Saints' View of Wealth 23 [Jam 5:1-6] / Anne's Faith Column

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 Saints' View Of Wealth 23

 [Jam 5:1-6]

/ Anne's Faith Column

 

 

/ By Pastor Priscilla

 

 

 Today's scriptures tell us

about the use of money

 

 

and warnings about

the accumulation

of wealth of the rich,

 

 

and correcting the view

of wealth of all the saints. 

 

 

In particular,

the scriptures are telling

us to be on the lookout

for the misconduct

 

 

 

of the vast majority

of the rich and resulting

in their disasters.

 

 

 

 We can see the part

that mentions that

 

 

 

we must not imitate

the conducts of their

lives or misdeeds

they have done. 

 

 

 

We must turn our

attention to God, and

live the lives of good

and faithful managers.

 

 

 

 People in the world

have various opinions

about the view of wealth,

 

 

 

but one thing

we must keep in mind

is that we must first

be the vessel to hold

the blessing of wealth

God gives us.

 

 

 

 With that qualification,

we must consider

the blessing of wealth

 

 

 

that God pours out

as a mission given to us,

 

 

 

and we must manage

our wealth well and

live as good and

faithful managers. 

 

 

 

However, unless our

actions toward wealth

are humble, it is

difficult to do God's

will correctly.

 

 

 

 This is because

we are too weak to

overcome the desire

for achievement,

desire for property,

 

 

 

and greed among the

endless desires that arise

 in our minds while

 living in a sinful world. 

 

 

 

It is also true that

it is not easy to dare

to go through the world

without particularly

strong faith.

 

 

 

 Without the guidance,

protection, and work

of the Holy Spirit,

 

 

 

we will live an uneasy

life in which we cannot

even know when we will

fall into the pit and trap.

 

 

 

 In a way, living

in the continuing life

is like performing

acrobatics in the air.

 

 

 

In addition,

our busy lives make us

keep saying that'a day

is hectic' in a sense

of urgency under a

lot of pressure. 

 

 

 

 

The more difficult

it is for us to check

ourselves, the more

we must pray to the Lord

 for our discernment.

 

 

 

 In a repetitive reality

like spinning a squirrel

wheel, we are leading

our busy lives, as if being

pushed by someone. 

 

 

 

In our daily lives,

we cannot avoid our

realities under a lot of

pressure today.

 

 

 

 Even in such

circumstances, we

must acknowledge

that the only reason

 

 

 

we can lead our lives

is that we have faith

to rely on God and

 

 

endure those

circumstances with.

 

 

 

 At this time,

what do you think about

living with the notion

everything we already

own is ours? 

 

 

 

We absolutely consider

what we own as ours. 

 

 

 

This very concept of

possession can hinder

us from coming

before God. 

 

 

 

Unless we throw

away this stereotype

of'ownership' or hand it

over to God, we can't

achieve peace.

 

 

 

 Also, if we consider

all possessions as ours

and strive to keep them,

 

 

 

or if we constantly

try to multiply our

wealth endlessly,

 

 

 

it becomes more difficult

to wisely manage all

possessions that God

has granted us.

 

 

 

 So we need wisdom

to this, above all,

 

 

 

we must re-establish

our relationship

with God.

 

 

 

 Before the Lord gives us

the blessing of wealth,

God always tests us

to see where the

 

 

 

'current

address of our faith'

is and where the

'center of our minds' is.

 

 

 

 We are 'debtors of love'

and it's impossible

to pay the love back

to the Lord. 

 

 

 

So we should serve

God with thanksgiving

and we must never

forget that we owe

Jesus love. 

 

 

 

This is because,

by his atonement for

our sins on the cross,

 

 

 

Jesus gave us a

confirmation of love

for us.

 

 

 How can we forget

his love for moving

our place from a group

of sinners to a group

of righteous people? 

 

 

 

Therefore, we must

re-establish the view

of wealth again.

 

 

 

 1) We must not slow

down our prayerful

  attitude toward God.

 

 

 

 2) We must humbly

manage the wealth

given to us.

 

 

 3) We must promote

good work.

 

 

 

 Therefore, God wants us

to defend the cause

of the fatherless,

the widow,

 

 

and the alien and to treat

others around instead

of the Lord.

 

 

And I hope that

we become Christians

who are willing to live

lives of good and

faithful managers

 

 

 

and beautiful lives

that give all glory

to the Lord.

 

 

 Prayer

 

 

 

 Lord! 

As you ask us like this,

'When the blessing

of wealth comes

upon you,

 

 

can you manage it

as a good and faithful

manager?' 

 

 

 

We always feel

embarrassed when

we look back on ourselves.

 

 

 

 Help us to receive

and enjoy the blessings

you will give, so that

 

 

 

we may become your

children who live in

your riches with the

right view of wealth.

 

 

 

 Enlarge the territory

of our hearts, and

help us to build an

altar with greater fear

 

 

 

and trust in the Lord

and with thanksgiving! 

 

 

 

 

Amen.

 

 

 

  2009/01/19

 

 

/ By Priscilla