Tag: Prosperity

How do we reach the materialistic for Christ? Part 1

“Jesus answered them and said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.’ ” John 6:26

America has been blessed with incredible prosperity. We give a lot of attention and worth to that which is not eternal. Our inflated value system lets sports figures and movie stars make far more money than a governor, a doctor, or even the President of the United States. We have become gluttonous not only for food, but gluttons for sex, drugs, money, and power. And as a nation, we are becoming less aware of our need for God.

As a nation , we spend long hours at work to accumulate things. Many Americans have learned how to make money, but they have not learned how to live. Something is missing from their lives. How do we minister to people who are more concerned about temporal things than eternal things? How do we reach those whose wallets are full but whose hearts are empty? In other words, how do we reach the materialistic for Christ? We follow the example of Jesus who was speaking to a materialistic crowd in John 6:22-40. The first thing Jesus does to minister to the materialistic is to…

CONFRONT THEIR SELFISH DESIRES (John 6:22-27). If we are going to be effective in reaching the materialistic people of our society, we must confront their selfish desires. Remember in John 6:1-13, while on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus miraculously fed thousands of men, women and children with  five loaves of bread and two sardine-sized fish? Well, what happened to that crowd? After Jesus walked on water out to the disciples’ boat and miraculously transported the boat the remaining two miles to the other side of the lake (John 6:14-21), we read: “22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— 23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— 24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, ‘Rabbi, when did You come here?’ ”(John 6:22-25).

Upon reflection, the crowd realized that there was no way by which Jesus could have crossed the lake. But instead of asking Jesus how He got to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, the crowd asks Him “When?” Their failure to ask the right question shows that they didn’t seek to understand Jesus’ miracle of walking on the water to get to the other side of the lake. Jesus ignores their question and moves straight to the real issue.

“Jesus answered them and said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.’ ” (John 6:26). Jesus says, “You came not because you understand Me to be the Messiah but because you wanted another free meal.” They were more interested in Jesus’ ability to satisfy their physical appetites than their spiritual appetites. I noticed during our church planting experience in South Des Moines, Iowa (2003 – 2006), the best attendance at our outreach events was when we offered free stuff. For example, at our Family Fun Fest, we had a good turnout for games, food and entertainment. But when I got up to share the gospel after we announced the winner of the Grand Prize drawing, people were out of there in a flash. No good bye or thank you – no nothing. That experience reminds me of this crowd Jesus is speaking to. What do we say to these kinds of people?

Jesus said, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” (John 6:27).Jesus is not saying, “Do not work for a living.” Many might take these words literally and go on welfare! But Jesus is not advocating that. What He means is, “Don’t work merely to get food that does not last.” Food is important. It is necessary for life, and you must earn it. But don’t let that be the sole reason for your working. Rather, “Work for the food which remains forever and produces life that lasts forever.” Jesus can give eternal food “because God the Father has set His seal” of approval on His Son. This crowd was like many people today. They felt that the most important thing in life is to keep alive, to be healthy, strong and economically sufficient. That was what life was all about, they thought. Yet they were starving spiritually.

In an essay written by George Orwell, he describes a wasp that (as he puts it) “was sucking jam on my plate and I cut him in half. He paid no attention, merely went on with his meal, while a tiny stream of jam trickled out of his severed esophagus. Only when he tried to fly away did he grasp the dreadful thing that had happened to him.”

This wasp and people without Jesus have much in common. Severed from their souls, but greedy and unaware, people continue to consume life’s sweetness. Only when it’s time to fly away will they grasp their dreadful condition. Jesus encourages the materialist to seek after something better. To seek after bread which lasts and produces life which never ends.

Prayer: Lord, before I knew You as my Savior, I sought after food that perishes rather than food that lasts. Life revolved around me and my selfish desires. Thank You for confronting my selfishness at the age of nineteen, so I could see my need for You and Your gift of everlasting life. Lord, there are so many people in the USA whose wallets are full but their hearts are empty without You. They are angry and searching for meaning in their lives. Please break through to them so they can see that what they need is You, not a politician who makes empty promises. They need a Savior who always keeps His promises and gives life that never ends the moment they believe in Him. Thank You my Lord and my God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Two Roads in Life

“1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalm 1:1-3

The Psalmist tells us that we will be “blessed” (1:1) by God when we avoid the following subtle attacks of the enemy and the world in which he rules. Notice the progression of verbs: “walks… stands…sits.” Listening to the “counsel” or advice “of the ungodly” while walking with him slows us down to “stand” or fellowship with “sinners,” resulting in assuming the position (“sits”) of “the scornful” who despise God. God reminds us that we will be “blessed” by Him when we do not pay attention to the advice (“counsel”) of those who do not seek to please God (“the ungodly”), when we do not fellowship (“stands”) with those who are established (“path”) in a sinful lifestyle (“sinners”), nor assume the position (“sits”) of those who despise or detest (“the scornful”) God.

All Christians are capable and vulnerable to being drawn away from God by the world and all its lusts. It begins with slowing down enough to listen (“walks”) to the world’s advice. We may be exposed to this advice in our schools, work places, on the internet or TV, in politics, or among our families or friends. The counsel of the world may say:

– “Everyone is doing it so it must be okay.”

– “It won’t hurt anyone because no one else has to know.”

– “It is the greatest sign that you are loved.”

– “It will help you forget about your pain and problems.”

The longer we listen to this counsel, the more we will slow down (“stands”) to focus on what is being taught. More lies will be introduced to us at this stage from those who are established (“path”) in a sinful lifestyle. Lies that say:

– “It feels so good it must be okay.”

– “My loneliness and pain are gone.”

– “I feel loved and accepted.”

In the final stage, we assume the position (“sits”) of those who despise God and His ways (“the scornful”). We embrace lies that say:

– “I don’t need God or Christians any longer.”

– “I don’t care what the Bible says. It is full of errors.”

– “If God really loves me, He would not let me experience so much pain and suffering.”

– “Since life is so short, I might as well enjoy myself and live it up.”

Verse two begins with a very important word – “But.” The Psalmist introduces a very significant contrast. Instead of paying attention to the world and all of its allurements (1:1), the blessed person craves (“delights”) for “the law of the Lord” (1:2). The word “delights” (chephets) means to “desire or bend toward” much like a house plant that bends toward the rays of sunshine coming through a window to receive its nutrients. He “meditates” or ponders God’s Word “day and night” so that he is able to receive all of it’s life-giving nourishment (“like a tree planted by the rivers of water”) that he needs. As he focuses on God’s Word, the Lord produces “fruit in its season” that remains (“whose leaf shall not wither”) and makes him “prosper” in all that he does.

Every Christian has a choice between two roads in life: the road of the godly or the ungodly. The road of the godly focuses on the unchanging Word of God which leads to many blessings including life-giving nourishment, fruitfulness, and prosperity from God. The road of the ungodly focuses on the world and all its lust which leads to instability (“the ungodly…are like the chaff which the wind drives away” – 1:4), condemnation and guilt (“the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment” – 1:5), and eternal ruin or loss of reward (“the way of the ungodly shall perish” – 1:6).

Prayer: Father God, help me to avoid the way of the world and all its lusts by staying focused on You and Your Word at all times, knowing that Your Word gives me the nourishment and stability I need in changing times. This nourishment produces fruit that remains, so that whatever I do for You, shall prosper both now and in eternity. In Jesus’ name. Amen.