I think the verse for Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NIV), ‘Whoever loves money never has money enough; … “says, all that needs to be said, in regard to people who don’t have any hope in life – they usually place their hope in ‘money’. God should be our first and only love – money, should be just a tool to do God’s work!

As Selwyn mentions in today’s study: “I say once more that the danger of wealth does not lie in possessing a large amount of money; it is the inordinate longing to be rich that is the deadly thing. … Anything that weakens the conviction that our security lies solely in God is dangerous – and nothing weakens that conviction more than the love of money.” 

What’s your view?

The main verse (Luke 16:13, NIV), for today makes this issue clear: ” … You cannot serve both God and Money (possessions).”

Money in itself is not an issue – the issue is putting money before God. As Selwyn says: “No, it is not money that is the dangerous thing – it is the excessive love of it that devours and consumes.” The love for God must become before our love of money, possessions and the false security such things represent.

As Selwyn concludes: “May our passion not be possessions, but let God’s possessions be our passion.” This statement can be the compass point for all our dealing with money and possessions – follow this road and you will be following the right path! Do you agree!

Selwyn now moves on to another fire that destroys – “a fire of acquisitiveness – the all consuming desire to possess money and material things.” 

He concludes: “The inability of things to satisfy the deep craving for life and meaning that is at the very core of our personalities has been demonstrated in every age. And yet people still pursue money and material possessions with a passion that should be reserved for God alone.”

The last sentence is the key to putting out this fire – when we pursue God with our greatest passion then everything else falls into place. The destructive aspect, with being wealthy, is the passion to acquire more. If you are wealthy but your highest passion is serving Jesus and you wisely use your wealth; to provide shelter, food and clothes for those in need – then there is no destructive fire burning in your heart – in a very real sense you demonstrate that your hand and heart is open, to letting go of your wealth.

The fire rages in those who will not let go of their wealth;  and, always seek more and more possessions. Do you agree?

1 TIMOTHY 6:3-10 (NIV) is a good study on money issues: “If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

I think these following verses (John 3:26-30, NIV) regarding John the Baptist’s attitude to Jesus, provides a powerful illustration of being comfortable with one’s position:

“They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

To this John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”

We all serve the one Lord, and we are all equal in God’s sight and heirs to His Kingdom; with our hearts full of God’s love there is no room for jealousy.

Selwyn states that ‘it is quite possible for jealousy to invade a heart in which Christ dwells’, I don’t fully agree. While jealousy may attempt to gain a foothold in any Christian heart – it can’t take up residence and become a long term tenant – unless we first evict Jesus. What do you think? 

Selwyn gives a good definition of jealousy: “Jealousy is the pain, irritation or displeasure we sometimes feel at the happiness, success, or the imagined superiority of another. It is the hurt we feel when someone with whom we match ourselves surpasses us. It is the secret elation we feel when someone we dislike stumbles and falls. Jealousy is deadly in its nature and it never fails ti scar and scorch the soul.”

Jealousy, is often hardest felt – when the happiness, success or superiority involves competing for time and affection regarding relationship with people who are close to us; or, who we would like to be close to us.

The only way to manage this emotion is with God’s help to love our neighbour (family, work colleagues & friends) in the same way that God loves us. It’s by putting others first and ourselves last. As stated in Romans 1:10 (NIV): “Honour one another above yourselves.” Once we have sacrificed our desire to be superior to everyone else around us - then jealousy losses its grip on our heart – do you agree?

I liked today’s study – Selwyn clearly illustrated the difference between godly jealousy and destructive jeolousy.

In regard to positive jealousy, he says: ” … it’s an expression of the enthusiasm of love. They find their force, not in a passion for self, but in a great passion for something or someone that is loved. It was because God loved His people that He was jealous for them. He was not jealous for Himself but jealous for their highest good. Ungodly jealousy is different; it is destructive … malicious and poisonous.”

Jealousy, as often seen in today’s world is self-centred, in that we are envious of what someone else has, or perceived to have – especially if it is the affections of a person that we think should be directly solely in our direction. It often reflects a lack of trust, and insecurity, by the person who holds onto the jealous feelings. Those who are God-centred don’t have to suffer from this subtle disease. Do you agree?

I think that they are now many who simply just don’t understand what Pentecost was all about. If Pentecost had not happened; we, the followers of Jesus would not be here – I think, it’s as simply as that!

The verses set for reading and meditation are Matthew 3:1-12, NIV (dwell for awhile on the bolded bits): “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:  ”A voice of one calling in the desert,  ’Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ “

John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” “

Notice the two uses of fire – one: those people who do not produce good fruit, the weeds who follow Satan, will be burned with an unquenchable fire. Let me put that a different way – even though God would like all to repent and inherit eternal life – those with stubborn hearts who refuse to hear His message and change their rebellious life-style, will die!

The second use – is the fire of God that refines people’s hearts. It is the energy of the Holy Spirit – it has the power to tranform our minds – God gives us the strength to follow Him and to be a blazing light to all those around us.

On the first Pentecost, the disciples “watch in amazement as tongues of fire appear on each other’s heads. At once all their hesitancy and trepidation is consumed and they pour out on to the crowded streets of Jerusalem to spread the wonderful new that Jesus is alive. What has happemed to their fear? It has been swallowed up in the fire of the Holy Spirit. From that moment they are like men and women who are ablaze; they have indeed been baptised with the Holy Spirit – and with fire!”

If you find it difficult to ‘pour out on to the streets of your neighbourhood’ and allow others to see that you are ablaze with God’s love’; then you need to ask yourself – am I empowered by the Spirit of the living God – or am I trying to do God’s work, all by myself? The former produces endless energy, to do more – the latter produces tiredness and disappointment – it’s really a simple test.

The good news is that there is help available – for example, the prayer for today, is a start: “O Father, I cannot be content with a flickering spiritual experience; I long for one that is engulfed in flame. So I give myself wholly to You now; please give Yourself to me. Set me alight, set me on fire. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”