Many true Christians know in their heads that they cannot serve both God and mammon (Matthew 6:24). They do not want to, since they have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit. However, they still struggle as they succumb to the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life (1 John 2:16).
The lust of the eyes screams out to people to desire the things they can see, and their appearance of greatness, security, comfort and pleasure, tempting them to seek such things with no eternal value, instead of God. The lust of the flesh screams that one seek to have all that one can see, just because one can. The pride of life causes one to measures one's worth, or one's blessedness, that is, one's favour with God, by the amount of lust of the eyes and of the flesh that can be satisfied in oneself.
Perfect love casts out fear, and there is no fear in love (1 John 4:18). True Biblical love overcomes any fear that one may have at all, because its seeks God, focuses on God, and views all things through the lens of God. So, the spirit of fear tempts Christians, and often successfully, to have fear and trust in one's fears, whether it be a lack of material comfort, security, joy, or even a failure to fulfill God-given obligations one has. As a result, his or her love towards God is tainted by such fear, making it became a love that is not pure, full and excellent as it should be.
Thus, such a person is open to all kinds of temptations of place his trust in that which satisfies the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life, owing to him being dominated, controlled or influenced by fear. He will naturally place his trust in that which satisfies such lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life. As a result, if he is a true Christian will in seeking to serve God, also seek to serve such things, all without realising it.
So, to overcome one's struggle in trying to serve both God and mammon, the Christian's love for God must be perfected. All his fear pertaining to that which is earthly or worldly must be cast out, freed from bondage to such fear. Then only will his eyes be opened as to how he had been trying to serve both God and mammon, all while making all kinds of justifications for serving mammon, such as "providing for one's family", or trying to "help fund church activities". These things are good, but can be and often are used as an excuse to serve mammon.
Cut yourself off from bondage to fear of not being able to satisfy one's lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life. Starve off such lusts and pride, and then you will be able to overcome such fear and truly find joy in Christ.
The lust of the eyes screams out to people to desire the things they can see, and their appearance of greatness, security, comfort and pleasure, tempting them to seek such things with no eternal value, instead of God. The lust of the flesh screams that one seek to have all that one can see, just because one can. The pride of life causes one to measures one's worth, or one's blessedness, that is, one's favour with God, by the amount of lust of the eyes and of the flesh that can be satisfied in oneself.
Perfect love casts out fear, and there is no fear in love (1 John 4:18). True Biblical love overcomes any fear that one may have at all, because its seeks God, focuses on God, and views all things through the lens of God. So, the spirit of fear tempts Christians, and often successfully, to have fear and trust in one's fears, whether it be a lack of material comfort, security, joy, or even a failure to fulfill God-given obligations one has. As a result, his or her love towards God is tainted by such fear, making it became a love that is not pure, full and excellent as it should be.
Thus, such a person is open to all kinds of temptations of place his trust in that which satisfies the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life, owing to him being dominated, controlled or influenced by fear. He will naturally place his trust in that which satisfies such lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life. As a result, if he is a true Christian will in seeking to serve God, also seek to serve such things, all without realising it.
So, to overcome one's struggle in trying to serve both God and mammon, the Christian's love for God must be perfected. All his fear pertaining to that which is earthly or worldly must be cast out, freed from bondage to such fear. Then only will his eyes be opened as to how he had been trying to serve both God and mammon, all while making all kinds of justifications for serving mammon, such as "providing for one's family", or trying to "help fund church activities". These things are good, but can be and often are used as an excuse to serve mammon.
Cut yourself off from bondage to fear of not being able to satisfy one's lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and pride of life. Starve off such lusts and pride, and then you will be able to overcome such fear and truly find joy in Christ.
Comments
Post a Comment