True Prosperity
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August 17, 2010 — by Joe Stowell
Subscribe on iTunes
Play MP3 (Mobile)
Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: Mark 10:17-23
How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! —Mark 10:23
Bible in a year:
Psalms 97-99; Romans 16
A few years ago, the banking empire Citicorp ran a series of billboards about money: “Money changes hands—just be sure it doesn’t change the rest of you!” and “If people say you’re made of money, you should work on your personality!” These ads gave a refreshingly new perspective on riches.
God also has a surprising spin on wealth. From His perspective, you can be “well off” when it comes to worldly treasures and yet be in dire poverty in your soul. Or you can be poor in terms of earthside stuff and be lavishly rich by God’s standards.
The distorting power of wealth reminds me of the story of the rich young ruler. After a discussion about eternal life, Jesus asked him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. Unfortunately, the man “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22). This prompted Jesus’ lesson to the disciples: “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” (v.23).
It’s not that Jesus is against wealth. It’s just that He is grieved by anything that we value more than Him. We can work hard and make money, but when those things are the main pursuit of life, then Jesus isn’t. Placing Him first and foremost in our lives is the key to true prosperity.
He possessed all the world had to give him,
He had reached every coveted goal;
But, alas, his life was a failure,
For he had forgotten his soul. —Denison
Don’t let riches—or the pursuit of riches— derail your pursuit of Jesus.
灵命日粮档案
週二, 8月 17 2010
读经: 马可福音10章17-23节
「有钱财的人进上帝的国是何等地难哪！」（马可福音10章23节）
全年读经:
诗篇97-99篇 罗马书16章
几年前，银行霸主花旗商银打出一系列谈到钱的广告文案：「钱财常易手，但别让它牵着鼻子走。」「如果有人说你满身铜臭味，你就得留意你的人格了。」这些广告确实让我们对「富有」产生新的看法。
对于「富有」的人，上帝也有令人惊讶的诠释。从上帝的角度来看，一个拥有万贯家财的人也可能心灵匮乏；一个一无所有的穷光蛋也可能被上帝看作是极为富有的。
钱财的魔力正好让我想起，圣经中一个有钱少年官的故事。在耶稣和他讨论完永生的话题之后，要求他去变卖所有家产，分给穷人，还要来跟从祂。可惜的是，这人「忧忧愁愁地走了，因为他的产业很多」（马可福音10章22节）。耶稣接着就教导门徒说：「有钱财的人进上帝的国是何等地难哪！」（23节）
这不是说耶稣仇视财富，只是当我们把任何东西看得比上帝更重要时，祂就感到伤心难过。我们可以努力工作赚钱，但是耶稣不要我们把这些当成是人生的主要目标。把耶稣放在我们生命的首位，才是真正的富足。JS
他拥有无数财富，
梦想也全部达成；
但他的人生可悲，
因他丢失了灵魂。Denison
别让钱财或对财富的追求，成为你寻找耶稣的障碍
Text Size: Zoom In
August 17, 2010 — by Joe Stowell
Subscribe on iTunes
Play MP3 (Mobile)
Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: Mark 10:17-23
How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! —Mark 10:23
Bible in a year:
Psalms 97-99; Romans 16
A few years ago, the banking empire Citicorp ran a series of billboards about money: “Money changes hands—just be sure it doesn’t change the rest of you!” and “If people say you’re made of money, you should work on your personality!” These ads gave a refreshingly new perspective on riches.
God also has a surprising spin on wealth. From His perspective, you can be “well off” when it comes to worldly treasures and yet be in dire poverty in your soul. Or you can be poor in terms of earthside stuff and be lavishly rich by God’s standards.
The distorting power of wealth reminds me of the story of the rich young ruler. After a discussion about eternal life, Jesus asked him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. Unfortunately, the man “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22). This prompted Jesus’ lesson to the disciples: “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” (v.23).
It’s not that Jesus is against wealth. It’s just that He is grieved by anything that we value more than Him. We can work hard and make money, but when those things are the main pursuit of life, then Jesus isn’t. Placing Him first and foremost in our lives is the key to true prosperity.
He possessed all the world had to give him,
He had reached every coveted goal;
But, alas, his life was a failure,
For he had forgotten his soul. —Denison
Don’t let riches—or the pursuit of riches— derail your pursuit of Jesus.
灵命日粮档案
週二, 8月 17 2010
读经: 马可福音10章17-23节
「有钱财的人进上帝的国是何等地难哪！」（马可福音10章23节）
全年读经:
诗篇97-99篇 罗马书16章
几年前，银行霸主花旗商银打出一系列谈到钱的广告文案：「钱财常易手，但别让它牵着鼻子走。」「如果有人说你满身铜臭味，你就得留意你的人格了。」这些广告确实让我们对「富有」产生新的看法。
对于「富有」的人，上帝也有令人惊讶的诠释。从上帝的角度来看，一个拥有万贯家财的人也可能心灵匮乏；一个一无所有的穷光蛋也可能被上帝看作是极为富有的。
钱财的魔力正好让我想起，圣经中一个有钱少年官的故事。在耶稣和他讨论完永生的话题之后，要求他去变卖所有家产，分给穷人，还要来跟从祂。可惜的是，这人「忧忧愁愁地走了，因为他的产业很多」（马可福音10章22节）。耶稣接着就教导门徒说：「有钱财的人进上帝的国是何等地难哪！」（23节）
这不是说耶稣仇视财富，只是当我们把任何东西看得比上帝更重要时，祂就感到伤心难过。我们可以努力工作赚钱，但是耶稣不要我们把这些当成是人生的主要目标。把耶稣放在我们生命的首位，才是真正的富足。JS
他拥有无数财富，
梦想也全部达成；
但他的人生可悲，
因他丢失了灵魂。Denison
别让钱财或对财富的追求，成为你寻找耶稣的障碍
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