This is based on the gospels of
St. Matthew, St. Mark and St. Luke;
although only St. Luke is quoted
in this piece.
This is written with the thought in mind, that those who read this will have a bible at hand, to look up the quoted verses. The writer used the King James Version, the only version he deems to be close enough in translation to the original Greek and Hebrew writings.
Since Creation, Mankind has been looking for a way to be able to use God's Word and Deed to justify themselves. Adam blamed his sin on God giving the woman to him; Eve blamed the serpent, satan in a snake skin, for leading her astray (it twisted God's words. As it always does.) And of course, the soon-to-be legless, fanged lizard had no excuse for himself.
Forward approximately six thousand years, and the average Christian is bombarded with promises of prosperity from all sides: God wants them to be rich. The poor are those who don't have/have rejected/have not yet heard of God's Blessing on their lives. If you are poor, it means your faith is lacking/wrong/weak. All to get the pastors a few bucks more in the name of Mammon. Oh, sorry. In the name of God.
Now don't get me wrong; it is not a sin, to be either rich or poor. But it might help to remember the Lord's Prayer: "Give us this day our daily bread". God provides in your need (which is what He needs you to have in your situation, to serve Him best). It is up to you, if you want to provide in your greed.
We all know the drill. The advertising begins with a super-duper-luper baking pan. But wait, if you order now, we will throw in a year's supply of cooking spray, absolutely free. But before you go out and spend hundreds, even thousands of rands/dollars/pounds/euros/yen/whatever on cheap imitations, let us sweeten the deal and send you this sexy Swedish chef, included at no extra cost. And just to thank you for being so gullible, we'll deliver it right to your door, postage included.
Now we begin with Christ's Salvation for mankind. All you have to do, is accept it and say thank you. But wait, there's more: if you answer now, God will include His Blessing of a Million a Month, at no extra praying. But of course, since you might be tempted by one of the inferior denominations /evangelists/pastors/ whateveryourpreacheriscalled, let us give you our sincerest, warmest welcome and promise you the gifts of the Holy Ghost, Who shall obviously make sure that God sends you your million a day into your Million-A-Month Blessing, for only your tithe and everything you have to spare for the month. And just to thank you for being such a sucker who does not compare our words with God's own Word, we will pray it all over you to receive right here, right now, falling to the ground included.
God does not work that way. His Grace came in the form of Jesus Christ to earth; He lived as an example for all, of how God wants His servants to live. He had no home, no horses or chariot, He traveled the lands by foot or by a donkey (on one occasion), He crossed the sea in vessels owned by others...
God's Kingdom, is not of this world. Which is why Jesus Himself said: "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on." (St. Luke 12:22)
God created the birds and the animals and the flowers and the fishes and the people and...
get it? He takes care of all living creatures, from the smallest little bug, up to the humongous blue whales and elephants. No creature escapes His eye or His care. He takes care of them; why then, should mankind, which was created in His image, have cares about what they should eat, where they should live, what they should wear?
Your wallet is a piece of material/leather/plastic, stitched together for strength. Your bank account is a number with some wires and papers and buttons. He knows it all. Why worry? All you get from worrying, is high blood pressure which in turn gives your family worries about the inheritance...
"Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth." (St. Luke 12:15) If you buy into the second ad above, you disobey this order, directly from Christ, very clearly.
And you may be interested to see another little quote, also from my Lord, in Luke 6:20-26.
God blesses those who trust in Him and believe on Him, according to their needs and His. Any extras, are God's Grace with which he trusts you to use it to His Glory.
And if you need to make a speech in church, to remind the people of their tithes, you should take a look at your own standing with God. He shall never leave those who need, alone, especially those who work for Him. But you must ask Him to provide. Who is your provider: God the Father, or the people? Do you spread the gospel of Christ to the world, as God has ordered all His followers to do, or do you hammer on people to become Christians? No-one comes to the Father, except through the Son; and no-one comes to the Son, if the Holy Ghost does not urge him to. And if God tells you to give the Gospel, He expects you to give it for free. He put no copyright on His Word; neither should man.
And be careful of your living. You might be the only bible an unsaved reads.
St. Matthew, St. Mark and St. Luke;
although only St. Luke is quoted
in this piece.
This is written with the thought in mind, that those who read this will have a bible at hand, to look up the quoted verses. The writer used the King James Version, the only version he deems to be close enough in translation to the original Greek and Hebrew writings.
Since Creation, Mankind has been looking for a way to be able to use God's Word and Deed to justify themselves. Adam blamed his sin on God giving the woman to him; Eve blamed the serpent, satan in a snake skin, for leading her astray (it twisted God's words. As it always does.) And of course, the soon-to-be legless, fanged lizard had no excuse for himself.
Forward approximately six thousand years, and the average Christian is bombarded with promises of prosperity from all sides: God wants them to be rich. The poor are those who don't have/have rejected/have not yet heard of God's Blessing on their lives. If you are poor, it means your faith is lacking/wrong/weak. All to get the pastors a few bucks more in the name of Mammon. Oh, sorry. In the name of God.
Now don't get me wrong; it is not a sin, to be either rich or poor. But it might help to remember the Lord's Prayer: "Give us this day our daily bread". God provides in your need (which is what He needs you to have in your situation, to serve Him best). It is up to you, if you want to provide in your greed.
We all know the drill. The advertising begins with a super-duper-luper baking pan. But wait, if you order now, we will throw in a year's supply of cooking spray, absolutely free. But before you go out and spend hundreds, even thousands of rands/dollars/pounds/euros/yen/whatever on cheap imitations, let us sweeten the deal and send you this sexy Swedish chef, included at no extra cost. And just to thank you for being so gullible, we'll deliver it right to your door, postage included.
Now we begin with Christ's Salvation for mankind. All you have to do, is accept it and say thank you. But wait, there's more: if you answer now, God will include His Blessing of a Million a Month, at no extra praying. But of course, since you might be tempted by one of the inferior denominations /evangelists/pastors/ whateveryourpreacheriscalled, let us give you our sincerest, warmest welcome and promise you the gifts of the Holy Ghost, Who shall obviously make sure that God sends you your million a day into your Million-A-Month Blessing, for only your tithe and everything you have to spare for the month. And just to thank you for being such a sucker who does not compare our words with God's own Word, we will pray it all over you to receive right here, right now, falling to the ground included.
God does not work that way. His Grace came in the form of Jesus Christ to earth; He lived as an example for all, of how God wants His servants to live. He had no home, no horses or chariot, He traveled the lands by foot or by a donkey (on one occasion), He crossed the sea in vessels owned by others...
God's Kingdom, is not of this world. Which is why Jesus Himself said: "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on." (St. Luke 12:22)
God created the birds and the animals and the flowers and the fishes and the people and...
get it? He takes care of all living creatures, from the smallest little bug, up to the humongous blue whales and elephants. No creature escapes His eye or His care. He takes care of them; why then, should mankind, which was created in His image, have cares about what they should eat, where they should live, what they should wear?
Your wallet is a piece of material/leather/plastic, stitched together for strength. Your bank account is a number with some wires and papers and buttons. He knows it all. Why worry? All you get from worrying, is high blood pressure which in turn gives your family worries about the inheritance...
"Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth." (St. Luke 12:15) If you buy into the second ad above, you disobey this order, directly from Christ, very clearly.
And you may be interested to see another little quote, also from my Lord, in Luke 6:20-26.
God blesses those who trust in Him and believe on Him, according to their needs and His. Any extras, are God's Grace with which he trusts you to use it to His Glory.
And if you need to make a speech in church, to remind the people of their tithes, you should take a look at your own standing with God. He shall never leave those who need, alone, especially those who work for Him. But you must ask Him to provide. Who is your provider: God the Father, or the people? Do you spread the gospel of Christ to the world, as God has ordered all His followers to do, or do you hammer on people to become Christians? No-one comes to the Father, except through the Son; and no-one comes to the Son, if the Holy Ghost does not urge him to. And if God tells you to give the Gospel, He expects you to give it for free. He put no copyright on His Word; neither should man.
And be careful of your living. You might be the only bible an unsaved reads.
Soli Deo Gloria
