As this year comes to a close,

As this year comes to a close, the following passage has come to mind:

[23]  Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. [24]  "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. [25] "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? [26]  "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels." {Luke 9:23-26}

 

Now I don’t want anyone to think that I expend tons of energy making every effort to insure that I am broke, poor, miserable, sick, and void of any enjoyment, but over the last few years it has become more than apparent that there is a large segment of “spiritual teachers” who in the guise of Christendom, expend a tremendous volume of energy, focusing on a “health and wealth” message.

 

I like reasonable wealth better than poverty, who wouldn’t? I would much rather be healthy than sick, who wouldn’t? But the focus of the Gospel is the redeeming work of Christ; the mission of the church is to pattern our life after Christ where His message of salvation is more important, front and center of anything else we can offer! I have witnessed too many times, “churches” that give preference to the wealthy among them, while all the time, pandering some not so fortunate, but avoiding too much involvement to those who have little or no finances to contribute.

 

Remember, the first to be told of our Savior’s birth, were looked upon as the scum of society; stinky, smelly shepherds; yet the angels announced to them first. The latter account has men of means, the Maggi (or wise men) who realized the reason for their wealth; to give it away! Now, let’s read the passage from Luke again.

“Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”

 

Is your wealth standing in the way of your salvation or is it merely a means to bless the Lord, by blessing others and in doing so leading them to salvation? That is a question that needs to be answered regularly in each of our lives.

 

There is collateral damage that happens to individuals when they are told that “God has to give them what they ask for” with complete disregard to God’s sovereignty, and His ability to see the complete, the eternal picture, and they don’t receive what they asked for, further devastated when they are told they are to blame because “they didn’t have enough faith” when in reality it may not have been within the eternal providence of the Almighty. Ministry is supposed to first of all lift up Christ and in doing so bring others to Him, not put them under condemnation. We then teach them to live, so in turn they also bring others into the knowledge of His saving power.

 

Our true wealth, and complete healing, is when we leave this life, and reign with Him forever. It does happen here in this life and thank God it does, and thanks to those who faithfully pray to that end. May we never stop praying for provision and healing, but let us focus our ministry energy on those, who are lost and going to Hell. Let us be the instrument God uses to bring them to Himself!

 

Happy NEW YEAR!