Money don't buy peace
OK, my darling peeps. Been a long time since I've done one of these. I think the last was Closet Heart Lessons. These will be my study on the thing that kept eating at me about money. Doesn't money always eat at us? We always try to make ends meet and then someone moves the end or as in money....the decimal point! LOL
I recently was offered a job that I felt my body could do. HOWEVER, in my gut, I got the very real sense it was a no-no. Why? Well, the neurologist said that since I'd injured my neck prior doing this work, another injury was extremely likely, that I could awake one more not being able to move at all, or I could just stop breathing due to where the neck injury is. Not good options but the money kept calling what bills I could pay, etc. You know, money does talk! We've all heard that phrase!
I prayed for wisdom on what to do. God, is this Your way of providing my financial help I so need? God, is this just a shiny apple like in the Garden of Eden, appearing good but really not? No specific answer, no peals of thunder, just silence. Finally, a Bible verse kept coming into my head. Matthew 6:33 "SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO YOU." Jesus was speaking to people about food, clothing, etc. the things we need everyday to live.
I looked in Matthew 6:33, 7:7 and then began to think, "Well, what IS the kingdom?" I'd always thought as a child, it was heaven, but discovered after studying I was wrong. So, I went to the 13th Chapter of Matthew where Jesus tells many parables about WHAT THE KINGDOM of heaven is like. Notice kingdom and heaven are not synonymous?
Each parable was about people, how the kingdom touched, changed, reached, met needs of people. I SAT AWE STRUCK!
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS ABOUT PEOPLE!!!
Other verses quickly began to come to my mind. JOH 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. The "world" is people.
The next was MT 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.MT 13:38 The field is the world (PEOPLE); the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;MT 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
I then began to realize that God's calling me into Ministerial Christian Counseling, working with Domestic Violence victims, helping the family's of felons and felons if possible, all are PEOPLE which have the potential to become part of the KINGDOM OF GOD should they chose Christ Jesus as Savior.
As long as I look upon each PERSON as God's creation & a potential part of GOD's KINGDOM, I will treat them properly & this is what is part of the RIGHTEOUSNESS (love, joy, peace, contentment, etc.) that I should be seeking.....not necessarily thinking a paycheck will care for me but that GOD MY FATHER will take care of me because I am taking care of HIS business.
I am not saying one should not work, for the Bible plainly tells us that if a man WILL NOT WORK, not can't but won't, then don't let him eat. God does not encourage laziness! But what God was trying to get me to realize is HE IS PROVIDING MY NEEDS not a paycheck.
I think that I had forgotten, somewhat, that I and all Christians, are Ambassadors for God. As such, HE is required to provide our needs as we do His work.
Do we, as the United States, send our Ambassadors to other countries, tell them to work for us, and then not take care of them? NO!!! How much more so will God, our Father take care of us?
In ending, where I began:
Matthew 6:
25
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
I recently was offered a job that I felt my body could do. HOWEVER, in my gut, I got the very real sense it was a no-no. Why? Well, the neurologist said that since I'd injured my neck prior doing this work, another injury was extremely likely, that I could awake one more not being able to move at all, or I could just stop breathing due to where the neck injury is. Not good options but the money kept calling what bills I could pay, etc. You know, money does talk! We've all heard that phrase!
I prayed for wisdom on what to do. God, is this Your way of providing my financial help I so need? God, is this just a shiny apple like in the Garden of Eden, appearing good but really not? No specific answer, no peals of thunder, just silence. Finally, a Bible verse kept coming into my head. Matthew 6:33 "SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO YOU." Jesus was speaking to people about food, clothing, etc. the things we need everyday to live.
I looked in Matthew 6:33, 7:7 and then began to think, "Well, what IS the kingdom?" I'd always thought as a child, it was heaven, but discovered after studying I was wrong. So, I went to the 13th Chapter of Matthew where Jesus tells many parables about WHAT THE KINGDOM of heaven is like. Notice kingdom and heaven are not synonymous?
Each parable was about people, how the kingdom touched, changed, reached, met needs of people. I SAT AWE STRUCK!
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS ABOUT PEOPLE!!!
Other verses quickly began to come to my mind. JOH 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. The "world" is people.
The next was MT 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.MT 13:38 The field is the world (PEOPLE); the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;MT 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
I then began to realize that God's calling me into Ministerial Christian Counseling, working with Domestic Violence victims, helping the family's of felons and felons if possible, all are PEOPLE which have the potential to become part of the KINGDOM OF GOD should they chose Christ Jesus as Savior.
As long as I look upon each PERSON as God's creation & a potential part of GOD's KINGDOM, I will treat them properly & this is what is part of the RIGHTEOUSNESS (love, joy, peace, contentment, etc.) that I should be seeking.....not necessarily thinking a paycheck will care for me but that GOD MY FATHER will take care of me because I am taking care of HIS business.
I am not saying one should not work, for the Bible plainly tells us that if a man WILL NOT WORK, not can't but won't, then don't let him eat. God does not encourage laziness! But what God was trying to get me to realize is HE IS PROVIDING MY NEEDS not a paycheck.
I think that I had forgotten, somewhat, that I and all Christians, are Ambassadors for God. As such, HE is required to provide our needs as we do His work.
Do we, as the United States, send our Ambassadors to other countries, tell them to work for us, and then not take care of them? NO!!! How much more so will God, our Father take care of us?
In ending, where I began:
Matthew 6:
25
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Replies
V E R Y N I C E! !
very timely indeed
Right on! Many would call that the Rhema Word, but regardless, it brought peace as only the Word (made flesh) can do. Bless you my friend, and may the Joy of the Lord, be your Strength!
BGOODWIN = thanks for your input and glad you liked it.
ANDREA - I hope that it was what you needed and when you need it my dear friend.
CAROL - You will never know how my jaw dropped when the realization hit and still continues to unravel. I will be posting each new revelation as I have opportunity and insight. Wow. All I can say is it brings new meaning about \"building the kingdom of God\"? Yes?
I was watching Joyce last week and she said we are only responsible for being the best person we can be, not what someone else thinks we should be. This comment helped me to call my boss and admit I was in too much pain to work the next day....I would have tried to over med up and go if not for the realization that I was trying to hard too meet the worlds standards and that God did not expect me to literally kill myself to fulfill this commitment. Happily my boss understood and found someone else to replace me. (I am blessed to have an understanding boss who still allows me the opportunity to work occasionally so I still feel useful.)
True....as Shakespeare so wisely said \"TO THINE OWNSELF BE TRUE AND IT MUST FOLLOW AS THE NIGHT THE DAY, THOU CANS\'T NOT BE FALSE TO ANY MAN.\" Hugs