"Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them."
This is another lesson on faith, and that very much pertains to today's "Christians".
To those disciples Jesus sent out to teach, He made specific requirements. After He had empowered them to work miracles in His name, He specifically told them to make no plans for the trip, nor were they to take the necessities of life; Jesus said, "Take NOTHING for your journey". They were simply to leave everything, having faith that what they would need would be adequately provided, even down to the words they were to say.
Ironically, one of the most favored sayings, among today's "Christians", is; we must put away money for a "rainy day". Does that philosophy line up with what Jesus required of His disciples, His teachers? No! To "save" for a "rainy day" demonstrates an outright and overt absence of faith! Now, am I saying we shouldn't keep an extra loaf of bread in the breadbox? No! Jesus did not require His disciples to empty their pockets, He commanded that they/we, His messengers, not "save up" for things that might later confront us, we are to go about having absolute faith that God will fulfill our every need, as they arise.
Does all this mean that Christian people are denied the ability to attain wealth? NO! Jesus guarantees wealth to those place their faith in Him; "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now IN THIS TIME, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."
What a promise! Whatever we give of ourselves toward the furtherance of God's word will be returned a hundred times over.
Therefore, because of our faith in the promise of Jesus Christ, being wealthy should be a characteristic of Christian people.
There is NO limit to our horizons so long as we believe in Jesus Christ and trust Him with our lives.~
No comments:
Post a Comment