WELCOME
December 27, 2018 (Thursday)
Many people bought all their gifts on credit. Now that the wrapping paper has been discarded with the ribbons, they face the cruel reality of the bills they now owe. Hopefully, they will pay them off by the next Christmas.
The folks who consider themselves debt-free today probably put into practice some basic principles about handling finances.
We can find no better guidance about money than following the teachings of Jesus. He said some things about the subject:
He said money can become your master if you let it.
MATTHEW 6:24 “No one 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.”
He said accumulation of wealth should never be our first priority.
LUKE 12:20 “God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'”
He said we should always put Him first in our lives, trusting that He will supply our needs.
MATTHEW 6:33 “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
He said giving, not taking, should characterize our lifestyle.
ACTS 20:35 “remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
He is the creator of worlds, but had only one possession when He lived among us, and that was His clothing.
MATTHEW 8:12 “Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.'”
Jesus taught us to lay up treasure in Heaven, by meeting the needs of people who need our help.
LUKE 12:33 (Jesus said)..”Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.”
People who wear a cross need to be willing to bear a cross.
Mark 10:21 “.. take up the cross, and follow me.”