Category Archives: Greed

Greed, Purposeful / Intentional, Unteachable / Foolish, Wise, Worldliness

The Emptiness of Having It All (Ecclesiastes 2:1–11)

Have you ever thought, “If I just had more, I would finally be satisfied”?

Key Verse:
“Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.” —Ecclesiastes 2:11 NASB

Background Context:
In Ecclesiastes 1, Solomon explored wisdom and knowledge and found that even great understanding could not provide lasting fulfillment. Now in chapter 2, he turns to another path—pleasure, achievement, and personal satisfaction.

With unmatched wealth, power, and opportunity, Solomon deliberately tests whether enjoyment, accomplishments, and possessions can bring meaning to life.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes:2:1-11

The Futility of Pleasure and Possessions

     1I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility. 2I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” 3I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives. 4I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; 5I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. 7I bought male and female slaves and I had homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. 8Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men—many concubines.

      9Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. 10All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. 11Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 2:1–11:
Solomon begins by saying, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure.” He sets out to experience everything that might bring joy or satisfaction. Laughter, wine, great building projects, gardens, wealth, servants, possessions—he holds nothing back.

He creates what many today would consider the ideal life. Success, comfort, entertainment, and achievement are all within his reach. If fulfillment could be found through enjoying life and accomplishing great things, Solomon would have found it.

And yet, after experiencing it all, his conclusion is striking.

“Behold all was vanity and striving after wind.”

Everything he worked for, everything he built, everything he enjoyed—it did not provide lasting meaning. It was temporary. It did not satisfy the deeper need of the soul.

This is not because pleasure or achievement are inherently wrong. The issue is that they cannot carry the weight of providing ultimate purpose. They were never meant to.

Solomon’s experiment exposes a truth many people still struggle to accept: having more does not solve the problem of emptiness.

The world often tells us:

  • more success will satisfy
  • more experiences will fulfill
  • more possessions will complete us

But Solomon shows us that even when you reach the top, the feeling remains the same—temporary enjoyment followed by lasting emptiness.

Why? Because these pursuits are all “under the sun.” They are limited to this life and disconnected from eternal purpose when pursued on their own.

This points us back to the greater truth Solomon will later reveal: fulfillment is not found in what we accumulate or experience, but in our relationship with God.

When pleasure becomes the goal, it leaves us empty. When God is the center, even simple things gain meaning.

Solomon’s life becomes a warning—and an invitation.

You do not have to chase everything to discover it does not satisfy.

Application:

  • Reflect on whether you are seeking fulfillment through pleasure, success, or possessions.
  • Recognize that temporary enjoyment cannot replace eternal purpose.
  • Be grateful for blessings, but do not rely on them for identity or meaning.
  • Seek fulfillment in your relationship with God rather than in what you achieve.
  • Align your pursuits with what God calls you to do.

Closing Prayer:
Father, help me recognize where I may be chasing fulfillment in things that cannot truly satisfy. Teach me to enjoy the blessings You give without placing my hope in them. Draw my heart closer to You so that my purpose and identity are rooted in Your truth. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Children, Compassionate, Faithful, Greed, Idols / False Gods, Intgegrity / Honesty, Lying / Deceiving, Parenting, Protector / Deliverer

God Our Defender: Faithfulness Amid Deception (Genesis 31:22-55)

God can work through anyone — even those who don’t follow Him — to protect His people and accomplish His will.

Have you ever faced a situation where you were treated unfairly, yet later saw that God had been working behind the scenes to protect and guide you?

Key Verse:
“It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob.’” —Genesis 31:29 NASB

Background Context:
After Jacob secretly left Haran with his family and possessions, Laban discovered his departure and pursued him for seven days. Before Laban could confront Jacob, however, God appeared to him in a dream, warning him not to harm Jacob or even speak harshly against him. This is remarkable because Laban was not a godly man — he was an idol-worshiper and deceiver. Yet even through this ungodly man, God communicated clearly to ensure Jacob’s safety.

When Laban caught up with Jacob, he accused him of deceit and theft. Jacob responded truthfully, defending his integrity and recounting twenty years of loyal service under Laban’s constant mistreatment. After Laban’s fruitless search for the stolen idols (which Rachel had hidden), the two men made a covenant of peace, setting up a heap of stones as a witness between them.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Genesis 31:22-55

Laban Pursues Jacob

      22When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, 23then he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him a distance of seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the hill country of Gilead. 24God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.”

      25Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen camped in the hill country of Gilead. 26Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27“Why did you flee secretly and deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with timbrel and with lyre; 28and did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly. 29“It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob.’ 30“Now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house; but why did you steal my gods?” 31Then Jacob replied to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. 32“The one with whom you find your gods shall not live; in the presence of our kinsmen point out what is yours among my belongings and take it for yourself.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

      33So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two maids, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent. 34Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel’s saddle, and she sat on them. And Laban felt through all the tent but did not find them. 35She said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household idols.

      36Then Jacob became angry and contended with Laban; and Jacob said to Laban, “What is my transgression? What is my sin that you have hotly pursued me? 37“Though you have felt through all my goods, what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that they may decide between us two. 38“These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten the rams of your flocks. 39“That which was torn of beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it myself. You required it of my hand whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40“Thus I was: by day the heat consumed me and the frost by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes. 41“These twenty years I have been in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you changed my wages ten times. 42“If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had not been for me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, so He rendered judgment last night.”

The Covenant of Mizpah

      43Then Laban replied to Jacob, “The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne? 44“So now come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.” 45Then Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46Jacob said to his kinsmen, “Gather stones.” So they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. 47Now Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. 48Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore it was named Galeed, 49and Mizpah, for he said, “May the LORD watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other. 50“If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us, see, God is witness between you and me.” 51Laban said to Jacob, “Behold this heap and behold the pillar which I have set between you and me. 52“This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass by this heap to you for harm, and you will not pass by this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. 53“The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac. 54Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his kinsmen to the meal; and they ate the meal and spent the night on the mountain. 55Early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.

Reflection on Genesis 31:22–55:
One of the first lessons in this passage is that God is perfectly capable of speaking through anyone — even non-believers — to accomplish His purposes. Laban’s dream is proof of God’s sovereignty. Though Laban was deceitful, greedy, and idolatrous, God used him as an instrument of protection for Jacob.

Notice how Laban referred to God: “the God of your father.” He did not call Him his God. Laban knew of God’s power but never submitted to His authority. This shows a dangerous truth — knowing about God is not the same as knowing God.

Laban’s hypocrisy is also revealing. He, who had deceived Jacob repeatedly and changed his wages ten times, was quick to cry foul when he felt deceived. This kind of self-centered morality — measuring right and wrong by “How does it affect me?” instead of God’s standard — is still common today. God’s people must be different. We are called to measure our actions by God’s Word, not by convenience or self-interest.

Rachel’s theft of her father’s idols also highlights a tragic lesson. She clung to false gods instead of trusting the true God of her husband. The deception she learned from her father’s example took root in her own life. A family raised in dishonesty easily repeats those patterns — and clever deception, while impressive to the world, is never admired by God.

Jacob, however, continues to grow in righteousness. When confronted, he didn’t lie or make excuses. He explained why he left secretly, acknowledged God’s protection, and boldly declared his innocence. After enduring twenty years of injustice, Jacob could confidently say, “God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, and He rendered judgment last night.” (v.42)

This is the heart of the story: Jacob’s integrity and God’s faithfulness. Laban’s greed and deceit could not overcome God’s protection. Even through hardship, Jacob’s honest work and trust in God led to peace and blessing.

For us today, the lesson is clear — God’s protection doesn’t mean life will be easy. Jacob suffered unfair treatment, exhaustion, and fear, yet through it all, he found that God’s hand never left him. God does not promise a life free of struggle, but He does promise His presence in it. And His presence is always enough.

Application:

  • Trust God’s sovereignty. He can work through anyone or anything — even unbelievers — to accomplish His purposes and protect His people.

  • Hold to God’s standard, not your own. Don’t fall into Laban’s hypocrisy of calling things “wrong” only when they hurt you.

  • Work hard and live with integrity. Like Jacob, let your faithfulness speak louder than your defense.

  • Let go of false securities. Don’t cling to “idols” — whether literal, emotional, or material — for comfort or control.

  • Draw nearer to God in difficulty. He does not promise ease, but He promises His presence, protection, and ultimate justice.

If you are facing unfair treatment, family tension, or a situation that feels unjust, take courage. God sees. He knows. And He can defend you in ways you could never arrange yourself.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You that You are sovereign over all people and circumstances. Even when I face injustice or conflict, I know You see and protect me. Help me to live with integrity, to measure my actions by Your truth, and to trust You when others mistreat me. Keep me from hypocrisy and idolatry, and teach me to find peace in Your presence. Thank You for being my defender and my refuge. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Greed, Guide, His Timing Not Ours, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Intgegrity / Honesty, Lying / Deceiving, Provider

When God Works Through the Mess (Genesis 30:25-43)

God’s blessings often flow through faithful work, not idle waiting — His favor meets us as we obey, serve, and trust His timing.

Have you ever wondered how to balance trusting God with taking wise, responsible action?

Key Verse:
“So the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks and female and male servants and camels and donkeys.” —Genesis 30:43 NASB

Background Context:
After Joseph’s birth, Jacob told Laban that he wanted to return home. Laban, recognizing that his own success had come through Jacob’s faith and diligence, begged him to stay. He said, “I have divined that the Lord has blessed me on your account.” (v.27) Laban’s motives, however, were selfish — he wanted the prosperity to continue. Though Jacob had served faithfully for fourteen years, enduring Laban’s deception, he remained respectful and ready to leave without demanding extra pay.

Jacob proposed a new, fair arrangement: he would continue tending Laban’s flocks, and as wages, he would keep only the speckled and spotted animals. Laban agreed, likely believing Jacob’s plan would yield little profit. Yet God blessed Jacob’s wisdom and hard work — and the flocks multiplied greatly. Even though both men acted with mixed motives, God’s faithfulness shone through, blessing Jacob and building his household for the future.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Genesis 30:25-43

   25Now it came about when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go to my own place and to my own country. 26“Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me depart; for you yourself know my service which I have rendered you.” 27But Laban said to him, “If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the LORD has blessed me on your account.” 28He continued, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.” 29But he said to him, “You yourself know how I have served you and how your cattle have fared with me. 30“For you had little before I came and it has increased to a multitude, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. But now, when shall I provide for my own household also?” 31So he said, “What shall I give you?” And Jacob said, “You shall not give me anything. If you will do this one thing for me, I will again pasture and keep your flock: 32let me pass through your entire flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted sheep and every black one among the lambs and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and such shall be my wages. 33“So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come concerning my wages. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, will be considered stolen.” 34Laban said, “Good, let it be according to your word.” 35So he removed on that day the striped and spotted male goats and all the speckled and spotted female goats, every one with white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the care of his sons. 36And he put a distance of three days’ journey between himself and Jacob, and Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks.

37Then Jacob took fresh rods of poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white stripes in them, exposing the white which was in the rods. 38He set the rods which he had peeled in front of the flocks in the gutters, even in the watering troughs, where the flocks came to drink; and they mated when they came to drink. 39So the flocks mated by the rods, and the flocks brought forth striped, speckled, and spotted. 40Jacob separated the lambs, and made the flocks face toward the striped and all the black in the flock of Laban; and he put his own herds apart, and did not put them with Laban’s flock. 41Moreover, whenever the stronger of the flock were mating, Jacob would place the rods in the sight of the flock in the gutters, so that they might mate by the rods; 42but when the flock was feeble, he did not put them in; so the feebler were Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s. 43So the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks and female and male servants and camels and donkeys.

Reflection on Genesis 30:25–43:
This story reveals that God’s provision works hand in hand with human effort and integrity. Jacob trusted God, but he didn’t sit idly by. He worked diligently, cared for the flocks faithfully, and planned responsibly for his household. God’s blessing was not a reward for manipulation or laziness, but for steady, faithful effort under His guidance.

Laban, though aware of God’s blessing through Jacob, never turned his heart toward the Lord. He saw God’s favor only as financial gain. Jacob, on the other hand, recognized that his success came from God’s hand, not his own schemes. Despite being mistreated, he remained honorable — fulfilling his agreements, avoiding resentment, and showing wisdom in negotiation.

Jacob’s approach challenges us to hold both faith and responsibility together. He trusted God’s promise yet still acted with diligence and foresight. The text reminds us that prosperity does not come overnight — and it never comes apart from God’s grace. Like Abraham before him, Jacob’s success was the fruit of long faithfulness, hard work, and divine favor.

Application:
This passage offers practical lessons for how we work, plan, and trust:

  • Work diligently while trusting God’s provision. Faith is not passivity — God blesses effort that honors Him.

  • Keep your word. Like Jacob, live with integrity even when others benefit from your labor.

  • Avoid resentment. Don’t envy the success of others or demand more than you agreed upon; trust God to bless you in His time.

  • Plan wisely for your household. It’s not ungodly to prepare for your future — it’s faithful stewardship.

  • Recognize God as your source. True success flows not from cleverness but from His sustaining hand.

Take time today to examine your attitude toward work, provision, and waiting. Are you striving in your own strength, or working faithfully with trust in God’s timing? Remember — He provides not just through miracles, but through your daily obedience.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for showing me through Jacob’s story that Your blessings come through both faith and faithful work. Help me to trust You while serving diligently, to plan wisely, and to live with integrity in all my dealings. Keep me from jealousy or resentment when others prosper, and remind me that You are the source of every good thing. Bless the work of my hands as I walk in obedience to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Arrogance, Children, Courage / Fear, Discerning / Judging, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Faith / Trusting God, Greed, Hypocrisy, Parenting, Purposeful / Intentional, Selfishness, Study the Word, Tongue / Gossip / Slander

Navigating Perilous Times (2 Timothy 3)

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the challenges of the times we live in, uncertain about how to navigate through the complexities of life?

In 2 Timothy 3, the apostle Paul offers timeless wisdom for facing adversity and standing firm in faith amidst perilous circumstances.

Reconnect: In the preceding chapters of 2 Timothy, Paul writes to his beloved disciple Timothy, imparting crucial instructions for ministry and exhorting him to remain steadfast in the face of opposition. As we delve into chapter 3, we find Paul addressing the prevailing challenges of the last days, offering guidance that remains relevant for believers today.

(Summarized and continued after scripture)

2 Timothy 3

“Difficult Times Will Come”

     1But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. 6For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. 9But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.

      10Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! 12Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Summary Key Points:

  • Recognizing the Signs of the Times: Paul begins by describing the characteristics of people in the last days, warning that perilous times will come. He highlights traits such as selfishness, pride, and a lack of self-control, indicating the moral decay and spiritual deception that will abound in the end times.
  • Remaining Grounded in God’s Word: Amidst the prevailing darkness, Paul emphasizes the importance of Scripture as a source of truth and guidance. He reminds Timothy that all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, equipping believers for every good work.
  • Standing Firm in the Faith: Despite the challenges and opposition, Paul encourages Timothy to continue in the things he has learned and firmly believe. He underscores the necessity of holding fast to sound doctrine, remaining faithful to the teachings passed down from the apostles, and rejecting false teachings and deceptive ideologies.
  • Persevering in the Face of Adversity: Paul himself serves as an example of endurance and perseverance in the midst of trials. He recounts his own experiences of persecution and suffering for the sake of the gospel, encouraging Timothy to endure hardship and follow his example of unwavering faithfulness to Christ.

Call to Action:

Let us heed Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 3 by:

  • Studying God’s Word Diligently: Like Timothy, let us immerse ourselves in Scripture, allowing it to shape our beliefs, values, and actions. Let us commit to regular study and meditation on God’s Word, seeking wisdom and guidance for navigating the challenges of our times.
  • Discerning the Times: In a world marked by moral relativism and spiritual deception, let us remain vigilant and discerning, recognizing the signs of the times and standing firm in the truth of God’s Word. Let us be wary of false teachings and deceptive philosophies, holding fast to the unchanging truth of Scripture.
  • Remaining Steadfast in Faith: Despite the pressures and trials we may face, let us remain steadfast in our faith, trusting in the promises of God and relying on His strength to sustain us. Let us persevere in following Christ faithfully, knowing that He is with us always, even to the end of the age.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, grant us wisdom and discernment to navigate the challenges of the times we live in. Strengthen our faith and fortify our hearts with the truth of Your Word, that we may stand firm amidst the shifting sands of this world. Help us to remain steadfast, unwavering in our commitment to You, and empowered by Your Spirit to live lives that honor and glorify Your name. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Greed, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Money / Finances / Wealth, Peace / Rest

He Who Loves Money Will Not Be Satisfied With Money

Riches and wealth by themselves have no lasting significance. This seems contrary to what our culture today testifies and covets. However, really it changes when you stop thinking only about this world and start thinking about eternity. We can take none of this wealth with us.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-20

The Folly of Riches

     10He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity. 11When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on? 12The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.

      13There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt. 14When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him. 15As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand. 16This also is a grievous evil—exactly as a man is born, thus will he die. So what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind? 17Throughout his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger.

      18Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. 19Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. 20For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.

For those who love money and seek to be satisfied by it, there will never be enough. There is always more to pursue.

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Greed, Guide, Persecution / Glorifying God, Submitted / Servant, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

What Does It Profit A Man To Gain The World?

Yeshua has a way of putting things in sharp focus for His followers.  If we are to follow Him, we must deny ourselves, shoulder difficulties, and follow Him. The world will often come against us. If we try to save our own life to do with as we will, instead of as God wills, then we will lose eternal life.

Mark 8:34-38

      34And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 35“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37“For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

If we seek after Yeshua wholeheartedly, we will experience eternal life. He will save our soul. If we pursue the worldly things we shall perish, even if we gain the whole world along the way.

Take time to reflect on verses 37 and 38 above. This is serious business. Do not be ashamed of our Savior or the word of God in this world or He will be ashamed of us when we come before God.

It is the ultimate “choose your own adventure” opportunity. Will you follow Yeshua to the Father? or Will you pursue the world? One must be master. You can not serve both or you will love one and hate the other (Luke 16:13).

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please lead and guide me through the Holy Spirit so that I would truly be passionate for You and not ashamed. Help me to pick up my cross and follow You. Help me be joyful in doing so. Help me to lay down my life for and devote my life for You and the gospel message of salvation You represent. Amen.

 Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Greed, Money / Finances / Wealth, Submitted / Servant

Prosperity and the Love of Money

Many today preach a false gospel about prosperity. They teach that if you have enough faith you can command God and use His power to give you a bigger house or more money. For those who study the Bible for themselves, this can quickly be recognized as foolishness.

There are plentiful examples of wealthy people who served God such as Abraham, Solomon, and David. As a matter of fact, wealth used to honor God can be a great resource. Great wealth was used to build God’s temple. Wealth can be used to help people around the world and of course to share God’s word.

However, there are also abundant examples of poor people who served God with great faith, such as the prophets and disciples… and even Jesus Christ Himself.

58 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” Luke 9:58

Wealth is not an indicator of someone’s relationship with God.

The love of money on the other hand, when it replaces the love of God, leads many to ruin. 1 Timothy 6:6-10

6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Matthew 6:24 reminds us of the following:

24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

It is easy to give lip service and say that we serve God and not money. If you truly reflect on how you live and where you spend your time… would it tell a different answer? Ask God to show you where you need to make changes in your life.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Am I on the path?, Arrogance, Discipline / Guidance From God, Drunkenness, Greed, Guide, Justice / Judgment, Lying / Deceiving, Pride, Through Prophets, Unteachable / Foolish, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Warnings and Caution from Isaiah

Neither God’s nature nor human nature have changed. These timeless warnings from Isaiah’s time serve still to caution us even today.

Just to help get you started on verse 8, think of it as a transition from many small businesses and homes to fewer, consolidated homes and businesses of a much smaller group now running things. Sort of sounds something like… “Beware of shutting down small family businesses to be replaced with a few behemoths like Amazon or Walmart”.  Could be a similar concept with homes as well as businesses.

Isaiah 5:8-30

Woes for the Wicked

8Woe to those who add house to house and join field to field,
Until there is no more room,
So that you have to live alone in the midst of the land!

      9In my ears the LORD of hosts has sworn, “Surely, many houses shall become desolate,
Even great and fine ones, without occupants.

      10“For ten acres of vineyard will yield only one bath of wine,
And a homer of seed will yield but an ephah of grain.”

      11Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink,
Who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them!

      12Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine;
But they do not pay attention to the deeds of the LORD,
Nor do they consider the work of His hands.

      13Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge;
And their honorable men are famished,
And their multitude is parched with thirst.

      14Therefore Sheol has enlarged its throat and opened its mouth without measure;
And Jerusalem’s splendor, her multitude, her din of revelry and the jubilant within her, descend into it.

      15So the common man will be humbled and the man of importance abased,
The eyes of the proud also will be abased.

      16But the LORD of hosts will be exalted in judgment,
And the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness.

      17Then the lambs will graze as in their pasture,
And strangers will eat in the waste places of the wealthy.

      18Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood,
And sin as if with cart ropes;

      19Who say, “Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it;
And let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near
And come to pass, that we may know it!”

      20Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

      21Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!

      22Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine
And valiant men in mixing strong drink,

      23Who justify the wicked for a bribe,
And take away the rights of the ones who are in the right!

      24Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble
And dry grass collapses into the flame,
So their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust;
For they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts
And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

      25On this account the anger of the LORD has burned against His people,
And He has stretched out His hand against them and struck them down.
And the mountains quaked, and their corpses lay like refuse in the middle of the streets.
For all this His anger is not spent,
But His hand is still stretched out.

      26He will also lift up a standard to the distant nation,
And will whistle for it from the ends of the earth;
And behold, it will come with speed swiftly.

      27No one in it is weary or stumbles,
None slumbers or sleeps;
Nor is the belt at its waist undone,
Nor its sandal strap broken.

      28Its arrows are sharp and all its bows are bent;
The hoofs of its horses seem like flint and its chariot wheels like a whirlwind.

      29Its roaring is like a lioness, and it roars like young lions;
It growls as it seizes the prey
And carries it off with no one to deliver it.

      30And it will growl over it in that day like the roaring of the sea.
If one looks to the land, behold, there is darkness and distress;
Even the light is darkened by its clouds.

This prophecy contains quite the vision of warning and punishment to come. While Jerusalem has already experienced this in Isaiah’s time, we can learn from it and apply it still today, hopefully to avoid God’s wrath.

Spend sometime rereading this scripture today, reflecting on each piece as you seek to understand it clearly. Ask the Spirit to guide you in understanding and applying it to your life. I would highlight the following section again for your prayerful consideration. This runs rampant today throughout society and even churches.

      20Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

      21Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please grant us understanding and wisdom. Increase our faith. Let Your people have greater clarity than ever in regard to what is good and what is evil. Help us to be humble and not be “clever in our own sight”. Help us rely on You and Your word. Thank You for Your word which is good for teaching and instruction forever. Amen.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Arrogance, Bitterness / Resentment, Consequences of Sin, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Doubt / Lacking Faith, Greed, Homosexual Behavior, Mockers, Murder, Sin Nature, Strife, Tongue / Gossip / Slander, Unteachable / Foolish, Wickedness / Evil

Unbelief and Its Consequences

Many who mean well, genuinely struggle to understand how Yahweh can pass judgment on some who have never heard of Him. Sadly, rather than studying the Bible to gain better understanding, they just begin to redefine God in their image and rationalize that people will not go to hell after all. This leads to all manner of misconceptions about God and even more people lose their way.

We know that Yeshua is the way to the Father.

John 14:6

6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

If we believe those who do not hear about Yeshua will automatically go to heaven because of ignorance…we can find ourselves rationalizing that we should not go and tell others about Him. If we share the gospel and they reject Him then they will go to hell, but if we just don’t tell them… then they will go to heaven?

Following false doctrine leads to disastrous consequences. Yeshua commanded us to proclaim the gospel to all the nations, knowing that many would reject the message and reject Him.

Matthew 28:18-20

18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 7:13

13“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Does that mean Yeshua wants people to go to hell? Of course not! He came to save us, but people must submit to and follow Him in more than just empty words. We must show our love and obedience to Him by truly being His disciple. To be a disciple, we must learn. To learn correctly, we must study and pray.

Paul reveals the harsh truth of the matter. There are no excuses for those who choose to reject Yahweh. Evidence of our Creator is available all around us in His creation. God is not pleased with those who reject Him, whether or not a missionary has formally come to teach them about Him. Further, there are direct consequences for those who reject God. Without acknowledging God’s instructions for right and wrong, they have no guide to lead them to righteousness. Thus, it is natural to end up living in wickedness and sin.

Romans 1:18-32

Unbelief and Its Consequences

      18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

      24Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

      26For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

      28And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Please review carefully the specific, but not all-inclusive, list of sins that Yahweh finds worthy of wrath. Many of these are well accepted today in our culture. Starting in verse 26, God speaks about homosexuality and God labels it degrading, unnatural, and indecent. Verse 29 continues with a further list of sin that develops around those who reject God: “unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful”.

Do not overlook verse 32… which highlights the sin of not just doing these acts, but also of simply approving of, accepting, or encouraging these behaviors.

If we look around our society today, we see all of these things which have been called out in scripture. We did not see them as blatantly and publicly accepted a hundred years ago when we as a country had a stronger focus on God, Biblical teaching, and God’s instruction for how we should live. In other words, we can tie the degradation of our society back to people rejecting God and Him turning them over to a depraved mind as scripture documents.

Yahweh will not force people to obey and follow Him. He will let them suffer in their own choice, by their own free will. He gives them over to degrading passions that they have chosen. He gives them over to their depraved mind which they have chosen. As such, they will suffer in this world and then face the ultimate judgment when they face Jehovah when they die. Those who have not accepted Jesus as savior and submitted their lives to follow Him will go to hell.

John 3:16-21

      16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

The world and the people in it are inherently depraved and wicked, not inherently good. Some overcome this through becoming disciples of Christ. Some accept godly values even without accepting God, typically if it is normalized in a culture that generally does accept God. Sadly, many reject God and what He values. Prayerfully review the scripture and ask God to reveal to you what sins you may be practicing or approving of in others… of which you need to repent wholeheartedly to come back in right relationship with Him. Then humbly admitting your fault and recognizing the lies regarding what the world tries to paint as “right” and “proper” or “acceptable” behavior, turn from them and follow after Yeshua as a true disciple.

I encourage you to take a few minutes in prayer on this subject. pray for yourself first. Then consider praying for others and for our society as a whole. Take care not to move so quickly into prayer for others that you forget to pray about what God may need to show you in your own life.

—-

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Demons, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Greed, Miracles, Persecution / Glorifying God, Share the Good News

Prepare for Adventure and Drama When You Truly Preach the Word to Lost

Most of us who submit our lives to Yeshua and, out of obedience, boldly proclaim the gospel to others do so with nothing whatsoever to gain personally. We are moved by obedience to Messiah and out of love for our fellow man to help them find freedom in Yeshua… freedom from sin and freedom from the penalty of death for their sin. It is helpful at times to remember that those who reject our Messiah have many different motives. Often times they are not even willing to open their eyes and consider the miracles around them which declare the truth and the glory of God.

As we read in Acts 19, we start with a documented list of powerful miracles taking place which glorify YHWH. The word of the LORD was prevailing and growing mightily. With that backdrop, we also come across a variety of responses. Some try to use the name of Yeshua without having the relationship with Him and they are overcome by a demon possessed man. They tried by their own power. Contrast that to verse 11 where we see emphasis that God was performing the miracles through the hands of Paul. It was not Paul. We also see those who would profit by making idols come full force against those bringing the truth of Yeshua as Messiah. They seem to completely overlook the miracles and focus solely on their own short term financial benefit. They miss the bigger picture. There are many like these still today. Many come against Messiah for selfish reasons or try to use His name for their own glory and honor.

Acts 19:11-41

Miracles at Ephesus

      11God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. 13But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. 18Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. 19And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.

      21Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 22And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

      23About that time there occurred no small disturbance concerning the Way. 24For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen; 25these he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. 26“You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying that gods made with hands are no gods at all. 27“Not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship will even be dethroned from her magnificence.”

      28When they heard this and were filled with rage, they began crying out, saying, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29The city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. 30And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him. 31Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater. 32So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together. 33Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly. 34But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said, “Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven? 36“So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. 37“For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38“So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another. 39“But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly. 40“For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today’s events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering.” 41After saying this he dismissed the assembly.

Consider for a moment the “extraordinary miracles” that were taking place in the name of Jesus Christ. They were public spectacles and not private events. Word of Jesus was spreading and people were believing. There were many who responded and believed. However, there were some who were motivated by greed and others who joined in without even understanding why they were rioting… they just allowed themselves to be caught up in the moment and come against the Christians for no particular reason other than seeing others act that way.

They made no rational appeal or argument against Jesus. They were only concerned to shout for their false beliefs and not listen to any other views… even in the face of “extraordinary miracles”! They were blind and could not see… or would not see.

We see these same responses from many today. When we proclaim the truth many will come against us… but many will accept Yeshua as Lord. We must take courage and proclaim Him boldly despite opposition. We must take what measured steps we can to protect ourselves while relying on God to help us, but we must never be silenced from sharing the truth of Messiah.

Reason does not always win out… and in this particular scripture there was a man who calmed the crowds. It does not always work out that way, but we must place our trust in God and go about His business anyway.  We can try to adjust our strategy to communicate the gospel and how we respond to people by understanding their motivations. It was probably wise for the believers to keep Paul from going to the riot. We do not know, but perhaps they would not have been so easily calmed if they had Paul in their midst.

Truly we can also be thankful to God when we live in a society in which there is some semblance of court system to sort out conflict in a way that avoids mob rule and riots. We should actively involve ourselves in government when we can in order to protect that protection where we have it or to fight to get those rights where we do not have them.

At all times, however, we should pray for God to help us in proclaiming the gospel and responding to both receptive and hostile audiences… whether we face crowds of 5000 or a single person. Do not expect people to act rationally and listen to reason and evidence of Yeshua as Messiah, even when presented with miracles. Many will hear and be moved to learn more, but also many will resist and fight to hold on to what they already believe, for a variety of reasons that can actually be quite narrow and selfish.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please protect and encourage those who share the truth about Your word. Thank You for miracles that You perform at times to help glorify Your name and spread the word. Please help prepare people to hear Your word and receive it. Amen. 

—-

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.