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Tuesday, July 29,
2008
Prepaid
1 Corinthians 7:23-24 Ye are bought with
a price; be not ye the servants of men. (24) Brethren, let every man,
wherein he is called, therein abide with God. (KJV)
Williams New Testament translation
of 1 Corinthians 7:23-24
23.
You have been bought and actually paid for; stop becoming slaves to
men. 24. Brothers, each one must continue close to God in the very station
in which he was called.
Have you ever heard the term live within
your means? Now translate that into the realm of God and ask yourself, do
you truly know what that means? Like with a prepaid phone card you are
given an allotment of minutes to use and speak with, something that has
been prepaid and determined before hand. You too have been bought and paid
for with a price, that being the sacrifice of Jesus Christ once and for all
to ransom us back to the Lord and provide fellowship with our Father again.
Today I would like to cover the financial aspect of these verses, keeping
in mind too that we are bought with a price, that our Lord has all our need
covered, spirit, soul, and body. Did you realize that like with a prepaid
phone card you have been given an allotment to live by from our heavenly
Father; in other words as long as you live within His means then you will
never come up short? Remember, no man can serve two masters; we cannot
serve God and mammon or riches at the same time so we need to make the
choice and stay with that.
1 Timothy 6:6-11 But godliness with
contentment is great gain. (7) For we brought nothing into this world, and
it is certain we can carry nothing out. (8) And having food and raiment let
us be therewith content. (9) But they that will be rich fall into
temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which
drown men in destruction and perdition. (10) For the love of money is the
root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the
faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (11) But thou, O
man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, patience, meekness. (KJV)
Let’s be honest today; haven’t we all
thought at times that if we just had more money it would solve all our
problems? In the realm of this fallen world lotteries are a big hit because
those that win them do have part of their problems solved, that being the
financial one. But that is not the answer to a spiritual issue, one that
many of God’s people are actively pursuing after and have gotten out of
balance thinking it will solve all their issues as well. Have you ever
given thought to the fact that like a parent with a child, you have been
given an allotment for which you are to live with, something our heavenly
Father chose for you before the foundation of this world? So anytime we wander
off the path of life and go pursuing after the things of this world as we
see in verses 9&10, then we have stepped out of the will of God and
into our own will. Then that life you claimed was committed to the Lord is
now taking on a life of its own, with a love of God being drowned out by a
love for this world and the things of it. We are no longer living within
our Father’s means and what He intended for us to live peaceably in, but
rather having the life choked out of us with the cares of this life, the
deceitfulness of riches, and lusts of other things have entered into the
heart and blinded us spiritually. In essence, by going out on our own and
trying to improve, or what we think is improving ourselves financially, the
reality is we are telling God He is a liar and didn’t provide our need.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply
all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (KJV)
Oh but I prayed and prayed, and nothing
happened, doesn’t God care for me? Well He does and He did before the
foundation of this world; He planned your life and the provisions that it
would take to get you through it and into His eternal kingdom, but did you
follow through with what He is asking of you or how He is asking it of you?
Are you and the Lord still in one accord, you know of one mind and one
heart, or has there been some waffling and staggering on your part, maybe
some double minded doubt has crept in, or you decided to take matters into
your own hands to try and work your way out of a situation instead of being
still and letting patience have its perfect work. Sometimes the wisdom of
God really does go beyond our way of thinking because He is not limited to
this carnal realm, but is able to do things that are impossible to man, but
totally possible to those that believe. So is God truly your source, and
are you living within His means of what He is asking today, or have you
stepped out of the realm of faith and into doubt and fear?
Matthew 17:24-27 And when they were come
to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said,
Doth not your master pay tribute? (25) He saith, Yes. And when he was come
into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of
whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own
children, or of strangers? (26) Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus
saith unto him, Then are the children free. (27) Notwithstanding, lest we
should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the
fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt
find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. (KJV)
The above example shown gives us an
accurate illustration of someone that knew their rights and authority in
the word of God as well as the promises of God. This man Jesus Christ knew
that by seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness that
anything that was needed here on earth was provided, no matter how or what
manner. This man, Jesus Christ, lived by faith knowing God was His source, and
that He had a plan for His life before the foundation of this world, and by
knowing He was on the path God chose for Him God would confirm His word and
supply all His need. The question today is, are you on the path God chose
for you and is the kingdom of God which is spiritual your first priority as
well, or have you stepped out of the realm of faith and into a realm of
darkness and despair?
Luke 16:10-13 He that is faithful in that
which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least
is unjust also in much. (11) If therefore ye have not been faithful in the
unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? (12) And
if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give
you that which is your own? (13) No servant can serve two masters: for
either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to
the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (KJV)
What mankind says is so important is
actually least important to God, while what God says is the most important
is actually considered least to mankind; you know like the last shall be
first and the first last? So what is your priority today and what is it that
you are seeking first and foremost, is it the things of God and His
kingdom, or are you more concerned with building up your own little kingdom
on earth? God promised to supply all our need, the most important need
being spiritual, now the question is are you living within His means and
still walking the path He chose for you before the foundation of the world,
or have you stepped out of His will and are building a foundation on the
shaky sandy one of this fallen world? People, if there is a shortage or
what you consider a shortage, keep in mind it is not on our Father’s end
but rather may just be a reflection of a lack of commitment on this end.
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