Coffee With The Lord

Heard a fellow Christian the other day remark, “I want to be rich – I want to make a lot of money!” Their comment caught my attention! In fairness to them, they went on to qualify their statement by saying they desired to use the money for noble, altruistic ends and to further causes tied to the Kingdom of God. Having said that, according to the Bible having that desire comes with some significant spiritual risks!

Just as that person’s comment caught my attention, so did my Bible reading this morning from James… Pretty direct – even a bit “in your face” as they say…

“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.” (from James 5:1–6 ESV)

Wow! Now, I believe James is warning the “ruthless rich” (and we know there are some of those characters around… even some who claim to be “Christians”). But it doesn’t have to be that way! It is possible to be a generous, compassionate rich person! The following passage is ALSO in the Bible…

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs… As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” (from 1 Timothy 6:9–10 and 17-19 ESV)

During “coffee with the Lord” I’ve also been reading Proverbs and it is filled with both warning to the greedy and assured blessing to those who are generous (there are just too many of them to list here, but you ought to check it out!).

Got to tell you, I think the wisest course of action for “your’s truly” is not to make wealth and possessions my target – my goal! If the Lord blesses me that way because of wise stewardship; Praise the Lord! I do know I want to avoid like the plague being “ruthlessly rich!” My personal experience? Godly generosity is a lot of fun and fulfilling as can be! And God is pleased! When I practice it, I’m convinced my heart, as His child, has picked up some of His DNA!

Don’t know if you’ve ever heard this statement when you’ve tried to pay for something… “Your money is no good here!”  Usually the statement is used to emphasize that what you’re trying to pay for is a gift and payment will not be accepted to obtain it.  In fact, in some cases, to even try to purchase the item or service would be considered an affront – offensive to the giver!

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read story in the Bible that emphasized that truth about receiving the empowerment of the Holy Spirit…

“Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for He [the Holy Spirit] had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit!  Now when Simon [who had formerly been a sorcerer] saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’  But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!  You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.  Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you… Simon responded, ‘Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me!’” (Acts 8:14–22 ESV)

We live in a culture that seems to think that if you have enough money you can buy almost anything… possessions, honor, power, and influence.  Well the truth of the matter is, there are some things money just cannot buy!

You cannot purchase or earn salvation and God’s forgiveness!  The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 6:23)  “For by grace you have been saved through faith.  This is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

And you cannot buy the divine empowerment of the Holy Spirit either!  In fact, even to think so is offensive to God… just ask Simon!  For those who are the redeemed children of God, it is a “grace gift” (a “charismata”) freely given to those who ask, believe and receive it!  (Check out Luke 11:10-13; Galatians 3:2-5; and Acts 2:1-4, 32-33, and 37-39.)  To be sure there are evidences, manifestations, and “fruit” of His presence, but the presence and power of the Holy Spirit is provided to God’s children as a “gift” received by responsive faith!

That’s why “marketing” the power the Holy Spirit provides for personal advancement and gain is so offensive!  The Biblical principle is “You received without paying for it, give without pay!” (Matthew 10:8).

So today, I’m just incredibly grateful – grateful for salvation, and grateful for the Holy Spirit’s empowerment!  I didn’t deserve either one, but God has freely provided these wonderful gifts!  With God’s help and leadership, I intend to be a faithful steward of His blessing; first of all for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom, and secondly for the blessing and benefit of others!

The Lord has been dealing with me lately about having and maintaining “a pure heart” … The Bible says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Jesus declared. (Matthew 5:8)

“Rotten at the core” is a phrase that comes to mind regarding our hearts… and just like fruit, if it’s rotten there, eventually the rottenness will reveal itself elsewhere! Here is how the Bible puts it: “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked! Who can know it? [Answer?] ‘I the Lord search the heart and test the mind.’” (Jeremiah 17:9-10)