Proverbs 11
Proverbs 11
If I can be completely honest with you, a constant struggle and sin I deal with is materialism. I love to have the nice and new thing. This has been something I have struggled with for a long time.
For example, I remember in high school, I signed up for this thing called: iPhone for life. This meant that I paid $30ish a month and whenever a new iPhone came out, I just went and got it. I thought it was the best thing ever!
And even now, I will catch myself desiring the new and best stuff. I definitely think Satan knows how to take my eyes off the Lord.
That is why I love verse 4, “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”
Wealthy people do not get a “Get out of Judgment” card. Stuff, things, material, they do not impress God. The Bible is clear that each person will have to give an account to God for what they have done (Romans 14:12). This means that one day, I will have to stand before God and tell Him about how I desired money, shoes, cars, etc. over Him. I desired things that have ultimately been torn, rusted, or destroyed over the God of the universe.
But there is good news. Thankfully, Jesus came to pay for my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Righteousness delivers from death, and Jesus is the righteousness we all need. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the RIGHTEOUS for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit.”
It is not wrong for us to have nice things, but do these things occupy our thoughts, actions, attitudes, schedule, and money?
For us, what can we do to keep Jesus the thing we desire most?
By: Brice Stockton
If I can be completely honest with you, a constant struggle and sin I deal with is materialism. I love to have the nice and new thing. This has been something I have struggled with for a long time.
For example, I remember in high school, I signed up for this thing called: iPhone for life. This meant that I paid $30ish a month and whenever a new iPhone came out, I just went and got it. I thought it was the best thing ever!
And even now, I will catch myself desiring the new and best stuff. I definitely think Satan knows how to take my eyes off the Lord.
That is why I love verse 4, “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”
Wealthy people do not get a “Get out of Judgment” card. Stuff, things, material, they do not impress God. The Bible is clear that each person will have to give an account to God for what they have done (Romans 14:12). This means that one day, I will have to stand before God and tell Him about how I desired money, shoes, cars, etc. over Him. I desired things that have ultimately been torn, rusted, or destroyed over the God of the universe.
But there is good news. Thankfully, Jesus came to pay for my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Righteousness delivers from death, and Jesus is the righteousness we all need. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the RIGHTEOUS for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit.”
It is not wrong for us to have nice things, but do these things occupy our thoughts, actions, attitudes, schedule, and money?
For us, what can we do to keep Jesus the thing we desire most?
By: Brice Stockton
4 Comments
I constantly ask God to give me the desires of my heart, and I find Him always working to change my desires for His desires. Praise God!!!
Mediate on The Word of God and ask Jesus to keep our focus and eyes on him not the things of this world. Thank you for posting!
I enjoyed the blog message today!
Thank you for your transparency, Brice. We all have struggles and need to be reminded many times a day, that Jesus is enough! Appreciate your words today.