Friday, May 04, 2018

Jesus' Commandments-8 (SD65)

Serve God or Mammon?
Mat 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

1. Those who serve God
   They love God and are loyal to Him. They keep His words and commandments so that they are always the salt of the earth and the light of the world. They will always do the things that please God and in return they have the peace of God and the confidence that God will hear and answer their prayers
1 John 3:21-23 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

God's Servants hate Mammon
But all those who serve God will hate Mammon and will not be loyal to mammon for they realise that covetousness has destroyed the lives of many Christians. They hate money, for when Christians become rich, there is the temptation of them becoming worldly, selfish and covetous,  deceiving them to hate God's words and commandments. 
Eph 5:1-3 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints

2. Those who Serve Mammon
    Because these Christians love mammon (wealth and money) so they distort His words and truth by using worldly and demonic wisdom, thereby producing heresies such as prosperity gospel, positive confession, hyper grace,  etc. This world is their eternal kingdom and they will justify their riches or covetousness as God's  blessing. To them the kingdom of heaven is for salvation only.
1 John 2:15-16 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

Worldly Christians hate God
Mat 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
   Those who love money will hate God and despise His words and commandments for they hurt their conscience. Jesus's disciples gave up everything to follow Him.
Acts 4:34-35 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

Mat 19:27-28 Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?" So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

Is Riches an Abomination?
Luke 16:14-15 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.