The Idolatry of Serving Mammon

Whereas professed Christians may be open about their various addictions, sexual sins, dishonest behavior (lying, cheating, stealing, etc.) that they struggle with, virtually no one is signaling a struggle with an idolatrous relationship with money in some form. It must be worthy of note that Jesus singled out Mammon to say "no one can serve both God and Mammon" —that is idolatry. But it's like Jesus had no reason for such a concern with his followers having their hearts divided between God and Mammon. It comes down to one's deep affections and where one really puts his or her trust, in God or in possessions or so-called buying power in this world, for instance, either power one has or thirsts for. Rich and poor can have Mammon as their master (comp. Revelation 13:16), in which case they are either rich or want to be rich in treasures that are passing, that moth and rust do consume, and that thieves do break through and steal (Matthew 6:19). Such loved or desired 'abundance' is worth nothing as far as God is concerned (comp. Revelation 3:17). +Even when one is not driven by a rush to amass material wealth, if money stands as the actual "savior" in any situation and God himself is obscured in his quality of being in control of any situation, then that, too, is idolatry.+ So much hurts God's sensibility when our trust isn't "really" in Him, and our love is for the world rather than Him, according to his word.

You may not know where you really stand until God sends a fiery trial to test you (e.g. 1 Peter 4:12).

Be careful what your eyes are set on, and by extension, what occupies your heart and mind. Have the right mark on your forehead that symbolizes your mind. And be careful about what you do with your hands as a result of what's captivating your eyes/heart/mind. Have the right mark on your right hand that symbolizes your deeds/actions (the things you do).

What you speak is a good indicator of what's in you:
Luke 6:43-45
43 For there is no good tree that brings forth rotten fruit; nor again a rotten tree that brings forth good fruit. 44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil person out of the evil treasure brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.

2 Timothy 2:19
However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.”

James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Matthew 5:29-30
29 And if your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to go into Gehenna.

Matthew 6:22-24
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness. 24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon.

John 8:12
Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Luke 12:15
He [Jesus] said to them, “Beware. Keep yourselves from all covetousness, for a man’s life does not consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”

James 4:4
You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 The world is passing away with its lusts [desires], but he who does the will of God remains forever.

Mark 8:34-38
34 He [Jesus] called the crowd to himself with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it. 36 For what does it profit a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 For what will a person give in exchange for his soul? 38 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

3/01/2020

Image by Mohamed_Hassan from Pixabay.

Hebrews 13:5
Be free from the love of money, and content with such things as you have, for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

See also:
Has Jesus Promised to Make His Followers Rich?

Covetousness ||| Greed - YouTube playlist

Love Not The World - YouTube playlist 

The Mark of the Beast - No Forced Worship

Trust Check - YouTube video

Saved From Greed

Stand Against Witchcraft

If you're in agreement with witchcraft that does not look wicked, you will have peace in your ignorance as you are submitting to a wicked agenda of the devil. He is a liar and a deceiver and will use you as a willing agent to destroy your own self and others. But the moment God reveals that same witchcraft to you and you choose to renounce having any part in it, you will suffer its attacks. You will see its ugly side once you're no longer in agreement with it.

You will know by close experience that "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).

1 Samuel 15:23a
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

Seek God's ways in all then. Make sure you are not rebelling against God in the way you think of anything or in anything you do. Pray for that guidance about everything in your life. That's what surrendering your life to God means. He has a say in everything and desires also to be your light in all. Seek his voice and be obedient to Him. Follow his ways of righteousness and holiness. Come out of the world and be separate as God's servant. Whatever you have to suffer for that, choose God because you love Him above all. Trust that his ways are good and better than any other. Don't follow the world and its lusts. Allow no idols in your heart.

1 John 2:15-17
15  Do not love the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love is not in him. 16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not the Father’s, but is the world’s. 17  The world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.

Seek purity of heart which is pleasing to God. Be in agreement with your Father in heaven about all things. Call evil evil and call good good. Don't love anything that God hates. You must be actively seeking God every day. That is how you live. If you are his, you want to live for Him, you want his approval and blessing over every area of your life. So, have no tolerance for ignorance or indifference that would make you be happy following your own ways. Seek the wisdom that God gives, ask for it and you shall receive it (James 1:5).

1 Peter 1:22-23
22  Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from a pure heart fervently: 23  having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the living and abiding Word of God.

You are called to be an overcomer of evil with Jesus in you.

1 John 4:4
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

Luke 10:19-20
19  Look, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will in any way hurt you. 20  Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

May Jesus bless you!

Call to Repentance