Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Is it possible that we could acquire money in a perfectly legitimate way and still be ashamed about it when we meet the Lord at last?
Is it a sin to have money? No, not if God gives it to you. But it is a sin to possess it selfishly, that is, thinking that you deserve it because of your hard work, or luck, or savvy. Then is when James's words will come true: your money "shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire" (5:3).
This is not to say that we must sell all we have and give away all we have so that we can be like Jesus who said, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head" (Matt. 8:20). No, it is not necessary for us to literally be like Jesus who had nothing but His clothes when He died, and was even divested of them as He hung naked on His cross. No, the Lord wants you to have what you need for health and comfort and He has promised to "provide."
But what's important is for us to grasp the seldom-seen truth, that all we DESERVE is the little that Jesus had. And that we would have only that--had He not become our Savior and died for us. It is just good common sense for us to recognize and confess that everything we "possess" beyond a lonely grave is the direct purchase of His grace.
Then gratitude can find expression in our hearts and on our lips, for appropriate gratitude is not possible for us sinful humans until we can grasp what it cost Him to save us.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 2, 2002.Copyright © 2011 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
Is it possible that we could acquire money in a perfectly legitimate way and still be ashamed about it when we meet the Lord at last?
Is it a sin to have money? No, not if God gives it to you. But it is a sin to possess it selfishly, that is, thinking that you deserve it because of your hard work, or luck, or savvy. Then is when James's words will come true: your money "shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire" (5:3).
This is not to say that we must sell all we have and give away all we have so that we can be like Jesus who said, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head" (Matt. 8:20). No, it is not necessary for us to literally be like Jesus who had nothing but His clothes when He died, and was even divested of them as He hung naked on His cross. No, the Lord wants you to have what you need for health and comfort and He has promised to "provide."
But what's important is for us to grasp the seldom-seen truth, that all we DESERVE is the little that Jesus had. And that we would have only that--had He not become our Savior and died for us. It is just good common sense for us to recognize and confess that everything we "possess" beyond a lonely grave is the direct purchase of His grace.
Then gratitude can find expression in our hearts and on our lips, for appropriate gratitude is not possible for us sinful humans until we can grasp what it cost Him to save us.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 2, 2002.Copyright © 2011 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
