God...I'm afraid to fully surrender because....

May 20, 2006

[Disclaimer: This post is NOT about debating this homelessness thing, so don't go there.]

Okay, remember this EGW quote?

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“To one who, during the Saviour's ministry, offered to follow him as his disciple, Jesus said, 'The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.'

Those who follow him [:"Red"]must share his poverty.[/] 'If any man will come after me [i.e., live Christ’s life],' he declares, 'let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.'" [RH 7-4-1912]

Why does this old boy "fall short" of God's love revealed in the earthly life of Jesus Christ?

Answer: Maybe lack of surrender?

Why?

Answer: Poverty and homelessness aren't my favorite things to experience!

You see I have come to the conclusion that if I fully surrender my life to God, i.e., in my Christian walk, that I will become destitute. That's how I see it and I "ain't kidding"! <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

You see the Bible says, "All [not some] that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

Does Jesus want us homeless and in poverty? No, but neither does He desire that we live for ourselves. Ah, but in this world under Satan's principle if you live selflessly you lose! You will experience Christ's life of suffering. That's why the Bible says:

"He [Jesus] was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows..." [is 53:3]

Again, does God want us to "suffer"? Absolutely not, but He also wants us to mature...to grow to be more like Him.

This is all good, but there's one problem. My nature tells me, "God doesn't want you to be destitute...you must love yourself! Your needs come first; others second. If you don't watch out for yourself no one else will. You don't want to end up like Christ do you?"

Hence my conundrum. Maybe yours too? I guess I don't trust God fully because I don't want to suffer!?! Make sense? Have you ever felt this way?

Rob

May 20, 2006

Yes, I have been afflicted by unnecessary false beliefs at times too that seemed like perfectly upright, absolutely logical, impeccable theological conclusions drawn directly from scripture and mystically bypassing the entire process of having my own thoughts involved.

And they made me just as miserable.

As does the thought that my assessment of them as false beliefs could itself equally be a false belief.

And so forth and so on ... and this is why I never get anywhere or make any progress ...

May 20, 2006

Robert,

Jesus said, the first commandment is to love your God, the second thing to love your neighbour as yourself.

Remember Abraham's experience? He left his home and blindly followed God's command not knowing where he was going. How was his life?

Won

May 20, 2006

The greatest tool of the enemy is his lies. He tries to place his lies in the heart of each person, stealing their effectivenes for the Lord.

olger

May 20, 2006

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Those who follow him must share his poverty. 'If any man will come after me [i.e., live Christ’s life],' he declares, 'let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.'" [RH 7-4-1912]

Hi, Robert, I can understand your questioning of this statement, but it is sometimes very easy to latch on to a single statement without looking at what a person or an author is really saying.

Does God want us to be poor and homelwss? No, in general He does not. But He does want us to be conscious of the needs of those who are poor and homeless. In Desire of Ages, p. 293, the setting of this statement is outlined, "While Jesus was preparing the disciples for the ordination, one who had not been summoned urged his presence among them. It was Judas... With great earnestness and apparent sincerity he declared, "Master, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest. [Then Jesus made the statement about the foxes and birds] Judas believed Jesus to be the Messiah; and by joining the apostles, he hoped to secure a high position in the new kingdom. This hope Jesus designed to cut off by the statement of His poverty."

Jesus had friends among both the rich and poor. He has not condemned people for being rich, but rather what use they have made of their riches.

I believe the same applies today. We need rich people -- those who are truly rich, both in money and spirit. Without the gifts that come from the heart of men and women who have made their way to the top (so to speak), many aspects of the church would not be going forward.

It is not money that we are cautioned about, but the LOVE of money -- the hoarding, the selfishness, etc. There lies the real meaning in Jesus' words.

Beryl

May 20, 2006

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....they made me just as miserable.

I understand what you're saying....

In my case I don't feel guilt. I have accepted that my best doesn’t approach God’s love. So I talk grace and justification by faith.

When it comes to living Christ’s life I read statements by both Paul and EGW that seem to dilute any perfection in this life. Let me give you examples from both writers:

[Paul] Phil 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

In a sense Paul is watering down the high demands of the law, but that's okay because the believer is not under law. Yet as a principle, as something to aim for, Paul realizes our humanness and allows "self-interests”.

[Ellen White] "[:"red"]There should be less[/] proud self-seeking, less self-importance. When the members of the church are clothed with humility, when they put from them self-esteem [i.e., pride] and self-seeking, when they seek constantly to do God's will, then they will work together in harmony.” [5T 479]

Did you get that? She says, “when they put from them...self-seeking”, but yet she waters it down by stating that “there should be LESS” self-seeking and pride.

For what it’s worth,

Rob

May 20, 2006

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Robert, Jesus said, the first commandment is to love your God, the second thing to love your neighbor as yourself.

I am not going to get into that debate [see disclaimer]. I'll say this much, the last half of the law isn't two commands: 1] Self-love and 2] love to one's neighbor. If you wish to discuss this start another post.

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Remember Abraham's experience? He left his home and blindly followed God's command not knowing where he was going. How was his life?

Abraham was a sinner justified by faith. Christ is our example.

Now to answer your question, "how was his life?"

Where did he live? Did he live in a nice townhouse like Lot and his family? No! Paul says, "By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents...." [Heb 11:9]

Now I know how "prosperity" preachers approach Abraham’s faith and life. They say, "God blessed him" with the green stuff...i.e., God made him rich.

Now its true God blessed him [made him a great nation], but did He make Abraham rich? What does the Bible say?

Answer: Gen 12:14 When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. 15 And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. 16 He [Pharaoh, not God] treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels.

Anyway, you know the story, Pharaoh gets very sick and puts Abram and his riches out of Egypt!

13:1 So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, with his wife and everything he had, and Lot went with him. 2 Abram [:"red"]had become very wealthy[/] in livestock and in silver and gold.

So you see that God didn't make Abram rich. The Pharaoh did out of guilt.

Rob

May 20, 2006

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”Those who follow him must share his poverty....”

Hi, Robert, I can understand your questioning of this statement, but it is sometimes very easy to latch on to a single statement without looking at what a person or an author is really saying.

Okay, fair enough. Here's more from her pen:

In explaining love, Ellen states: “…There will be no rivalry, no self-seeking, no desire for the highest place. [Now she gives an example:] You will have that love which seeks not her own [i.e., not your own weatlh], [:"Red"]but another's wealth[/].” [DA 439]

And one more:

"Christ's life on earth teaches …”

Teaches what?

“that to obtain the higher education [going to college for example] does not mean to gain popularity, to secure worldly advantage ($) - to have all the temporal wants abundantly supplied, and to be honored by the titled and wealthy of earth…His life [:"red"]rebukes all self-seeking[/]. As He went about doing good He made plain the character of God's law and the nature of His service." [CT 34]

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Jesus had friends among both the rich and poor. He has not condemned people for being rich....

Okay...fair enough! What does the Bible say of Jesus? "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world...." Also, the woman caught in adultery wasn't condemned [see John 8:11], yet her act was against the law.

The same is true of "self-seeking"....All of us do it to varying degrees, but technically speaking it is sin. Maybe that's why Paul said, "by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin [singular]."

May 20, 2006

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The greatest tool of the enemy is his lies. He tries to place his lies in the heart of each person, stealing their effectiveness for the Lord.

God will use the knowledge of the spirit of the law to break those who are proud of their own righteousness so that they may be justified by faith alone.

Too many Christians get with God because they think He will make them rich. That's pretty much what those prosperity teachers preach. They come to the prisons and preach this garbage and the prisoners eat it up! Then they get out and find there are no riches and so they turn their back on God and go back into crime....That's one way to get money. [bTW, most of the criminals are in Washington].

What's the problem? Wrong motive for getting with God! Now listen to James:

4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 [:"Red"]When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives[/], that you may spend what you get on your pleasures [i.e., yourself]. 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God....

May 20, 2006

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I can understand your questioning of this statement, but it is sometimes very easy to latch on to a single statement

Let me give you another view, this time from heaven:

"In heaven none will think of self, nor seek their own pleasure but all, [:"red"]from pure, genuine love[/], will seek the happiness of the heavenly beings around them." [2T 132]

Okay, in heaven our ambition will be outward....We will live for each other, never ourselves. And the amazing thing is God is the greatest because He is the servant of all. He lives to serve, as we will.

Can you imagine the King of Kings and Lords of Lord serving you. Such a God is more than worthy of our worship and gratitude!!! And we will be like Him….

Here's another statement that I love:

"Our little world is the lesson book of the universe. God's wonderful purpose of grace, the mystery of redeeming love, is the theme into which "angels desire to look", and it will be their study throughout endless ages. Both the redeemed and the unfallen beings will find in the cross of Christ their science and their song. It will be seen that the glory shining in the face of Jesus is the glory of self-sacrificing love. In the light from Calvary it will be seen that the law of self-renouncing love is the law of life for earth and heaven; that the love which [:"red"]"seeketh not her own"[/] has its source in the heart of God. . . .[AG 45]

May 21, 2006

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Answer: Poverty and homelessness aren't my favorite things to experience!

Rob

[:"red"] "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you." [/] John 14:2 NASB

[:"red"] "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." [/] Matthew 6:21 KJV

One of the persecutions of this life is the forceful acquisition of another's rightful property. Just because it has not happened on a grand scale in the United States yet, does not mean it is not going to take place here. If none of Jesus' disciples were to have holdings, then what would be the purpose of His instruction, not to covet your neighbors goods? And why would He give power to gain wealth if it was contrary to His wishes to obtain wealth?

God calls each to His designated field and the scripture quoted says nothing about all disciples having to live in poverty, though that might be a positive attribute to glorify God for the person who gives to others to advance the kingdom.

[:"red"] "But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day." [/] Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV

[:"red"] "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.

Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.

'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.'

"For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away." [/] Matthew 25:26-29 NASB

Have faith, brother!!

May 21, 2006

im reading this post with much interest.

I understand what your saying robert

thanku for putting yourself out there.

May 21, 2006

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If none of Jesus' disciples were to have holdings, then what would be the purpose of His instruction, not to covet your neighbors goods?

Let me side-track to make a point:

Go to Mark 10:2 Some Pharisees came and tested him [Jesus] by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 “What did Moses command you?” he replied. 4 They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.” 5 [:"Red"]“It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,”[/] Jesus replied....

My point? Just because something is allowed doesn't make right. Case in point, divorce.

In this world we acquire things. We don't do that by being "selfless"...we do it through "self-seeking". Who were you thinking of when you went to college? Right, yourself and the things a better job would yield. So we acquire, some more than others, but the principle behind this is rooted in "self".

God gave "the letter of the law" many years after the fall. For generations mankind had "acquired" things. So the law comes along and says, "You shall not covet your neighbors'" stuff....Why? Stability! In what sense? Because coveting can lead to theft.

Let's say you drive up in brand new Ford Mustang. I say to myself, "Man that's a nice car, I want one too!" What's the motive behind my desire?" Maybe envy? So not wanting to be out done I buy a fancier model. That's one form of coveting....So coveting doesn't always lead to stealing.

Now what if my neighbor lived for me and I lived for him? Wow! My ambition would not be myself, but rather my neighbor. I would love him as I naturally love myself in this fallen world. Likewise he would do the same. Sounds crazy, huh?

Well, I see a glimpse of what it will be like in heaven in Acts 2:44,45 & 4:32,34,35. "They had all things in common". Everyone lived not for themselves, but for others. The result? “There was not a needy person among them.”

Technically speaking “self-seeking” is sin. Yet just like a decree of divorce was allowed because of one’s heart condition, the same is true in the acquisition of things needed to survive in this world polluted with selfishness.

Paul goes in to great lengths of expanding on the 10th commandment from what we commonly define it to be. You can read about it in Romans 7:7-13. Be honest as you read it and you will come to realize that the 10th commandment defines self-seeking.

Look, I am not against the law as a standard for Christian conduct, but I am against using the law as way to judge others or merit heaven. Why? None of us are measuring up! Only when I understood Paul’s position in Romans 7:7-13 (coupled with some other verses) did I realize that I too was falling short of God’s selfless agape love.

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And why would He give power to gain wealth if it was contrary to His wishes to obtain wealth?

Again, God deals with us where we are at, i.e., in our sinful condition. Since He created life…and since we (this side of the fall) use this life to acquire things, God can says He gives us the ability to do these things. That Doesn’t mean it’s right according to the law. One will never understand grace unless he understands the high demands of God’s law.

May 21, 2006

"God...I'm afraid to fully surrender because..." I am selfish. To fully surrender means to give up my ways for God's ways.

I understand the reference to poverty to be a reference the being poor in spirit. (our own not the Holy Spirit)

"For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." (Isa. 66:2)

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Mt 5:3)

Being poor in spirit is defined as trembling at God's Word.

It means the total destruction of PRIDE. How do we react when we are insulted? How do we act when we are in long lines in a retail store? How do we act when we are in a traffic jam? How do we react when our boss or the church's nominating committee passes us by for a position we wanted? How do we react someone disagrees with us at prayer meeting (or C/A)?

Faithful stewartship is only one part of being poor in the spirit. One can be a faithful stewart and be quite wealthly. It is the love of money and the resulting selfish use of it, which is sinful. There are only two ways to gain wealth. 1. Is through dishonest means. 2. Is through the blessing of God.

May 21, 2006

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I understand the reference to poverty to be a reference the being poor in spirit. (our own not the Holy Spirit)

I guess you are referring to Ellen White's statement - “To one who, during the Saviour's ministry, offered to follow him as his disciple, Jesus said, 'The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath no where to lay his head.' Those who follow him must share his poverty.

I can't see spiritualizing this statement. To me it's rather clear. Someone mentioned, according to EGW, that Jesus was trying to discourage Judas from joining, but that doesn't change the fact that Christ was very poor.

Okay, let's examine this again: "the Son of man hath no where to lay his head." And then she says, "Those who follow him must share his poverty."

Note Jesus didn't have a home. Then immediately EGW says, "Those who follow Him [i.e., live His life] must share his poverty." I would reword that last part to read, "will share his poverty". So to me it's very plain: If you live His life - a life free from self-seeking - you will go without, unless there are some people who'll love you back.

Now Jesus did spend time with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. They watched out for Him....Isn't it ironic that Mary (the woman caught in adultery) watched out for Jesus? Maybe that's why Jesus said, "The harlots go into the kingdom of God before you". They were reflecting God's love while "the law keepers" were figuring out how to kill Him. <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/tomato.gif" alt="" />

May 21, 2006

Jesus' finacial poverty was only one faucet of his lack of selfishness. We do err when we think we need to give up the financial blessings given to us by God in order to share in Christ's poverty (lack of self).

Quite the contrary is true. God gives us financial blessings so that we can be His steward of them. "God tests us here, by committing to us temporal possessions, that our use of these may show whether we can be entrusted with eternal riches... God gives to us, that we may become like Him, generous, noble, beneficent, by giving to others. Those who, forget their divine mission, seek only to save or to spend in the indulgence of pride or selfishness, may secure the gains and pleasures of this world; but in God's sight, estimated by their spiritual attainments, they are poor, wretched, miserable, blind, naked." CS p.22

If it were not for wealthy Adventists that have been good stewards with the blessings of God, our missionary work would be nonexistant. ADRA wouldn't exist. It Is Written and the Voice of Prophecy wouldn't exist. Amazing Facts wouldn't exist. Adventist television networks wouldn't exist. Adventist univeristies wouldn't exist. God blesses Adventists so they can in turn use their money as He would have them.

We need not be financially poor to share in Christ's poverty. Christ's poverty involved much more than His bank statement.

May 21, 2006

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Jesus' financial poverty was only one faucet of his lack of selfishness.

True....

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We do err when we think we need to give up the financial blessings given to us by God in order to share in Christ's poverty (lack of self).

Funny...the majority of those who are "financially blessed" are those who helped themselves by getting college degrees and so forth.

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God gives us financial blessings so that we can be His steward of them.

The majority of Christians throughout the world are poor. Does God practice favoritism?

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If it were not for wealthy Adventists that have been good stewards with the blessings of God, our missionary work would be nonexistent. ADRA wouldn't exist....

I'll bite my tongue on this non-sense....

Rob

May 21, 2006

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the majority of those who are "financially blessed" are those who helped themselves by getting college degrees and so forth.

This is like the faithful servant multiply the talents given to him by the Lord.

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Does God practice favoritism?

Yes. He paid some one talent for a full day's work and others one talent for one hour's work.

May 21, 2006

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the majority of those who are "financially blessed" are those who helped themselves by getting college degrees and so forth.

This is like the faithful servant multiply the talents given to him by the Lord.

Please, they give, but they bask in their wealth. I've seen "rich" Adventism up front and personal. It's hypocrisy. The rich control most everything in the church....It's disgusting. Read James 2:1-13

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Does God practice favoritism?

Yes. He paid some one talent for a full day's work and others one talent for one hour's work.

Funny how "the flesh" will twist the scripture for it's own selfish desires!

Let me give you a quote seeing that you are presenting to me a God who sins by playing favorites:

James 2:8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

Me thinks you need to rethink your biased theology!

May 21, 2006

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the majority of those who are "financially blessed" are those who helped themselves by getting college degrees and so forth.

This is like the faithful servant multiply the talents given to him by the Lord.

-BC- Ed

-TI- Education

-CN- 25

-CT- Education and Character

-PR- 04

-PG- 225

[:"red"]To what motive is appeal[/] most often made? To self-seeking! Much of the education given is a perversion of the name.

May 21, 2006

Sorry, but many Christians (Adventism included) "GIVE TO GET"!

I find that repugnant! I find it hypocritical....Much of it sounds like I give God 10% and in return He gives me heaven. I've heard this garbage from the pulpit, really!

Giving should be just that giving, with nothing in return.* Perhaps God blesses a cheerful giver, not a greedy one. They must be blessing themselves.... <img src="/adventist/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

* Luke 6:34 ...if you lend [give] to those from whom you expect repayment [blessings?], what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Anyway, moving away from the intent of this post!

May 22, 2006

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they give, but they bask in their wealth.

This seems like a judgement call. I am not able to read the motives of my wealthy brothers in Christ.

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Funny how "the flesh" will twist the scripture for it's own selfish desires!

This seems like another judgement call. I barely make ends meet so if I am twisting the Scripture it certainly isn't for my selfish desires.

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James 2:8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

In regard to financial blessings, God absolutely plays favorites - but with divine wisdom. God gives different blessings to different people. He makes some wealthy. Others He gives the gift to sing. Others the gift of playing a musical instrument. Others the gift of teaching. Others a gift to work with mechanical things. Others a gift to communicate. Each of us are to use the gifts God has given us for the glory of God and we can share in the poverty of Christ while doing so.

James 2:9 is specifically addressing the church showing favoritism to the wealthy. It isn't talking about the fairness of God bestowing financial wealth on some and not on others. So let's not "twist" scripture.

May 22, 2006

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It seems easy to follow your reasoning, Robert. Especially since I recognize the the basic instincts of man in general are to enrich themselves. However I'm of the opinion that men/women that choose to place themselves under God's control are often given large holdings by God for the sake of it's use in the benefit of others, besides taking care of one's self.

An example of this was when Solomon chose to be given the ability to walk before God's people with wisdom. God immediately followed that gift with a second, great riches as a direct result of Solomon's humility. God is love and He doesn't give gifts designed to purposefully cause His children to stumble after they have proven themselves faithful.

Job also acknowledged God's gifts when he spoke the words,

[:"red"] And said,...the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away;....[/] Job 1:21 KJV

By your reasoning, the acquisition of goods is a sinful preoccupation, thereby revealing God to be the primary instigator of sinful behavior. This would also belie God's wishes for man's good, alluded to in what is known as the Lord's prayer, as expressed in His desire of men to ask for that which is approved in Heaven.

[:"red"] "...Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." [/] Matthew 6:10 KJV

Riches come from God for man's good, even as sexuality is a gift of God for man's good. Just because man in His weakness fails to meet up to the proper control of such gifts, does not mean the gift is bad, but only reveals that without the enabling power of the Holy Soirit, fallen humanity will turn all gifts of God into destructive use.

[:"red"] "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." [/] John 15:5 NASB

[:"red"] "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." [/]Philippians 4:13 KJV

Keep the faith!!

" [/]

May 22, 2006

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Sorry, but many Christians (Adventism included) "GIVE TO GET"!

So why would God give suggestions to that end if the intent were evil?

[:"red"] "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." [/] Malachi 3:10 KJV

And why would not God immediately set Jacob straight if his suggestion to God were of selfish nature, leading him away from God's perfect will.

[:"red"] "Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear,

and I return to my father's house in safety, then the LORD will be my God." [/] Gen 28:20,21 NASB

[:"red"] "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. " [/] Matthew 7:8 NASB

Those that put burdens on men that God Himself does not require, make God out to be just as narrow and penurious as fallen man.

[:"red"] "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." [/] 2 Cor 9:7 KJV

Though some no doubt find it easy to give cheerfully, even when they have very little to give, our Father is more than willing to make it more of a joyful experience by the abundance we have to share. Jesus had all the riches of Heaven to share while He was on this earth, as evidenced by the feeding of the four and five thousand. If it had been to mankinds benefit, those miracles would have continued, all requiring an abundance to provide.

[:"red"] "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." [/] Luke 6:38 KJV

Keep looking up!!

May 22, 2006

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In regard to financial blessings, God absolutely plays favorites - but with divine wisdom. God gives different blessings to different people. He makes some wealthy.

And others he makes poor? Sick!

That would override free will. My God is not like that....

The Bible is a very dangeous book to those who are ignorant of the love of God. Take statements like these for example:

"Who makes him dumb or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord."

“When you [Moses] go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharoah which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go”

I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

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