Love and Faith

There is a double faceted ill that is common to mankind, and has been around since sin entered into the world. I'm talking about 'the love of money' and the 'honor of men,' the two top tier soul slayers in existence. The Lord revealed to me many years ago that the heart that is not fully trusting in God has no choice but to trust in money. That is why Jesus told us very plainly, "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" (Mat. 6:24). The condition of the heart trusting in money is also the downfall of many believers, as Jesus explained in the parable of the sower: "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful" (Mat. 13:22). "The deceitfulness of riches" mentioned here by Jesus actually means the deception of someone by taking their security in money. The truth is that there is NO security apart from trusting fully in God for all things, for it is he who provides all things, including money. To take security in money is idolatry, plain and simple. As certainly as we cannot serve both God and money, it is just as certain that we cannot trust in both God and men. Jesus explained that with great clarity to those who were doing exactly that when he was here: "I receive not honour from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you... How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?" (Jn. 5:41,42,44). So as Jesus said, we cannot 'believe,' which is to say fully trust in God, as long as we are receiving and giving honor to men. Now let's understand that we should "honor all men," and the scripture says the same (I Pet. 2:17). But the honor that we should 'honor all men' with, and the 'honor of men' that Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for, is two different things. We should honor all men as being created in the image of God, and for whom Christ died. But we should NOT 'honor men' for the sake of our own personal gain.

That is the evil that Jesus was speaking of, and that is the evil that will keep us from fully trusting in God if we give it space in our lives. It is that 'honor of men' that Jude referred to in the following manner: "These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage" (Jude 1:16). That is quite a saying indeed, and that saying encompasses most of the evil that is done in the earth. Only the elect of God, who love pureness of heart above all things in life, are not going to be subject to these particular evils; meaning the love of money and the honor of men. Jude put both of these deadly ills together in one bucket, with his memorable saying that I just quoted. "Having men's persons in admiration because of advantage" is a condition that permeates every fiber of society, every day, and on every level and walk of life. I see it constantly, and it is also prevalent among God's people, without them even recognizing it. If you have this condition you will automatically have a built in favor for people who have more in this life, and are in more advantageous positions in regard to things of this life. As I said, this exists on every level of society, and in every walk of life; both in ways that are great and small. It doesn't matter where and how it exists, or whether it be in great things or small; because the truth of the matter is if you exercise it it will kill you, in terms of your spiritual condition. If you find that you are showing more regard to those around you who are advantaged financially, and less regard for those who are not; then you are more than likely guilty of both the love of money, and the honor of men. That is not a good 'one-two' that you want on your spiritual resume, so it pays to be very honest with one's self about this kind of thing. It's possible that a person with much may be more righteous than a person with little, but it's far more often the case that someone who is regarding the richer over the poorer is guilty of the two sins in mention here.

The scripture tells us that "a gift destroyeth the heart" (Eccl. 7:7). 'A gift' means a bribe, and the heart that is 'destroyed' is the one that accepts a bribe. Bribes are perpetrated every day in every walk of life, often disguised as a 'help' to someone. But when that 'help' includes reciprocated favor of some kind, it will certainly "destroy the heart." What we need to do is learn to think like Jesus thinks, about this and about everything else for that matter. So let's take a look at how Jesus thinks in regard to this particular subject: "And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much... And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had" (Mk. 12:41; Lk. 21:2-4). So Jesus gave more 'honor' to the poor widow woman because her heart was better than the rich who were casting in much greater offerings to the temple treasury. Had opportunity presented itself in that scenario, Jesus would have openly shown his favor and preference for the poor widow woman, because he measures things by the heart, and not by someone's worldly state. Here is another stellar example of how Jesus thinks in these matters, and it involves his words to two of the 'messengers' of the seven congregations of Asia that he gave to John to deliver to these men: "And unto the [messenger] of the [congregation] in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan" (Rev. 2:8,9). This man whom Jesus was addressing, who was the main elder of the congregation of Smyrna, was poor in this life; yet Jesus made sure he understood that he was actually rich, because he was faithful, and because he had favor with Jesus.

But another of these messengers received a quite different report from the Lord: "And unto the angel of the [congregation] of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God... Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see" (Rev. 3:14:17,18). So this man was well off in things pertaining to this life, but Jesus was displeased with him for trusting in those things. Jesus also made it clear to this man that in reality he was " wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." So Jesus does not cozy up to people because of any advantageous thing that they may have going on in this life. Rather he cozies up to those whose hearts cozy up to his heart, and who trust him fully; and who do NOT honor men for their privileged state in this life, nor do they trust in money for their security. That is who Jesus will favor. Every time. It nauseates Jesus, and it provokes him for his people to think and act contrary to how he thinks and acts. James the brother of Jesus put it down clean and concise regarding these things, and his admonition was to those who believe on Jesus: "My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" (Jas. 2:1-5). It sounds to me like James was thinking the same way Jesus thinks, and we should do the same.

I am beyond thankful that my heart automatically draws to those who are honest and needy before God, and not toward those whom I can maybe gain some worldly thing from personally. Notwithstanding, my heart, like God's heart, will also draw nigh to ANYONE who is honest and needy; including those who are advantaged in this life, if it be the case. And the truth is, sometimes that is the case, but not often. There's a whole Bible full of things that I could continue to confirm this sobering point with, but those who are honest of heart can see that this is more than enough to establish an irrefutable truth on the matter. Let me conclude with just one more scripture, and that from the great apostle to the Gentiles: "Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits" (Rom. 12:16). But since it is the time of year that it is, allow me to say this in addition: When God chose the man and his wife whom he wanted to bear his Son into this world, and raise him to manhood; he chose two poor insignificant people who just happened to have hearts of gold. Mary confessed the same in her prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord: "For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed" (Lk. 1:48). Not only by that statement do I know that Joseph and Mary were poor and common folks, but also by the fact that when they made the offering for Jesus in the temple, they offered turtledoves and pigeons, which was the offering of the poor who did not have a lamb to offer (Lev. 5:7). So again we see that God favors those whose hearts favor him, and more often than not it is someone who is less advantaged in things of this life. And he has absolutely no regard or favor for anyone due to their more privileged state of things in this world. It doesn't impress him, and it shouldn't impress us either. In fact God's elect are not impressed with anything that man has or can do, neither do they cater to such so as to gain anything from them. Amen. You know what? Amen again!