Glad For a Reason

Glad For a Reason

James 1: ⁹ Those Christians who are poor must be glad when God lifts them up, ¹⁰ and the rich Christians must be glad when God brings them down. For the rich will pass away like the flower of a wild plant. ¹¹ The sun rises with its blazing heat and burns the plant; its flower falls off, and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way the rich will be destroyed while they go about their business.

 

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When I got my first job out of college, I was glad. I rejoiced because now I could pay for the bills I had accumulated. After a number of  job changes and promotions, I had was not satisfied with the level of wealth.

 

• I felt I needed more and I thought of reasons why.
• I looked at what other people were making and felt I “deserved” more.
• After a while I had no praise for what GOD was doing in my life, only complaints about other people.

 

James addressed wealth status. Some people may have mourned their status because they were too poor to do anything. Others may have flaunted their status because their businesses were flourishing. The stern warning to the rich is they could be destroyed trying to maintain their status.

 

My Observations:

• GOD warns us about becoming too wealthy to hear the needs of other people.
• GOD is the one who raises up people to where HE needs them to be.
• GOD tears people down to keep them away from the dangers of wealth.

 

Balance is the pursuit that is difficult. I mean, being too poor makes me cry out to GOD for rescue. On the other hand, being too rich, blinds me to the needs of others, causing me to dream up ways to keep or grow the amounts “I” have amassed. BUT GOD helps with balance.

 

GOD raises people up from poverty to help them see that HE is the answer. HE also sometimes tears the right people down so he or she will not get too prideful. GOD deserves all the praise and honor for what I have. I gladly say GOD is my provider.

 

Challenge

• What is the balance the writer is trying to get to?
• Have you ever gotten some money and stopped praying to GOD?
• Will you recognize your limits and keep praising HIM whether you have only a little or when you have plenty?

 

Perfect Life

Matthew 19: ¹⁶ Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

¹⁷ “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

¹⁸ “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, ¹⁹ honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

²⁰ “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

²¹ Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²² When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

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Upgrading to a luxury vehicle felt great! I filled out the company forms and drove off in my company car, praising the company! Important people rode in the car and I kept it neat as a hospital. Never once did I give the poor a ride.

• There were times wealth blinded me.
• There were times I treated GOD as yet another achievement.
• There were times when I like things and GOD was an afterthought.

GOD got HIS “cut” each week when it was easy to write a check, but HE wanted so much more. HE removed me from that position and visited with me.

• GOD said to me “I provide you with shelter to execute MY purpose.”
• GOD said to me “I give you transportation to bring MY people along.”
• GOD said to me “I give you wealth to give to the poor.”

Ten percent is nothing to GOD if HE doesn’t have it all. What I mean is even when it came to giving, I looked at wealth as being “mine.” GOD has a right to give to who HE desires and if my heart is in the right place, HE can use me to provide. Sometimes I may be on the other side and need someone to give to me.

GOD said “If you want to be perfect” to the man, knowing his greedy heart. GOD wants my computer, my phone, my car, my house, my clothes and my coffee maker. HE wants me to trade them in for treasure in heaven.

• Are you holding onto things?
• Has wealth or lack of wealth blinded you?
• Can you give GOD your wealth and possessions little by little until HE has it all?

Accepting Bribes

Daniel 5: ¹⁶ Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

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²² “But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. ²³ Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.

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One day I got a notification from the worst boss I ever worked for. Mean, belligerent and condescending was his style. He was reaching out to me because he had moved on to a new position and wanted to bring aboard a team of his own. I was unemployed at the time and money was running quite low. “I wonder if I should work for this guy” I thought to myself.

• Sometimes I would do some crazy things for money.
• Sometimes I would lose myself in order to get some money.
• Sometimes I would become something that I did not like in order to gain a little money.

Life’s hardships can bring on challenges that make me think twice about following someone who has no integrity. I mean maybe I can put up with pretending to be something I am not for a little while, you know, until I “get on my feet”, right? Wrong! GOD says something different.

• GOD says “I want you to follow ME not money.”
• GOD says “I want you to be single minded not double-minded.”
• GOD says “I want your entire heart and there is no room for money and ME.”

The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Belshazzar was not only celebrating money, he figured he could use it to solve his problems with the Living GOD. BUT GOD wasn’t having it. HE took Belshazzar’s life that night.

GOD wants me to see this example and chose to follow HIM. Just like Daniel turned down the bribe, GOD wants me to say “No” when it comes to dirty money. No matter how difficult things may look, GOD is there to guide me.

• Are you constantly thinking of money?
• Would you do anything for money right now, even lose your own personality?
• Can you stop following money and start following GOD today? 

Life of Comfort

Jeremiah 52: ¹² On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. ¹³ He set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. ¹⁴ The whole Babylonian army, under the commander of the imperial guard, broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.

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Sitting in my cabana, I prepared for the day’s events which included sightseeing, lunch, a massage, dinner and then dancing. Yes, this day was truly trying! On that day one of the top executives walked up to me and said he would like me to take a spot on his executive team. I was delighted! “Could this day go any better?” I thought to myself.

• In times of plenty, I have forgotten GOD.
• In times of abundance, I look at my achievements as “mine.”
• In times of great wealth, I thought I was secure.

“What a bright future” I said at that time, but little did I know my demise was on its way. The same people who raised me up forgot me when the reorganization came years later. A new guard came in and broke down the walls and many were carried off into the ranks of the unemployed. Like the king of Babylon, the new guard was unforgiving and onerous. BUT GOD had a plan for that too.

• GOD had to remove the blindness of my wealth to see I am secure in HIM.
• GOD had to remove my false security in titles to see I need humility in HIM.
• GOD had to remove my desire to be wealthy and serve the wealthy in order to see hurting people who need to be served.

Not once did I jump around and praise GOD during my island moment. Well, maybe a little, but my mind quickly raced off into how I was going to lead another large corporation. I did not think of who was poor or needy. I did not think of how I was going to use the extra money to help others. I think I tithed, but it was easy to do. GOD made it very clear to me that the earth is HIS and everything on it.

Every step I take is on HIS earth, not mine. The air I breathe is HIS and every penny as well. Every moment I exist should be given to GOD. I cannot say I give every minute to HIM, but the more I do the more I am blessed.

• Are you seeking a life of comfort?
• Do you constantly look forward to a vacation?
• Can you factor in time to worship GOD?
• Will you praise HIM for where you are right now no matter what the circumstance?

Climbing the Ladder to Profit

Isaiah 23: ¹⁸ Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the Lord; they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the Lord, for abundant food and fine clothes.

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Stock option discussions were plentiful. Chatter about the latest gadget or the latest house type came into view at every turn. “What type of phone do you have” was the question of the month as it seemed like we changed that often. I still have a box of old phones.

• There were times when I look at materialistic things as a show of success.
• There were times when I thought the latest and greatest was a show of success.
• There were times when I met “the right people” as a show of success.

When I rubbed elbows with these people I soon realized I was out of my league, but I was on my way. I mean, if I could only get that wine cellar and the humidor, even though I don’t drink or smoke, then things will be fine. The people who are connected would “keep” me in their circle. BUT GOD showed me different.

• GOD wants me to focus on people who HE send me.
• GOD wants me to give instead of store.
• GOD wants me to look for treasure in heaven rather than throwing away the next to latest phone.

Having material things is not bad; the problem comes when they have me. I mean when I cannot do without “that” thing or I depend on a bank account for my security or self-esteem then I have faltered. GOD wants me to focus my attention on pleasing HIM rather than running after those who could care less about HIM. GOD wants my generosity.

• Are you chasing the dream?
• Are you trying to make it big?
• Do you worry about money a lot?
• Can you put your trust in GOD long enough to quiet down and listen to HIM?
• Will you start storing up treasure in heaven today?

Have Some Heart for Dessert

Isaiah 7: ³ Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field. ⁴ Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.

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Returning home from watching a scary movie I opened the gate and walked to the back door of the house. My neighbor decided to play a prank and snarled from the separating bushes of our homes. I screamed and ran in circles! Interviewing for a company that wanted me to “Flip the image of a heart on screen during surgeries” made me nervous. I screamed and ran in circles!

• There have been many times in which I have been scared.
• There have been many situations where I have lost hope.
• There have been many situations that I could not see a good outcome so I backed out because of fear.

Life seems to bring many scary situations, sometimes daily. I almost had a head on collision once. I almost fell off of high places. I almost got hit by a truck. Each scary time makes me think, “Should I just hide in the corner of my house and never come out?” BUT GOD says different.

• GOD says to me “Be careful, keep calm” during situations, so I will not let my mind run away and spiral out of control.
• GOD says to me “Don’t be afraid” especially when HE prompts me to try something that seems extremely difficult or out of my knowledge or comfort zone.
• GOD says to me “Do not lose heart” because HE knows the many journeys HE will have me travel, I will face opposition.

Staying the course is sometimes extremely difficult. I mean it seems like big obstacles pop up at every turn that will make me want to quit. BUT GOD wants me to focus on HIM rather than the obstacle. My only weapon in many instances is praising GOD in the middle of the storm. HE is the provider, HE is the power and HE is the hiding place in the middle of the storm.

• Are you nervous about something?
• Do you see no way out?
• Can you stop looking at the problem and take a moment to praise GOD for what HE “is” doing?
• Will you “Be careful, keep calm, not be afraid and not lose heart” today because GOD is with you?

Ask for the Middle

Proverbs 30: ⁷ “Two things I ask of you, Lord;
    do not refuse me before I die:
⁸ Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
    give me neither poverty nor riches,
    but give me only my daily bread.
⁹ Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
    and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
    and so dishonor the name of my God.

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On my way to “extended wealth” I decided to get into day trading. I took some cash and asked one of the wealthy people what stock should I purchase. They gave me their advice and I went off with my purchase. About a month or two later I received a note stating the stock I purchased was worthless and the company had gone out of business.

• Sometimes I am not content with what I have.
• Sometimes the money I have is never enough.
• Sometimes I want more so I expand my thinking of what is poor and what is rich.

The wealthier I became the higher my thoughts were in terms of poverty. I mean my high school net worth could probably be measured in the cost of a sandwich and I thought I was rich. When I started working with very wealthy people, even my large bank account, insurance policies and stock made me feel as if I was destitute. What should I be thinking?

• GOD wants me to be grateful for this day HE has made.
• GOD wants me to be excited about where HE has me now.
• GOD wants me to be full of praise no matter what someone says my wealth status is.

“Easy” is not a place GOD says I would ever be as long as I am alive. HE did promise that HE would provide and HE would never leave me nor forsake me. My dependence is solely on HIM.

• Do you want wealth or a relationship with GOD?
• Are you trying to serve money and GOD?
• Will you stop talking about money for a moment and asses your relationship with where HE has you?
• Are you loving people that way GOD wants you to or are you frowning because you want more? 

Getting What I Ask For

Proverbs 15: ¹⁶ Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.

¹⁷ Better a small serving of vegetables with love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.

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“Meet the new boss” were common words at this particular company. I invited him out to dinner to get to know him so I could find out who I had to become now. Fortunately for me, my previous bosses were avid followers of GOD without distractions from their work, but this one was different. Our first conversation went down the direction of drunkenness and wild parties. Is that what I should become now in order to keep my wealth? I had a choice.

• Sometimes my wealth was the deciding factor of my path.
• Sometimes my wealth was the focus of my protection.
• Sometimes my wealth was the fear that was great to me.

The more wealth I accumulated the more I needed to protect it. This meant becoming the bosses right hand. Sometimes the hand was not as clean as it needed to be. I could feel the HOLY SPIRIT saying something to me. “No, not this time” were the words that started me on the path back to GOD.

• GOD wants me to follow HIM no matter what wealth status I am at.
• GOD wants me to praise HIM for just being with HIM, not for how much HE gives me.
• GOD wants me to know HIS love over wealth and HE will lead me in the way that is right.

It is better to have a little and be with the LORD than to be wealthy and be without HIM. I mean where would I go? HE is everywhere and HIS wrath is at the end to those who choose to not follow HIM. GOD blesses me daily with HIS love and protection.

• Are you seeking wealth?
• Are you trying to manipulate GOD in order to get wealth?
• Have you asked yourself “how did I get where I am” lately?
• Will you get back on HIS path?

Each Request has to be Blessed

Psalm 127:¹ Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
² In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
    for he grants sleep to those he loves.

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Broken glass and missing tapes were the only evidence of my problem. It took me years to collect this group of sounds. I started over. I locked my car like a warden and hid my collection under the seat. Five years of amassing a wealth of music, broken glass, a dent and missing tapes showed that my efforts of protecting my precious melodies were in vain.

• Sometimes I think “I” can protect “my” wealth.
• Sometimes I think “I” can protect “my” possessions.
• Sometimes I think “I” can protect “my” ideas.

Many times I have run into situations where “I” thought “I” could think my way out. I would plan, put contingencies in place and execute my plan only to have that plan fail. I roll around on the ground asking “what went wrong?” GOD answered.

• GOD says to me “Unless you include ME in your plans first, they will not succeed."
• GOD says to me “The bigger the plan the more reliance you will have on ME.”
• GOD says to me “Don’t worry about stuff that can rust or moths can eat, think of ME.”

Having a relationship with GOD is so much more important than getting “my” way. When GOD is involved in my life, my plans become HIS. When HIS plans are enacted, no one or nothing can stop them. Unless GOD is involved, my labor is in vain, but when GOD is involved the fruit is plentiful!

• Are you losing sleep?
• Do you feel exhausted?
• Can you give your efforts over to GOD and let HIM solve the problem?
• Will you take your hands off the situation and stop thinking you have to be in control?
• Will you be content with GOD’s way of solving the problem?

Not Missed Until it is Gone

^Psalm126:4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
    like streams in the Negev.
⁵ Those who sow with tears
    will reap with songs of joy.
⁶ Those who go out weeping,
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them.

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Embarrassed but content was how I felt about my mustard yellow rust bucket of a car. The front end was torn to pieces and the headlights didn’t want to work at the same time. I would shrink away from those who would laugh at it, sometimes wanting a car that looked better. When the accident happened, I was back on foot. “Man I wish I had my rust bucket back.”

• When I complain about something, I am not appreciating it.
• When I complain about something, I think I deserve something better.
• When I complain about something, I look at the complaint as justified.

Instead of being grateful, my embarrassment turned into frustration, which lead to complaining. When my car was gone, I could no longer complain about it. I was back on foot, without the means to get around. GOD doesn’t like complaining. I have never seen an instance where GOD looked at complaining as an endearing quality. In fact, HE took things away from complainers leaving them begging for the little they had.

When GOD wipes out fortunes HE isn’t being mean or hateful. HE wants and deserves thankfulness for what HE has given me. HE deserves all the credit for anything HE provides.

• GOD provides for me and I should praise HIM for the little before I can praise HIM for plenty.
• GOD can give or take away the fortune HE has for me because it is HIS in the first place.
• GOD restores to who HE pleases, when HE pleases and it is up to me to be content wherever HE has me.

Worries seem to hover around money. I mean when I don’t have enough, I worry about bills. When I have too much I worry about losing it and spend an exorbitant amount of time protecting it. GOD says to me, “I AM your fortune. Seek ME first and I will provide your needs.” GOD restores and I am grateful!

• Has GOD wiped away your fortune?
• Do you feel like you are in a hole financially?
• Can you place your total trust in GOD instead of looking at riches?
• Will you follow HIS plan for you so HE can restore you fully at HIS time?

Putting Wealth into Perspective

Psalm 49: ¹⁵ But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;
    he will surely take me to himself.
¹⁶ Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
    when the splendor of their houses increases;
¹⁷ for they will take nothing with them when they die,
    their splendor will not descend with them.
¹⁸ Though while they live they count themselves blessed—
    and people praise you when you prosper—
¹⁹ they will join those who have gone before them,
    who will never again see the light of life.

²⁰ People who have wealth but lack understanding
    are like the beasts that perish.

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After the conversation moved from the type of humidor this person would install, we moved on to fine wines, and then Mediterranean cruises.  I enjoyed the conversation but something felt different, something missing. I mean once we were done with the conversation about house square footage, then what was left? Oh, yeah, we could discuss cars!

• Envy makes me secretly look at the wealthy as a destination.
• Jealousy makes me secretly look at the wealthy as problem free.
• Greed makes me secretly look at the wealthy as a group without a care.

The missing element was GOD. When I had these conversations with the extremely wealthy, I never heard once, the need for GOD. I found myself, leaving GOD in my car to become what the next wealthy person wanted me to become. BUT GOD says something different.

• GOD ways to me “Stop loving money because it is the root of all kinds of evil.”
• GOD says to me “It is harder for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to go through an eye of a needle.”
• GOD says to me “What is it for a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul.”

I had a conversation with a dear friend and brother. He was trying to convince the CEO of a very large corporation to follow GOD. The CEO had just received a $2million gift on top of bonuses and salary. He said, “Get away from me with all that GOD talk.” He died at the same convention they announced his bonus. It woke me up along with many others. GOD is the pursuit. GOD is the destination.

• Are you jealous of the wealthy?
• Do you get mad at someone who squanders money while you struggle?
• Can you get your eyes off of them and look at GOD’s splendor?
• Will you accept where GOD has you and praise HIM for it?

Long Lessons are Great Lessons

Psalm 39: ¹¹ When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,
    you consume their wealth like a moth—
    surely everyone is but a breath.

¹² “Hear my prayer, Lord,
    listen to my cry for help;
    do not be deaf to my weeping.
I dwell with you as a foreigner,
    a stranger, as all my ancestors were.
¹³ Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
    before I depart and am no more.”

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With my last three hundred dollars, I bought a car. It ran and had seats so I was excited, but months later I found myself on the side of the road. I had no car again and this time, no money. Walking was my alternative to get to work. “Why is this happening to me?”, I wondered at the time, not considering the lifestyle I was keeping up.

• My sin blinds me to the point where I think things are “happening to me.”
• My sin deafens me to the point where I cannot hear.
• My sin mutes me so I cannot speak about the wonders of GOD.

Many times I think about the consequences of sin rather than the wages of sin. I think GOD is going to be mad at me for something I did and HE will whoop me or take my stuff away for being bad. BUT GOD has shown me something different.

• GOD said to me “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of GOD is eternal life through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.”
• GOD said to me “I want you to have life and have it more abundantly.”
• GOD said to me “I stand at your door and knock, if you will open it I will come in and sup with you.”

The LORD gives and the LORD takes away is a hard scripture to swallow when I have my eyes focused on money, but when my eyes are focused on GOD I can see things differently. I can see the blessing of dependence on HIM and recognize that stuff may have clouded my vision of HIM. I would get nervous about sinning because the consequence may be that I would lose my stuff.

The reality is I should be focused on the “wages” of sin in which GOD had to lose HIS life for me. HE lost everything just for me and is now alive above everything. I am eternally grateful.

• Are you afraid of losing your stuff?
• Do you have fear that GOD is punishing you for something?
• Can you let things go and let GOD guide your path?