Money

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Job 24:24 Life On Earth Is Temporary

They are exalted for a little while, then they are gone. They are brought low; they are taken out of the way like all others; they dry out like heads of grain. Job 24:24

Wealth, fame and position are things that people seek, desire and fight for. Each of these are all temporary. It raises a person up to a higher level of status in this world. During that rise, it can appear that it will last for a long time or even eternity, but it is only temporary. Not only are those things temporary, but so are also the people themselves.

After Job points out things that people do that are evil and appear to get away with, he also points out that they are exalted for a short time. Then they are brought low and removed, just like everyone else and they dry out like grain and die.

The majority of people in this world seek to have things and positions to make themselves feel important or successful. Many will work hard, long hours to get the things that they desire. Often many will sacrifice family and friends and some personal pleasures in order to get what is desired.

Once these desires are achieved, many feel accomplished. However, those desires are often very temporary. At a minimum their lives are temporary. All of their money, status or position, is temporary. They rise for a short time, then all will die.

Upon death, then comes the reality of what is really important, whether the person was a follower of Jesus and had all sins forgiven and life given. None of those things, statuses or positions will mean anything any longer. They will pass away from this life only to step into eternity, either in heaven or hell based upon whether sins are forgiven or not.

In this life you may have accomplished some great task, risen to some high position, or gained some great wealth. While all of these things feel good right now, they are temporary. Your life on this earth is temporary. At some point you will die and all of your things and positions will fade away.

When you die you will have to face God for judgement on your life. The judgement is whether your sins have been forgiven or not. This makes the judgement of where you will spend the rest of eternity. Life is short, make it count for God and eternity.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will live your life on earth for God; that you will seek the things of God that will last for eternity; and that you will not get caught up in the temporary things of this world.

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Jesus Politics (book review)

Title: Jesus Politics–How to Win Back the Soul of America
Author: Phil Robertson
Publisher: Nelson Books
Date: 2020
Pages: 181

Jesus Politics
How to Win Back the Soul of America (book review)

Phil Robertson, famous from Duck Dynasty, takes a look at Jesus in politics and the voting booth. He believes in having a kingdom manifesto–a public declaration of policy based upon God’s Kingdom and standards according to the Bible.

In each chapter he takes a look at major issues that can be found in the voting booth and politics. Beginning with a self-experience that brought him to understanding the issue, he then goes into what the problem is. Then he takes a look at what God says in His word about the issue. At the end of each chapter, he challenges the reader to take action and how to take that action inside the voting booth. He also does a short synopsis at the end of the chapter of each chapter pointing out the problem, the manifesto of the King, and putting it into action.

Some of the issues he looks at are money/business, gun ownership, environmental issues, family life, healthcare, mercy and forgiveness. Throughout each chapter he uses a lot of scripture verses and also quotes from the founding fathers of America. He points out how leaders in America have turned America away from the Godly principles the nation was founded upon.

I really enjoy how he weaves in stories of his experiences dealing with each of these issues. Phil is not extremely harsh in pointing out the faults, but he also does not back down from the truth placed in God’s word. It is made very clear that it is the responsibility of believers to vote people into public office who will not back down from holding up God’s word as law in the land.

Whether you are into politics or not, I highly recommend reading this book to have a good view on what is occurring in America in the voting booth, especially this year with voting this week. It is a fairly short read and very easy to read. Phil will encourage you to take a stand for God in the voting booth to make America great and one nation under God again.

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2 Kings 22:7 Being Trustworthy

But they need not account for the money entrusted to them, because they are honest in their dealings. 2 Kings 22:7

Being honest is something that most people want of other people but are often to have found fallen short in their own lives. Many find it easy to cut corners and cheat in order to attempt to make it further. Knowing this, most people struggle with being able to find others trustworthy. As a result, many businesses and organizations set up many different ways to try and hold people accountable with money and things being used.

When Josiah became king, he had men begin to work on restoring the temple. He said that the men doing the work did not have to account for the money given to them because they were honest in what they did.

Everyday every person is accountable for something to someone else in their sphere of influence. This is often done for safety and protection of money and materials. Too many people are quick to cheat a system and take things for themselves that do not belong to them.

Behind closed doors it is very easy for someone to take some money off the top and keep it for themselves. Or to use it for themselves when it has not been authorized.

This not only occurs in the world, but also inside the church. Many ministers have been found guilty of taking money illegally or not reporting it correctly.

Believers should be the first to be honest in all of their dealings. At the basest level using or taking money that does not belong to one is stealing, which God has made a base commandment not to do. The believer’s word should be trustworthy enough that others do not need to make them account for their words and actions.

There are things in your life that are entrusted to you by others or by God. Regardless of what others see or don’t see, God will see your every action with what has been entrusted to you and hold you accountable.

Hold on to your integrity and do as God would want you to do with what you have. Be honest with everything you say and do to the point that the world does not even begin to question you or try to make you accountable.

Be trustworthy with what you have been entrusted with.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will strengthen you to be trustworthy in all that you say and do; that you will do things as God would want you to; and that the world can trust your words and actions as though they were God’s.

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1 Samuel 7:4 Get Rid Of The Baals

So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only. 1 Samuel 7:4

Most people in the world look at certain things or principles as what made them successful or gave them a good life. In the process of doing this, these things are often idolized and looked up to as being great and powerful.

Often people will then give their everything to these things, giving complete control over to these things to the point of worship. As this is done, they will rarely be willing to give it up for anything else.

As the Israelites were being captured by the Philistines, Samuel told the people what they must do. All the people chose to get rid of their Baals and Ashtoreths and serve God alone.

Although most people do not have physical idols that they physically bow down to and worship, they do have many idols in their life. People have things that they are willing to give all of their thoughts, time, money and energy to get, have and keep. Whole lives are dedicated to having these things, which then become an idol.

Believers can sometimes allow some of these idols in their lives to take the place of God. Instead of fully trusting God in every situation, believers will take on the world’s idols and trust those idols, pushing God to the side.

True believers will recognize this as idol worship and remove it from their lives, regardless of the cost. God is the only one that should be served. Everything that a believer does should be done out of honor and desire to serve, worship and honor God.

As the believer serves God alone, God will deliver him from the hands of the enemy.

The world is out to get you to turn away from God and serve their false gods. These false gods of the world will look good and enticing, but will only bring about captivity and death. Choose to serve God alone in every area of your life.

Seek God’s Holy Spirit to reveal to you any false gods that you have allowed in your life and remove them. Cast out anything and everything that takes your attention away from God. He, alone, is to be served and worshipped.

Put God on the throne of your life, allowing Him to be complete Master over your entire life.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will serve God alone; that God will reveal any false gods in your life; that God will give you strength to cast out any false gods in your life; and that you will trust God with your whole life.

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Numbers 24:13 Not Being Bought Off

Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord–and I must say only what the Lord says? Numbers 24:13

In this world it is commonly heard that money talks, meaning it can get people to do things that they would not normally do. It is very common for people to do things that go against their conscience or beliefs if they are given enough money in their greed to be wealthy at any cost.

After blessing the Israelites several times, Balaam tells the messengers of Balak that even if he was given a lot of money he could not say or do anything against the command of the Lord.

People are very quick to sell out their mind, body, soul, family, friends and more to get money. This includes many people in the church. The commands of God are pushed aside or ignored in order to gain wealth.

At the moment a person chooses to believe in Jesus, he needs to give his entire life over to God. God is to be the complete master of his life. This is to include everything the person says or does no matter what is offered.

Nothing this world can offer can equal eternal life. In the end all the world can give is temporary pleasure that ends in eternal death.

Obedience to God takes priority over everything else in a person’s life. If one does not obey God, he is not serving God nor does he trust in God. Disobedience is rejecting God.

One must never allow himself to be bought out by the world to do anything good or bad that goes against the commands or will of God.

Temptations will arise to try and get you to go against God’s desire or your life. Money, position, friendship, material things and more will be offered to gain your following and get you to sin against God by disobeying His commands.

Choose today that God is the only one you will serve with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. Put His ways and commands above everything and everyone else.

Know that no matter what the world can offer, God offers something much better–eternal life. How willing are you to obey God’s commands?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the commands God is giving you; that God will give you the strength to obey His commands; that God will strengthen you to refuse to disobey His commands; and that you will know the reward God has for you as you obey Him.