we fall into many destructive behaviors and are consumed for the Bibles states that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows (I Timothy 6:10, NLT).” And sadly, that same mindset and mentality has also crept into many churches today whereas, the primary motivation for what many ministers, evangelists and others in ministry do is geared toward money. But the Bible is very clear that there is nothing “new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9, NKJV).” And, that there were false prophets in Israel just as there will be false teachers among you. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed (II Peter 2: 1, 3, NLT).”
Yes, “money answers all problems (Ecclesiastes 10:19, KJV),” but if it is used deceptively and as a means to twist and distort the word of God for worldly gain, there are consequences for this sinful and corrupt behavior i.e. “It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life (II Peter 2:21, NLT)” and, “Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins (Hebrews 10:26, NLT).” In order words, there is no excuse, when we know better we do better!
In conclusion, hear the truth of the matter, serve God, trust him, let him lead and direct your life and in all that you do, do it in sincerity and with love towards God and love for people in that you tell them the truth of God’s word and acquaint them with who God is that they may have life and that more abundantly that is found only in Jesus Christ (John 14:6, NKJV).”
For You to Ponder: Let everything that you do in life be God-centered. Start every day with seeking to know God’s will and what he would have for you to do? If you have a financial need, pray to the Lord about providing what you need but don’t do anything motivated by money but let all that you do be motivated by your love for others and motivated by your love for God.
Be a true “Good Samaritan” and “Take Action”
“But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him (Luke 10:33-34, NIV).”
Praise God for his indescribable love and another opportunity to operate as an instrument for his glory and to enrich hearts, empower minds and above all pray that the article will expose the true motives of the heart, uproot anything that is not like God and consequently bring about spiritual transformation in the lives of every reader.
Who is a “Good Samaritan?” The Bible states indisputably that a Good Samaritan is a “person that goes beyond their comfort zone, engages themselves in the “dirtiness” of other’s lives and is willing to aid them in their extreme time of privation (Luke 10:33-35, NIV)” or as Minister Stefan Edgecombe so passionately pontificates on his Facebook post, a “true friend is willing to enter into to your experience.” Although the “Good Samaritan” exemplified in this particular scripture is to be commended for his “self-sacrifice” for the benefit of another, I wonder how many people are willing to venture as far as he did for the well-being and advantage of another?
As we look at our world as a whole, there are unlimited opportunities to come alongside and aid people that are in need. For instance, there are many people dealing with unemployment that need help financially, there are many people that are sick and need prayer for healing, there are many people that are “poor” as it relates to not being in relationship with God and need the Gospel
