The decietfulnes of riches...
Our Lord Jesus, in the interpretation of the parable of the sower, particularly the seeds that fall among the thorns, did mention such a thing as THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES...this phrase opens our eyes to the fact that their is deceit in riches. Riches here, according to the Amplified Bible, riches is money or anything that can be trusted. It also includes wealth and all manners of material tangebles.
The truth must be told, money is vital to human existence: through out history those that have money have made remarkable impact on their generations. By money, the hungry and desolate have been helped. money has brought two enemies together and actually some health challenges have been laid to rest by reason of the presence of money. Some wives stake their respects for their husbands on money: they seem to be saying: "no money no honey!" philosophically, all these appear to agree with common sense.
Yet, here lies the trick of the god of mammon: mammon says, "every thing must answer to me." Money says to all: "NOBODY DESERVES ATTENTION THAT DOESN'T HAVE ME!" She tells: "NO HUSBAND IS TO BE RESPECTED THAT DOESN'T HAVE ME UNDER HIS POWER!"
Unfortunately, the emphasis on money in our present church shows that mammon has gotten the better of us. we have dollars members, five stars members and various division in the church today based on money.we see ANOINTING OIL FOR SALE, MANTLE FOR SALE, GATE FEES TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THE GOD OF THE G.O AND SEEDS OF FAITH FOR MIRACLES ETC. You must not come to the prophets empty handed! almost everything is influenced by money in today's church. young men enter ministry today because of money after seeing their G.O living in luxury and affluence. actually any ministry that does not amount to physical cash is of no relevance in our time.
All these is the deceitfulNess of money. the devil is dealing with us wisely by dragging the gospel of Christ into this mess. Jesus says no man can serve two masters: to serve mammon simply means for money to take the place of God in ones life. if a man waits for money then money becomes his master.if your husband must have money before you respect him then money becomes your master.As a pastor, if money determines the kind of attention you give to your members then be sure that you 're not serving God but money. Look at the way you pour out your heart in prayer for that member that brought fat envelop to you as against your half-hearted prayer for that poor brother that brought nothing but his faith to your God: didn't you immediately dismissed him from your prayer list and continue to pray for those who are always gliving you Money, this thing is very subtle and unless a man gives heed to the timely admonition of apostle peter thus BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT...It takes sobriety and vigilance to outwit this sweetened corruption!
Here are the supposed stand of a true pilgrim: HE LIVES AND SERVES GOD WITH OR WITHOUT MONEY. HE HONOURS THE KING, LOVES the brotherhood and HONOURS ALL MEN ALIKE. He lives his life free of the love of money yet he has everything. The Lord is his provider and he leads him beside the still water and make him to lie down in green pastures. May God show to us the danger of trusting in riches. RICHES HAS DECEIT!
