Jesus warned people repeatedly about money. All throughout the Bible are warnings against not only the love of money, but money itself. So, what is money? Why is it so dangerous to the soul?
Money as a physical object is something used in exchange for something. That is, money is used to gain something. Money, in this world can be used to gain cars, houses, luxury handbags, plasma TVs, education, sex, entertainment - all material things. It can be used to gain anything except for salvation from Jesus Christ. Money has a spirit behind it. That spirit is MAMMON who tempts people to believe that it is money that keeps them secure, as opposed to God. Putting one's faith in money will result in one not putting faith in God because money is of the spirit of mammon who seduces people to become materialistic and greedy, and to only focus on earthly things rather than look to God.
Matthew 6:19-21 clearly tells people not to seek after accumulation of wealth: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Whether one has one's basic material needs, or is prosperous is IRRELEVANT. The issue is whether one puts one's faith in money, regardless of whether rich or poor. As long as one feels that one does not have enough money, or one makes a standard as to the amount of money one (perceives to) need to feel secure, one IS under the spirit of mammon.
Many Christians argue that God will give people basic material needs to those who are obedient to Him. This is absolutely false and an extremely deceptive doctrine. God said that He will provide those who do His will what He wants to give them so that they can carry out HIS will, not the person's will. The Apostle Paul was not granted basic material security - he was constantly put in jail and overcame many shipwrecks. Jesus did not die to give us earthly comfort and security, and basic material needs. He died for our sins. Jesus Himself said that He had no place to lay his head (Luke 9:58).
Let me repeat, Jesus did not die to give us earthly comfort and security, and basic material needs. He died for our sins. Jesus Himself said that He had no place to lay his head (Luke 9:58).
To say that God will provide all of one's material needs is to imply that God is guaranteed to give us what one perceives God must give to oneself. God did not create us to be subject to what we perceive to be our needs. He created us for Him.
I have been labelled as "offensive", and told that I should consider monasticism if I seriously mean what I say. To this I ask, 'Does God need to give us what we want?' No. He will give those who obey His will what HE knows they need, not what the person says he needs, which is based on one's flesh.
Jesus said that "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24). To serve mammon is to seek to serve one's material needs. How much money one pursues is absolutely irrelevant as to whether one is serving mammon.
Money as a physical object is something used in exchange for something. That is, money is used to gain something. Money, in this world can be used to gain cars, houses, luxury handbags, plasma TVs, education, sex, entertainment - all material things. It can be used to gain anything except for salvation from Jesus Christ. Money has a spirit behind it. That spirit is MAMMON who tempts people to believe that it is money that keeps them secure, as opposed to God. Putting one's faith in money will result in one not putting faith in God because money is of the spirit of mammon who seduces people to become materialistic and greedy, and to only focus on earthly things rather than look to God.
Matthew 6:19-21 clearly tells people not to seek after accumulation of wealth: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Whether one has one's basic material needs, or is prosperous is IRRELEVANT. The issue is whether one puts one's faith in money, regardless of whether rich or poor. As long as one feels that one does not have enough money, or one makes a standard as to the amount of money one (perceives to) need to feel secure, one IS under the spirit of mammon.
Many Christians argue that God will give people basic material needs to those who are obedient to Him. This is absolutely false and an extremely deceptive doctrine. God said that He will provide those who do His will what He wants to give them so that they can carry out HIS will, not the person's will. The Apostle Paul was not granted basic material security - he was constantly put in jail and overcame many shipwrecks. Jesus did not die to give us earthly comfort and security, and basic material needs. He died for our sins. Jesus Himself said that He had no place to lay his head (Luke 9:58).
Let me repeat, Jesus did not die to give us earthly comfort and security, and basic material needs. He died for our sins. Jesus Himself said that He had no place to lay his head (Luke 9:58).
To say that God will provide all of one's material needs is to imply that God is guaranteed to give us what one perceives God must give to oneself. God did not create us to be subject to what we perceive to be our needs. He created us for Him.
I have been labelled as "offensive", and told that I should consider monasticism if I seriously mean what I say. To this I ask, 'Does God need to give us what we want?' No. He will give those who obey His will what HE knows they need, not what the person says he needs, which is based on one's flesh.
Jesus said that "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24). To serve mammon is to seek to serve one's material needs. How much money one pursues is absolutely irrelevant as to whether one is serving mammon.
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