Sitting at my computer doing my ministry work just days before heading back to New York City for my ministry work, I thought of an incredible way to make a ton of money in a very short period of time. I pretty much do not ever think about things like that, but along came a really wild idea and temptation. I could go from my low income to making a financial fortune with probably one or two phone calls and become known around the world in a flash. I could be rich and famous like so many people in this world want to be, yet I knew this would never work.
But why? For two main reasons. First, I would break the hearts of several people and therefore hurt God terribly which is sin and goes completely contrary to God’s greatest commands to love Him with all our hearts and to love each other (Mark 12:30-31).
Second, because even as countless people worldwide are lovers of self, money, and pleasure and are chasing after worldly riches and fame with all their might, I am a lover of the Lord Jesus Christ and am chasing after the Lord and to fulfill my life calling for Him with all my heart!
And I know the greatest riches in the universe are God, having a forever relationship with Him through faith in Jesus, and living no longer for self but living totally devoted to my first love and greatest treasure and reward and priority – JESUS!
The Lord warns us throughout the Bible against making money and pleasure gods and idols, and He also makes clear there is nothing more wonderful, beautiful, magnificent, powerful, fulfilling, satisfying, rewarding, amazing, and awesome than THE LORD, HAVING A FOREVER INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, AND THAN LIVING IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM!
No worldly riches and fame can come even close to the wonderfulness of Jesus the Christ and forever and ever with Him, oh, glory be to the Lord, AMEN!
Turn, turn, turn to the Lord! Choose Jesus! He is the way! He is the truth! He is the life (John 14:6)! Lord of Lords! King of Kings! Jesus the Christ, forevermore! May He be your first love, your greatest treasure, and the one you live and breathe for now and forever and ever, AMEN!
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV
“Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.” Proverbs 23:4-5 NKJV
“”Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.” 1 Timothy 6:6-11 NKJV