“Better a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure with turmoil.” (Proverbs 15:16)

One of the richest men in the world was once asked, “How much is too much?”, to which he responded, “Just a little bit more, just a little bit more!”  This is a man who has put all his faith and confidence in money, that money is his god and provider, that money is his peace and security.  But, does he really live in peace and security with his massive wealth?  I don’t think so!  I would imagine that he gets very little sleep at night because he fears the thieves in the world, he fears loosing it all, which today can happen in an instant!

It appears to me that in the last decade, or two, that Jesus’ church has become more dependent of money than on God who owns all the silver and gold ((Haggai 2:8), and everything that is in the world (Psalms 24:1).  It seems as if the church is spending more and more on property and buildings than on it’s people.  Pastors and church leaders are more focused on growing their own kingdoms and empires (legacies), than God’s kingdom, here on earth.  They are buying up huge pieces of land and building huge castles (temples) while their subjects are hungry, thirsty, sick, dying, in jail, and homeless all around them.

Have we forgotten, church, what Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:19-20)?  In case we have forgotten, here is what He said,

 “Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.”

If we are Christians, our treasure should be our heavenly inheritance. We are co-heirs of God’s kingdom along with Christ (Romans 8:17).  Can there be anything better than God’s kingdom here on earth?  I think not!

When, as a church, we’re focused on the local and global mission God has called and commissioned all churches to do (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8), He will provide everything we need to accomplish His will.  God’s priority is that not a single person go to hell,

“The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).”

God, through the Apostle Paul, gives us a warning to keep focused on the right thing,

“But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.”

I believe that passage of Scripture speaks to believers as a congregation, and as individuals.  We must not fall into this trap, church, because it is one of the many distractions Satan uses to get the church off mission.

Folks, the Bible does not speak against buying property and building temples as long as they’re being as long as it is done with the right motivation and for God’s plan.  We must remember that God knows everything about us. Yes, even our motives.   Proverbs 16:2 says:

“All a man’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord evaluates the motives.”

So then, church, we must not allow our enemy to refocus our attention!  We must stay on mission with God!

How, then,

• we obey today’s Scriptures?
• With whom will we share today’s Scriptures?
• With whom will you share your salvations story and the story of what Jesus did for you?

In Christ’s love,

Phil