“And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” ~ Luke 12:15 REFERENCE: Luke 12:15-21 The inordinate quest for riches today is quite alarming. Don’t get me wrong, God wants you to have riches, but He does not want riches to have you. He does not want you to lose your soul or faith in pursuing riches. There is a spirit behind money; if you do not learn to second money to your love for God, it can corrupt you. That is why...
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." ~ Romans 12:21 REFERENCE: Romans 12:17-21 We live in a world where evil and wickedness prevail. We all confront evil at some point and seek to overcome it. The problem, however, is that evil has unknowingly sipped into us because we live in this world; hence, our tactic for fighting evil is often with evil (i.e., revenge). Yet, the only scripturally guaranteed way to defeat evil is with good. Yes, it takes light to win darkness. Good wins over evil. I will illustrate with a story in...
“For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.” ~ Proverbs 1:32 (KJV) REFERENCE: Proverbs 1:29-32 (KJV) Follow me into one of the stories in my collection: I was walking through an orchard, looking around, when I saw a low tree laden more heavily with fruit than the rest. On a closer look, it appeared that someone had dragged the tree close to the ground, and the weight of its treasures broke it. “Oh!” said I, gazing at the tree, “here lies one ruined by his riches.” Soon, I...
“And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you?” ~ Malachi 1:6-10 REFERENCE: Malachi 1:8 When someone gives me a gift that I know they could have done better, it irks me and says they are either stingy or do not value me that much. I’m sure you feel the same way. The quality of our generosity is often the test of our capacity for kindness, goodness, or spirituality. When God...
“Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.” ~ Genesis 30:22 REFERENCE: Genesis 30:14-24 Although Rachael was a loved wife, she remained barren for many years while her rival sister, Lear, bore children like it was going out of fashion. I can imagine the shame, taunting, suspicion, misunderstanding, etc., that Rachael endured from Leah and her neighbors. We serve a God who sees, hears, and cares. As our text reveals, God listened to Rachael’s prayers. Rachel tried everything possible to have a child, to the extent of giving her maid to Jacob. Yet,...
“…And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.” ~ Matthew 14:19 REFERENCE: Matthew 14:13-21 On the day Jesus had a multitude to feed, the miracle was not in the five loaves of bread but in the broken pieces. Jesus, upon receiving the bread, looked up to heaven, gave thanks, broke the loaves into pieces, and gave them to the disciples to give to the multitude. It was the broken pieces that God multiplied and...
"And the Chaldeans who fight against this city shall come and set fire to this city and burn it, with the houses on whose roofs they have offered incense to Baal and poured out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke Me to anger." ~ Jeremiah 32:29 REFERENCE: Jeremiah 32:26-42 Fire purifies and refines. In scripture, it speaks of the refining judgment of God. Israel provoked God to anger by their many idolatries, and He decided to judge them by sending the Chaldeans to ravage the land and take them into captivity. In addition to their imprisonment, Jerusalem would...
“That night the king could not sleep. So, one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.” ~ Esther 6:1 REFERENCE: Esther 6:1-10 Imagine if everyone you ever showed kindness to remembered you and paid you back. Well, it doesn’t always work like that. Men forget, but only God remembers. The reward of kindness often comes from unexpected sources and, sometimes, from the same person to whom kindness was done. When God is set to remember and reward you, He will give kings sleepless nights. Mordecai gave...
“Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.” ~ Philippians 2:3 (MSG) REFERENCE: Philippians 2:1-4 (MSG) In this world of competition and intense rivalry between people, businesses, and companies, there is a rising tendency for selfishness and lack of empathy. It is a dog-eat-dog world, and people don’t care how or who they hurt to get to the top. That is contrary to the spirit of Christianity. As Christians, we are lifted when we lift others and help others get ahead. Paul, in this...
“Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.” ~ Jeremiah 29:6 REFERENCE: Jeremiah 29:1-7 Life doesn’t always mimic storybooks; life can be tough. If we had our way, we would rather things were easier, better, and more meaningful. However, plans don’t always go as planned, purposes are disappointed, and life often surprises us. The enemy’s cruelty comes at us as bitter as lemons, but we must learn to turn lemons into lemonades....