by David Brenneman
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21.
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:24-34.
These days the trouble in each day is being made by the Adversary to look like a hot fudge sundae.
Worries of tomorrow are taking on nuances that weren't there 10 years ago.
Millions of people these days just do not want to use critical thinking and use AI 'tools' to circumvent doing actual work. Their eyes are on doing the least possible yet want the certificate of graduation at the end.
Their chief worry is to be caught.
So so many people are lying, cheating and stealing and are ok with it. Grand attempts at storing up treasure on Earth.
Even countries are encouraging monopolies without calling it that. Doing the most with the least in order to gain advantages.
So many billions of people, both Believers and the unbelieving storing up treasures here on Earth. Not heeding the Word of God.
Entering a house and a great television adorns the wall with comfortable seating to go with it. It's the center of attention. Some put televisions in the oddest of places in homes, off their decks, in order to not miss anything.
Then there's those who push push push to get what they believe is extra money and then spend it on themselves and honestly what they're really worshipping.
People wanting whatever they want without working for it. Even Believers were told something about this.
"What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? James 4:1-5.
The most important thing in a Believer's life should always, only, be whatever it is that God has for them to be doing. We should be daily in prayer to both learn from and to get to know our Lord Jesus Christ better. Finding what we need for life in godliness in our relationship with Jesus and the Word of God.
Cheating to win isn't a win. Someone once said that winners never cheat and cheaters never win.
It's extremely disheartening and disappointing to see the lengths that college students are going through to keep from actual using their brains. Getting an AI to do the work. All the while not realizing they are cheating themselves. When the real world hits them they will be lost without this AI.
Outside of what I am forced to with Google searches and shopping on Amazon, I refuse to use AI in anything. At least in my generation and earlier we learned by putting in the work.
The same really goes for a life in Christ. We aren't going to grow in Christ until we get serious about it.
Jesus said His sheep hear His voice. If you aren't spending time with Jesus you will not know His voice. If you aren't in the Word of God you are not going to know the things of God. You will be among those who barely make it into Heaven, if indeed you're truly saved. The rest of the world who isn't will get told to depart from Me for I never knew you.
That statement by Jesus should rattle everyone to the bone.
Nobody should be comfortable being told to depart from Me for I never knew you.
Putting things in our world above our relationship with Jesus is not going to fare well for anyone.
Believer's will give an account of their lives before Jesus. Whatever lasts through the fires of truth are what we give back to Jesus. If it's nothing then they have only themselves to blame.
Unbelieving people will likewise give an account of their lives before Jesus. Then, the book of Life will be opened. Whoever's name isn't found in it, they will be cast into the lake of fire.
We who are in Christ should be wanting only what we ourselves couldn't work for or earn...salvation in Christ Jesus...and to live lives that show our love and appreciation for all He did to save us. We get the opportunity to live a rich life in Christ if we follow what He taught us. We get the opportunity to have much to show in that day of accountability. Showing that our wanting what we didn't work for, which is His free gift of salvation, is worth our time, energy and effort.
A day is certainly coming, just as assuredly as His first coming was, to give an account of your life before Jesus.
What will yours show? Faith and trust in Jesus Christ displayed in wholehearted obedience or will it show a life lived for self?
Jesus Christ is to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life.
Cheaters never win and winners never cheat. This isn't working smarter not harder. We are talking about a rich vibrant life in Christ Jesus that He prepared beforehand that we might walk in these things. So that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.
It's up to you. Make Jesus happy by living out obedience or make yourself happy by living out selfishness.
All New American Standard Bible Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. A corporation not for profit.
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