We are not meant to be spiritual Lone Rangers or hermits but to edify one another with the ministry of our spiritual gifts. No one is a rock or an island! The only foundation for living is the one established in Christ as our Rock (cf. Psalm 18:31). In fact, "the only system of thought that Christ will fit into is the one where He is the starting point,' according to Athanasius. We all tend to have false hopes for our security and meaning in life, including money, fame, power, political involvement, or social activism, but God's Word says not to trust in princes or in our own strength. "Not by strength, nor by might, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts..." (cf. Zech. 4:6). Martin Luther's hymn goes: "Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing." All that we do is by God's strength and through the Lord--we can do nothing apart from Christ! (cf. John 15:5).
There is a relative hymn that goes: "My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness." We all are inclined to erect false empires and kingdoms of our own achievements, but God doesn't want those, He wants our obedience. He wants us to trust His accomplishment in Christ. It is a common error today to put one's faith in the government and to hope that some politician will save us from all our ills in society. The government is not the problem, and certainly not the solution either. God is the one who can work all things together for our good and well-being. The safest place to be is in the will of God, not in having a nest egg.
Once we build our secure foundation of faith we are in a position to be blessed by God--but we must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness! Some people are too busy with their own kingdoms and pursuing wealth that they neglect the task of the kingdom of God as the first priority. There's nothing wrong with wealth per se, but only when it is our priority and interferes with our spiritual growth and the kingdom of God. If we have a false foundation or one built on false hope, it is liable to falling down and collapsing on us. Jesus made it clear that the only firm foundation is obedience to Him as our cornerstone! We need to worry about nothing, trust God for everything, pray about anything and thank about everything to have peace with God, as suggested by Phil. 4:6-7.
When we live in light of eternity our problems and trials seem to be seen in perspective and we are more able to trust in the Lord. Focus on eternity, not the here and now! Jesus said that where our heart is, there will be our treasure also (cf. Matt. 6:20) and we are citizens of heaven (cf. Phil. 3:20) and our conversation should be heavenly. Soli Deo Gloria!
There is a relative hymn that goes: "My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness." We all are inclined to erect false empires and kingdoms of our own achievements, but God doesn't want those, He wants our obedience. He wants us to trust His accomplishment in Christ. It is a common error today to put one's faith in the government and to hope that some politician will save us from all our ills in society. The government is not the problem, and certainly not the solution either. God is the one who can work all things together for our good and well-being. The safest place to be is in the will of God, not in having a nest egg.
Once we build our secure foundation of faith we are in a position to be blessed by God--but we must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness! Some people are too busy with their own kingdoms and pursuing wealth that they neglect the task of the kingdom of God as the first priority. There's nothing wrong with wealth per se, but only when it is our priority and interferes with our spiritual growth and the kingdom of God. If we have a false foundation or one built on false hope, it is liable to falling down and collapsing on us. Jesus made it clear that the only firm foundation is obedience to Him as our cornerstone! We need to worry about nothing, trust God for everything, pray about anything and thank about everything to have peace with God, as suggested by Phil. 4:6-7.
When we live in light of eternity our problems and trials seem to be seen in perspective and we are more able to trust in the Lord. Focus on eternity, not the here and now! Jesus said that where our heart is, there will be our treasure also (cf. Matt. 6:20) and we are citizens of heaven (cf. Phil. 3:20) and our conversation should be heavenly. Soli Deo Gloria!
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