Introductory Comments

  1. With all the problems and evil our culture is facing why does the Des Moines Register attack a local ministry that strengthens marriages and families? The accusation is that they are not licensed? Members of the media are not licensed. Political leaders are not licensed. Some of the best talk show hosts are not licensed. We have major problems and this is not one of them. Des Moines Register article is found here: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100806/NEWS/8060350/Unlicensed-family-coaches-collect-millions-as-charity
  2. Daniel 9:26 – The coming anti-Christ is described as being a descendent of the people who destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem in 70 AD. The people who destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem in 70 AD were the Tenth Roman Legion (Legion X). History records that the Tenth Roman Legion  broke through the city wall, dismantled the Temple, tore down Jerusalem’s walls and were stationed in Jerusalem for the next 200. Indeed, they were Roman citizens who were commissioned as Roman soldiers, but the people in the Tenth Roman Legion were not from the city of Rome or from Italy. The people who destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem in 70 AD were from the land that is today Turkey and Syria. POINT: Here is another definition of the religion, the region and the person of the anti-Christ. If the anti-Christ were to arise today and this verse were fulfilled in our time he would most likely be a Muslim leader who rose to become a Caliph and the Twelfth Imam. If this is correct then Islam would then be the religion of the anti-Christ which according to scripture will desire to occupy Temple Mount, radically deny the Christian God and destroy the Jews. At this point in history this is not a stretch. Time will tell. . .see blog here:  http://galynwiemers.blogspot.com/2010/08/people-of-ruler-who-will-come.html

 

 

Matthew 6:19-24

Jesus mentioned rewards several times in 6:1-18. Now he addresses those “Treasures in Heaven.

 

6:19 – is present tense in the imperative mood so it means “Quit laying up treasures” or “Stop the practice that you are actively engaged in of laying up treasures.” Jesus was telling his followers it was decision time.

 

The topic is priorities concerning money, things and prosperity.

It was about balancing possessions with purpose.

 

Jesus was addressing the attitude not possessions and wealth

This was not a message just for the wealthy or a message against the rich.

Poor people in poverty can have the same wrong attitude concerning wealth.

1 Timothy 6:10 says the “Love of money is the root of evil.”

Notice: You can have the “love of money” without actually having any money!!

 

Life is about production not about possessions.

There is no room in Christianity for glorifying poverty.

  • Poor people are not closer to God
  • There is no glory in poverty
  • There is no special place in heaven for poor people
  • Poverty is not next to godliness
  • Through out scripture poverty is a curse

 

God created us to need food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education.

No parent can safely have a baby without having some form of “treasure stored

on earth” to take care of that baby – food, clothes, shelter, transportation, education, etc.

So, it becomes fitting that it is God’s plan and a Christian virtue to create and

            have some level of prosperity.

 

Read these verses to identify God’s attitude concerning poverty and prosperity:

  • Proverbs 3:1, 9, 13-15
  • Proverbs 6:9-11
  • Proverbs 8:17-21
  • Proverbs 10:4, 15, 22
  • Proverbs 11:24, 25
  • Proverbs 12:11, 27
  • Proverbs 13:11, 21, 22, 25
  • Proverbs 14:23
  • Proverbs 17:16
  • Proverbs 20:4, 13
  • Proverbs 21:25
  • Proverbs 22:9
  • Proverbs 23:4-5
  • Proverbs 24:30-34
  • Proverbs 28:19-20
  • Proverbs 28:27

 

1 Tim. 4:3-4; 6:17; 6:10; 6:3-11

James 5:2-3 – pay the workers what they deserve

Colossians 3:1-2 – Set heart on things above

Revelation 14:13 – Deeds follow them

1 Corinthians 3:14 – Receive his reward