mammon

Activation Mode

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Sometimes there is a sitting on the sidelines hoping that someone else will go to battle.  It is generally suffering that moves one from sitting on the sidelines to activation mode.

Over the centuries, those who have looked ahead at consequences have been called, depending on the era or point in time: historians, economists, philosophers, seers, or prophets.

Corruption is something people don’t like to discuss in polite society. How many times have you heard the phrase, “don’t discuss religion or politics?”

There are those who try to base a political campaign on economics. The mantra might be, “Vote for me and your personal finances will improve.”

However, economic issues cannot improve until corruption is dealt with.

Dealing with corruption, or the flip side of that is seeking righteousness, is the model that Jesus used.

Jesus went right to heart of the issue.  Will man survive economically by serving God and righteousness, or by serving mammon?  Mammon uses murder, thefts, and lies in the process of gaining what we call wealth or money.  God’s system involves righteousness and blessing from God.   Here are the two systems contrasted in scriptures.

Matthew 6:24 [Jesus speaking] No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

 

Matthew 4:9 And [satan] saith unto him [Jesus], All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.


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