Quest for material success

Image via WikipediaQuest for material success

 

In the two prior selections, we see that the quest for material success can cause many earthly problems.  This quest also diverts our efforts away from our real purpose in existence.  Could these be some of the reasons that God has problems with these actions.  Having friendship with the world involves seeking pleasure at others' expense or the expense of obeying God.

(James 4:4)"Unfaithful people!  Don't you know that to be the world's friend means to be God's enemy?  Whoever wants to be the world's friend makes himself God's enemy."

What is meant by "friendship with the world" and submission to God?

Material success encourages us to remain as earth's child and reject being God's child.  Become moneys master not it's slave.  We will look at this area further.

(Job 1:9-11)Satan replied, "Would Job worship you if he got nothing out of it?  You have always protected him and his family and everything he owns.  You bless everything he does, and you have given him enough cattle to fill the whole country.  But now suppose you take away everything he has - he will curse you to your face!"

How would you have responded to similar circumstances?

Will Satan be asking questions about you?

Commitment determines our fate in God's Kingdom.
(Lk. 13:30)"Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first will be last."

There will be many surprises in God's Kingdom.  Some who are despised now will be greatly honored then; some influential people here will be left outside the gates.  Many "great" people on this earth (in God's eyes) are virtually ignored by the rest of the world.  What matters to God is not a person's earthly popularity, status, wealth, heritage, or power, but his or her commitment to Him.  How do your values match what the Bible tells you to value?  Put God in first place and you will join people from all over the world who will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of heaven.

How do you plan on getting in?

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Written on their hearts.

Image via Wikipedia

 

(Jeremiah 31:31-34) are some of the greatest words in the book of Jeremiah and it points beyond Jeremiah's own troubled time to the day when there would be a new covenant, one that God's people would keep without a teacher to remind them; because it would be written on their hearts.

One of these topic’s purposes, is to provide you with an additional guide to assisting you through the required growth.  We hope that these topics will help clarify this period of preparation and decision making, and provide you with some guidelines on how to complete this period, the best way possible sharing a child's joy.

(Job 33:29-30)"God does all this again and again; he saves a person's life, and give him the joy of living."

Another purpose of these topics is to show how a loving God offers his people a rich and full heritage of life when we participate in a right relationship to him, and how when his people fail to achieve this relationship, their lives court disaster.  This is a lesson we all have to learn, within the experience of spiritually growing, and where we also learn the true nature of the rich heritage that is offered, and that it does not depend on material success but on the life of the spirit.

My coping with difficulties will be improved by?

Our loyalty should be to God's truth, his way of life, and his dedicated people.

(1 Peter 2:11)"I appeal to you, my friends, as strangers and refugees in this world!  Do not give in to bodily passions, which are always at war against the soul."

In terms of time, effort and money spent, which comes first for you?

(James 4:1-2)"Where do all the fights and quarrels among you come from?  They come from your desires for pleasure, which are constantly fighting within you.  You want things, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you quarrel and fight."

What are some outward signs of this inward submission to God?

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How is wisdom apparent in your life?

Image via Wikipedia

How is wisdom apparent in your life?

(Job 28:28)God said to men, "To
be wise, you must have reverence for the Lord.  To understand you must turn from
evil."

With this in mind we see that we must make that decision, God or
the evil's of earth.  As children of God, how should we proceed to make that
decision?  The age of majority on earth concentrates on the mental and
physical.  The age of majority for the heavenly world concentrates on the areas
of love and other spiritual areas.  Jesus used a child to help his self-centered
disciples get the point.  We are to be childlike, with humble and sincere
hearts.

(Matthew 18:1-4)At that time the disciples came to Jesus, asking,
"Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"

So Jesus called a child,
had him stand in front of them, and said, "I assure you that unless you change
and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven.  The
greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes
like this child."

What does it mean to humble oneself like a child?  Why
is this important?

Humility and Love can make us the greatest in the
Kingdom of Heaven.  So how do we achieve these qualities?  God provides us with
our earth based plan of growth to become mature members of the family of humans
in order to give us a living parable of how we can become mature members of His
family.  We shall look at these parallel growth plans and look at how each
relates to the other, and why God did this for us.

(1 Chronicles
17:19)"It was your will and purpose to do this for me and to show me my future
greatness."

Take time to praise God, to count his blessings, and to
affirm your commitment.  God wants us to be great in heaven and he will show us
how to get there.  As part of the growth paths, we will be discussing how each
individual must take an active part in planning his/her own growth.  This in
itself is part of growth.  But an even more important part of growth is how well
you are able to follow that plan.  Therefore we see that this growth plan must
affect our "heart."  God takes the initiative.  When we turn our lives over to
God, he, by his Holy Spirit, builds into us the desire to obey him.


________________________
Love God with my whole heart, mind, soul and
spirit

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(Romans 12:1-2)"So then, my brothers, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you" Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God - what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.

Image via Wikipedia(Romans 12:1-2)"So then, my brothers, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you" Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God - what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.




What does this add to your understanding of true worship?



This all makes sense! He wants us to have renewed minds, living to honor and obey him. Because he wants only what is best for us, and because he gave his Son to make our new lives possible, we should joyfully give ourselves as living sacrifices.



We also see that we cannot find happiness until we deal with our relationships with God. The concepts covered above also suggests that there is in man unlike any other creature, the possibility of relating to God as an important part of the equation of existence. He may do so or not, for he is free to choose. People need childlike attitudes of trust in God.



(Matthew 19:14)Jesus said, "let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."



The receptiveness of little children and their simple faith are needed to believe in Jesus. We see in the above quote, that we need to become like little children. Therefore in these topics we will be reviewing factors that have a impact on the above statements. In additions to the above, we will be reviewing in these topics, some of the following areas. God wants us to join him in his home in heaven; after we have completed our period on Earth; where we are given time to make that decision. Also as part of this period, we are provided the ability to prepare our self for the entry into God's family by completing a training program and to reach a degree of maturity. This training is like earth's children in that this schooling trains us in the discipline, relationship with others, and mental knowledge; we require in the worlds we must deal with. Once we move forward from this period of decision making we enter a new world. This new world is a spiritual world. Therefore the training to help us achieve the maturity necessary to make that decision and join God in heaven; concentrates in the spiritual area. "The fear of the Lord" is a key theme and means to have respect and reverence for God and to be in awe of his majesty and power.

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To be productive for God, we must obey his teachings, resist temptation, actively serve. God will take action against us if we fail in our commitment to him. But as any loving earthly father would do; God will accept a child's improper actions, if the child is truly sorry and interested in refraining from this action again, and correcting the improper action.

Image via WikipediaTo be productive for God, we must obey his teachings, resist temptation, actively serve. God will take action against us if we fail in our commitment to him. But as any loving earthly father would do; God will accept a child's improper actions, if the child is truly sorry and interested in refraining from this action again, and correcting the improper action.




The Child of God who desires to join His Family in Heaven - who turns his life over to God - has now a new motive for existence, and indeed only one motive, namely to identify himself more and more with the will and purpose of God as opposed to his own private desires. So the desires of earth should take second place (Matt. 6: 19-21).



God has provided us His own Son to be our perfect example. As the ultimate example of our commitment and submission we have the acceptance (by God and His Son) of the denial by His People (Israel) their God's Son; and the agonizing death they imposed on the Son. God provided His Son, knowing what would happen and being a Father, yet he watched His Son being put through such agony. He stood back and let this happen, He did not help His Son and He did not take action of retribution. God being God OUR Father, as well as Christ's Father. did all this to help us to join him in Heaven. Can We do less, Can we not submit to what he asks us to.



His Son, also being God, and yet also being our Brother in the Family of God; submitted himself to such difficulties as being human and such agony as His death imposed on Him. And all of this because He also wished to submit to His Father and to help his Brothers and Sisters to join him in Heaven. (Mark 10:38). His plea that he might be spared the cup of bitterness is not granted. Instead he says: "Not my will but thy will be done." Can we not try to take His example along with His Father's and use these to assist us in acting on the submission and commitment we are required in order to join our Brother and Father in Heaven.



God the Father delivers his children from the shackles of their sins, when they commit themselves utterly to Himself. The right relationship to God, achieved in the obedience and self-dedication, becomes possible only through a complete commitment to his Son and the example he set for us as a goal to achieve. One which we will never achieve, but must strive for. One which was made possible, by the Grace that is provided us through the perfect obedience and self-dedication of Christ; and through his suffering and agony on the Cross, for all who identify themselves with God his Father. In addition to the Grace he provides us, he established Churches that can provide additional support and guidance. This guidance and support is also in addition to that which both Christ and the Father provided through the "Spirit." God has good, pleasing, and perfect plans for his children. He wants us to be transformed people.

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(Proverbs 20:27)"The Lord gave us mind and conscience; we cannot hide from our selves."

Image via Wikipedia(Proverbs 20:27)"The Lord gave us mind and conscience; we cannot hide from our selves."




What are you holding back from him? Why?



The very nature of humanity call's out, for the ability to receive forgiveness. Some people may question to need to acquire this forgiveness from our father. But we must realize that we were created to provide honor, glory, and most important love of our creator. Just as a earthly father creates his children for his honor and glory. But if he is truly a loving father, he has a strong need to express his love and to receive in return love. In order for any love to be shared, there must be a level of trust, respect, and submission. If these qualities are not present the dark side will take over (i.e. hate, etc.). Therefore any truly loving father must set forth the proper relationships at various levels. And he must enforcement must have penalties. This area is covered in more depth in another topic. The final outcome of the plans we make is in God's hands.



(Proverbs 16:1-2)"We may make our plans but God has the last word. You may think everything you do is right, but the Lord judges your motives."



What role should feelings, circumstances, play in knowing and doing God's will?



When children are truly submissive, they realize when they have acted in some may that is not according to, the desires of their father. These improper actions can take many forms.



Improper relationship to other children (i.e. stealing, fighting, etc.).

Improper relationship to the father (i.e. lack of honor, dishonor, etc.).

Improper relationship to the fathers world (i.e. waste, damage, etc.).

God calls us to be active in our obedience.



(Matthew 3:10)"The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots; every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire."

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To obey God's Laws will bring his help and support, to disobey will bring his curse (Deut. 11:26-32).

Image via WikipediaTo obey God's Laws will bring his help and support, to disobey will bring his curse (Deut. 11:26-32).



How would you explain to a new Christian the goodness that comes from obeying God?



What if we do not obey? How do we reject our earthly family? Well we could simply state that we reject that relationship, or we could willing performs some action that would cause us to be rejected by the family (e.g. murder, steal, etc.). These actions would usually be a serious intentional act. A earthly father would take action to remove a member of a family that bring serious harm to the family.



(Ezekiel 18:24)"But if a righteous man stops doing good and starts doing all the evil disgusting things that evil men do, will he go on living? No! None of the good he did will be remembered. He will die because of his unfaithfulness and his sins.



Is repentance (change) hard or easy for you? Why? What should you repent?



God gives us the same options; we can reject, the family through direct or indirect (through our actions) means. But just as in a truly loving family relationship; if we change our mind and should desire to return to the family of God, we have that option. We can reject the actions we took that separated us from the family; and request the right to come back. We can avoid this by doing what is "right and fair." Sacrifices and offerings are not bribes to make God overlook our character faults.



(Proverbs 21: 2-3)"You may think that everything you do is right, but remember that the Lord judges your motives.



"Do what is right and fair; that pleases the Lord more than bringing him sacrifices."



What does the Lord regard "sacrifice" as unacceptable, even detestable? What does he want instead? What does this say about mere religious ritual or orthodox belief?



I would like to take this opportunity to further discuss the area of whether you can loose the family relationship you have with God. I will ask you, would you like a family relationship where once you where in it, You could not leave it. Wouldn't that be somewhat the same as a convict or a slave. Since we are free to be a child of Good or not be. Would it not make sense that this same freedom be given to us, to reject that relationship. Also since God provided us with a period of time to make the decision whether to become a child in his heavenly family, would it not make sense that he would give us time to Re-consider our decision and possibly reject it, or change our mind.

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