Materialism/Greed

Here is an email I recently received from a friend in Winnipeg:

A missionary friend from Turkey , sent this to me in the wee hours of the morning.He and his family are living and working in Turkey . He continues to EXORT me to live a life spent for Jesus Christ, and what it means to live out His teachings.

Enjoy a few moments to think about Finances…

Subject: Facing financial woes!? ...the economy!? ---> FINANCIAL ADVICE FOR CHR'STIANS <--- (Surely there is no lack of materials, investment seminars etc... to "bring balance" to these teachings.)

Be Christian
Follow Jesus Christ

A. Don’t save up for yourselves.

B. Liquidate what you have regularly, and give away the money.

C. Loan to all who ask.

D. Give (but without pretense).

E. Rejoice when your money and possessions are taken from you.

F. Don’t be anxious about how you will provide food, clothes, shelter, heat, etc…for your family next month: Trust your Heavenly Father.

G. Give the Government what they want.

H. Help the poor in your town.

I. Labour!...not to ‘earn a living’ but for God’s great purposes!

J. Take all jobs and or positions for the main purpose of making the Gospel known in those circles.

K. Don’t serve any financial agenda (making decisions on a financial basis)…thereby hating Jesus. (Take steps of faith based on obedience to the Lord Jesus.)

L. Beware of:
a. nonsinful, affordable, distracting pleasures.
b. The cares of this life (note: more possessions & investments will require more care and attention!)
c. The deceitfulness of wealth. (these three things paralyze our ability to change our lives in response to God’s Word!)

M. Don’t serve money (i.e any financial agenda). Don’t make decisions on a financial basis,…thereby despising the Lord Jesus. (Live by faith, taking solid steps of faith based on obedience to our Lord Jesus.)

Brothers and sisters,
Take pride in your high position, if you have impoverished yourself/yourselves for Jesus and the Gospel’s sake! Our Master, the Lord Jesus, chose to sink himself into poverty for our sake! Don’t be of want for more things! Things for yourself, things of no eternal value! BE CONTENT with the things you have! You have the very presence of the very precious Lord Jesus Himself! Don’t use any form of credit or loan! The subsequent obligations will unequally yoke and bind you to something or someone other than the Lord Jesus. Jesus Christ himself has purchased us and all these days or our lives for God, His Father, with His own blood.

Precious Brothers and Sisters, Christ will return to Earth! When He returns, let us ‘be found’ taking care of and being “ALL ABOUT” our Father’s Business! Take care of your Father’s business, and HE will take care of yours!