“Jesus has been too Good for Me to Lose Faith in Him!” ~ Derek

Derek’s Faith

This right here is what kingdom living looks like – living for Christ, on mission, for eternity with Him, and not this fleeting world…

While in the middle of going through a financial trial, a time of layoff, one dear brother recently asked for prayer. I prayed for him and then asked him if I could just tear up the check he had just sent. This was his response:

“No way cash that sucker brother! And I’m sending more $ btw. I took 2500.00 out of my 401k. God is good. I will always give till I’m broke. Jesus has been too good for me to lose faith in Him. He will keep me brother! Amen! He has always been so good to me when He should have left me, but He never did. His kingdom is most important and I trust Him. God is so Good. He is all we have and all we need! Thank you!” Derek B.

“And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” Acts 2:44-45

Their lives had been regenerated, changed, transformed to where their personal lives were dead and buried and now walked in, were raised up “in newness of life.” These true disciples of Christ lived on mission, no longer for the mundane, temporal pursuits of this fleeting world.

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4

Among the earliest followers of Christ …

“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.” Acts 4:32-35

Living in readiness for our LORD’s return means living the mission of Christ who came “to seek and to save that which was lost,” packing light, cutting off anything that would prevent us from the wedding! Read Luke 19:10; Matthew 25:1-13 and Revelation 19:7-8. Jesus came and gave all, and all who follow Him live with open hands of worship to Him and charity to others!

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

O that those who claim Jesus as their Savior would spend as much time seeking Him, serving Him truly, as they do seeking after earthly pleasures and the treasures of this world for the fleeting pleasure of the god of self!

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33  

MONEY in this world tends to give people a false sense of self-importance – as they attribute their fleeting worldly  “success” as meaning they are better than others. This is a dangerous, damning path saints, beware.

Instead of coveting to have more to give to advance Christ’s eternal kingdom, many today get caught in the  vicious, insatiable quest to build more in this world – wasting their opportunity to lay up treasure in Heaven as Jesus instructed us to do (Matthew 6:19-24). All the sins of the flesh are further inflamed in this scenario, leaving them lukewarm toward Christ and His people, and helplessly swallowed up in the sins of the flesh. We are specifically warned of such – and make no mistake, this is a Heaven or hell issue.

1 Timothy 6:6-10

“6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

The LORD told us that we are given the opportunity to earn money on earth in order to “have to give” to “establish his covenant” in this life.

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, THAT HE MAY HAVE TO GIVE to him that needeth.” Ephesians 4:28

“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

The LORD is calling for swift repentance from those who name the name of Christ – to lay down their lives in this world, to vest themselves in eternal glory (2 Timothy 2:19). When He allows our income to increase it’s His stated will that we increase our standard of giving, not our standard of living in this temporal world. Let’s read what Jesus says in Luke 12:15-21:

The Parable of the Rich Fool

“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

16  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

17  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

21  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:15-21

Many today spend their lives investing in their later years’ retirement and/or expanding their own portfolio in this soon-to-end world system instead of investing in Heaven. Those who are living without Christ’s reign in their lives are serving mammon and not their Maker. This is clear in that they commit to a certain percentage of investment each month in their retirement while merely tipping God and His work, or giving nothing to Christ’s saints who have needs. Jesus tells us that “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Where O where is your treasure friend? Where are you investing? Eternity is forever.

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

In light of these words from the LORD Jesus, it has been wisely stated that

“The way we spend our money is a direct reflection of the priorities of our hearts.”

There are those who look good financially in this fleeting world who are throwing away their eternal souls for a temporal luxury which will be forgotten when they are thrown into the flames of eternal damnation.

“There is that maketh himself rich (in this temporal world), yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.” Proverbs 13:7

This is all going to be over soon. What’s your investment looking like? What’s the investment of your life going to yield in the end?

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

To follow Jesus, one must choose to let Him reign in their lives, wholly – to deny self, to die to self, self-will, self-agenda, etc. – to take up the cross daily and walk with Him. This will include gaining eternal glory with Him while refusing any endeavor to attain to earthly wealth.

“Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38

“Love not the world” – Your significance is in Christ, not this world.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:15-17

If we truly love Christ and not this world – why would we choose to spend all our time, energy, focus, and life on getting more trinkets and trips in this fleeting world? Specifically concerning the greed and covetousness that fills wicked hearts, the LORD warned us:

“But thou, O man of God, FLEE THESE THINGS; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:11-12

The Truth about Significance

The car doesn’t make you. The house doesn’t make you. The amount of money you have or don’t have in the bank/investments doesn’t make you.

Earthly wealth fortifies and emboldens the lie of self-importance. But remember, Jesus says “for a man’s life (significance) consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). You will do well to memorize this one.

The sum total of your wealth is what you have in and of Christ! There are no true riches outside of Him!

“Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;” 1 Corinthians 3:21-22

If you are in Christ, truly, your life in this fleeting world is a mission trip for HIS eternal glory.

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I come to You now as a vile self-serving, self-worshipping wicked sinner. I come in the name of Jesus Christ, asking You to forgive my sin of idolatry, of spiritual adultery and worship of self and thereby having other gods before You. I am 100% guilty as a sinner and there’s no one to blame but my own wicked self. Right this moment I ask You to forgive and wash me in the precious blood of my LORD Jesus. Please unite my heart to fear Thy holy name dear LORD. Please break me Jesus. Let today and the remainder of my days be spent worshipping You alone and seeing that Your Word is spread to the ends of the earth – into the hearts of every man, woman, and child. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. LORD, have Your way in me. I am all Yours and I know You are all mine. I have nothing without You my LORD Jesus.

STORE | Support | The Return of Christ | Stewardship | Jesus Sat Over Against The Treasury [podcast] | 10 Clues Your Love for God has Waxed Cold [podcast] | Where to Give and Where Not to Give | Fruit Abounding to Your Account! | Parable of the Talents [podcast] | Proving Jesus Matters [podcast] | Money, Material Wealth, and Riches | Rusted Gold and Fire Untold [podcast]

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