“The seed that fell among the thorns stands for those who hear,
but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures,
and they do not mature.”

(Luke 8:14)

05 / 10 / 08
(NIV used)
(Comments in parentheses, underlines, and emphasis are mine)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

Money … it can be a blessing or it can be a god. Most people think that they can handle the balance, but so many have lost the One True God in pursuit of the other one – money.

“… who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:5-10) Note: It is NOT the money that is evil, it is the desire for it that causes people to fall.

I began to ponder this passion of our flesh while reading the parable of the sower (The top passage is only a part of the entire parable.). We read that the son of God is describing four different people who hear the Word of God (The seed is the Word of God) and what they do with it (or where along the path the seed falls and how it grows). Read that passage again. There are three SEPARATE items mentioned in this verse that KEEP the truth from maturing: stress, wealth, and pleasures. If you really think about it, any one of these can sabotage a total dependency on the One True God.

1.) Stress (not being able to trust God)
2.) Wealth (focusing on money and stuff instead of God … “Two things I ask of you, O YHVH; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is YHVH?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” (Proverbs 30:7-9)
3.) Pleasures (the things that fill in the time between work and family.) The boat, the camper (I camp and this can become something that comes between the seed and growth), the jet-ski, you name it!! Even a cottage away from home. These are not sinful in and of themselves, but where does God fit in? For instance, I use the camper to get away to study God’s word and catch up on lost time with my Father. I cannot judge what you do with your pleasures (extras in life) … that is between you and God.

I once was witnessing to a wealthy couple. They spoke of trusting in God for their salvation and their love for Him. Our conversation lead us to the above passage and I said: How can you trust God for tomorrow’s food if you have a month’s worth in your fridge? How can you trust God for anything, when you have it all? The wife almost started to cry (I am working on compassion, okay!) and said, “You know, I have never really thought about that. I have never been poor, so I can’t truly say that I know if I could REALLY trust God if He took it all away.” I then responded, “Ask Him.” “Ask Him what?” She responded. “Ask Him to take it all away so that you can learn to trust Him.” The conversation stopped. That would definitely change the level of faith and dependency upon the Lord. Let’s take a look at some examples in God’s word. You may find it quite humbling.

VERSES RELATED TO THOUGHTS:

- “Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have.” (Hebrews 12-15)

- “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) my Lord, for whose sake I have LOST all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ … .” (Philippians 3:8) How would Paul answer my question? “Yes, Lord, take it all away so that I may know you more. You are my passion and desire.”

- Speaking about pleasures of this world versus spiritual pleasures: “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:10) The sorrowful (in Christ), the poor (in Christ), those who have nothing (in Christ) … can still be rejoicing because they have true spiritual riches.

- “Then Yeshua (Jesus) said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. (He did NOT say impossible, just hard. How hard, though?) Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”.” (Matthew 19:23) Why are there so many preaching that if we have enough faith, we will have wealth? I truly believe that if a rich man comes to Christ while he is materially wealthy, that is where God Almighty wants to use that man. We must be content with what we have. My goal is to be content in ALL circumstances. That way, my focus can remain on God, and not on wealth. For “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Luke 16:13) … It is clear that God knows that our flesh, in its sinful state, craves the greenbacks.

- Can you imagine actually living in a community like the following? It cannot work as long as there is a love of money. Only when someone TRULY trusts in God can they give it away freely as the believers did back then:

 “At the present time your plenty will supply what THEY need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what YOU need. Then there will be equality.” (2 Corinthians 8:14)
 “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.” (Acts 2:44-45)
 “There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.” (Acts 4:34-35)

- “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who RICHLY provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be RICH in GOOD DEEDS, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is TRULY LIFE.” (1 Timothy 6:17-19) We are not truly living until we can give away the greenbacks of life freely and often.

- Regarding the end days … “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver has corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days … You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.” (James 5:1-3 and 5) Hmmmm … you don’t often hear this kind of preaching, do you? Perhaps, maybe it is because the leaders’ income depends upon his listeners feeling “good” about their money.

- “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” (Revelation 3:17-18)

- It’s funny, but the following verse so often describes my cry, as Jeremiah did in Jeremiah 12:1 “You are always righteous, O YHVH, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?” Then God usually answers me:

“Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him. Though while he lived he counted himself blessed – and MEN praise you when you prosper – he will join the generation of his fathers, who will NEVER see the light of life.” (Psalm 49:16-19)

- Other passages confirm this, as well: Proverbs 11:28, Ecclesiastes 5:10-11, Ezekiel 28:4-5, James 1:11, Psalm 119:71-72, Proverbs 8:10, etc… etc… (Go ahead … look them up and think: Have we fallen for a lie?)

- As you read the following verse, keep an eye out for who it is that God says runs after the things of this world: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ for the PAGANS run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek FIRST His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Mathew 6:31-34) So, is stress, wealth and pleasures keeping you too busy to focus on what is truly important? Many have said, “How do you find the time to do all these writings.” I just never think about it. I love God more than anything, I suppose. “But seek FIRST His kingdom and His righteousness…” We must realize that “and all these things will be given to you as well.” is talking about food and clothing (We don’t want our flesh to run away again and think that “these things” are all the world’s pleasures and wealth … they are not.)

LAST THOUGHTS:

We all know that only a few will be truly saved in the end. Make sure that you are being rooted in the TRUTH. Do not attend a church simply because you feel good there. Do not surround yourself with people who will tell you how good you are, but people who will keep you accountable. God blesses His children, indeed! He truly comes up with the money each week to buy food. He comes through with the job that you need. Yes, He is faithful.

Questions to ponder:

- Can a rich man easily bring the good news of the Son of God to a poor man? Would that poor man listen or think that the rich man cannot understand what he is going through?
- Can a poor man bring the same good news to a wealthy man? Would that wealthy man think that “this guy is not even wise enough to be prosperous here on earth, how can he know more than I?”)

I will not answer these two questions, but only say that our Savior thought it wisest and best to come to earth with humble means as a poor man and no place to lay His head.

Just something to think about the next time we cash that paycheck. Let’s keep our focus where God wants it to be – not on the things of this world.