Tag: love of money

[WordPOWER!] 1 Timothy 6 — "Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called." "Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches…"

On February 7, 2011

In "The LOVE of MONEY", Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, Lust Freedom!, Who Goes to Heaven, WordPOWER

1 Timothy 6

3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, 4 he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions, 5 constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. 8 But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. 13 I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, 14 that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; 15 which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

17 Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy; 18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

20 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called; 21 which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

David Wilkerson: The Idolatry of Being 'Successful' — The Love of Money Really is the Root of All Evil

By Jeff Fenske

On December 21, 2010

In "The LOVE of MONEY", Demons in Christians?, Lust Freedom!, Revival, Tithing or Spirit-led, Who Goes to Heaven

[Updated] I just thought of something. This is huge!

I’ve often wondered how the love of money can be the root of all evil. Consider this.
David Wilkerson here says:

Idolatry has to do with a much deeper heart issue. The number-one idol among God’s people isn’t adultery, pornography or alcohol. It’s a much more powerful lust. What is this idol? It’s a driving ambition for success. [or in other words: “the love of money”]

So what logically follows is that when people get rid of, excise the root of all evil, the love of money, then the other sins can’t be a bondage, because the ROOT of all evil is gone.
Remember:
“The love of money is the root of all evil.”
The love of money is an actual demonic stronghold that can only influence us if we give it a place.
And the consequences are losing our inheritance:

“It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.”

– Jesus (Mark 10:25)

And the kingdom of God means heaven, you all — just as it means eternal life in Galatians 5. See Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God?

This doesn’t mean that all of us need to sell everything and give it to the poor; though, God is probably telling some to do exactly that. We need to do whatever is necessary so the love of money doesn’t have us — so we can walk free in LOVE.

“Those who are led by the Spirit are the children of God.” Paul in Romans 8:

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. 15 For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us. 19 For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

So what is the Holy Spirit telling us — to be right-with-God-and-people, going-to-heaven children of God?
And pastors, why are you still teaching old covenant tithing, putting this weight of bondage on the people, keeping them from being led by the Holy Spirit in this important issue: what to do with their money?

Let’s be free from all of the weights that encumber — every willful sin that leads to death — by making sure we are free of the root of all evil — the love of money!

Let us be ONE in Him!

“Then the world will know” — Jesus heart-cry for us in John 17.

Jeff : )

——

From: World Challenge

IT BEGAN WITH REPENTANCE

by David Wilkerson | December 20, 2010

The church as we know it today began with repentance. When Peter preached the cross at Pentecost, thousands came to Christ. This new church was made up of one body, consisting of all races, filled with love for one another. Its corporate life was marked by evangelism, a spirit of sacrifice, even martyrdom.

The wonderful beginning reflects God’s word to Jeremiah: “I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed” (Jeremiah 2:21). Yet the Lord’s next words describe what often happens to such works: “How then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?” (2:21). God was saying, “I planted you right. You were mine, bearing my name and nature. But now you’ve turned degenerate.”

What caused this degeneration in the church? It always has been, and will continue to be, idolatry. God is speaking of idolatry when he says to Jeremiah, “My people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit” (2:11).

Most Christian teaching today identifies an idol as anything that comes between God’s people and himself. Yet that’s only a partial description of idolatry.

Idolatry has to do with a much deeper heart issue. The number-one idol among God’s people isn’t adultery, pornography or alcohol. It’s a much more powerful lust. What is this idol? It’s a driving ambition for success. And it even has a doctrine to justify it.

The idolatry of being successful describes many in God’s house today. These people are upright, morally clean, full of good works. But they’ve set up an idol of ambition in their hearts, and they can’t be shaken from it.

God loves to bless his people. He wants his people to succeed in all they undertake honestly. But there is now a raging spirit in the land that is overtaking multitudes—this is the spirit of love for recognition and acquiring of things.

A man of the world said recently, “He who dies with the most toys—wins.” Tragically, Christians, too, are caught up in this pursuit.

How far we have strayed from the gospel of living through dying to self, ego, and worldly ambition.

Many Pastors Still Teach Old Covenant, Pre-Pentecost Tithing—Not Spirit-Led Giving

By Jeff Fenske

On May 27, 2008

In Tithing or Spirit-led

From: The Barna Group, New Study Shows Trends in Tithing and Donating, April 14, 2008

Tithing Since 2000

The percentage of adults who tithe has stayed constant since the turn of the decade, falling in the 5% to 7% range. The Barna tracking reported that the proportion of adults who tithed was 7% in 2006 and 2005; 5% in 2004 and 2003; 6% in 2002; and 5% in 2001.

Origins of Tithing

Strangely, tithing is a Jewish practice, not a Christian principle espoused in the New Testament. The idea of a tithe – which literally means one-tenth or the tenth part – originated as the tax that Israelites paid from the produce of the land to support the priestly tribe (the Levites), to fund Jewish religious festivals, and to help the poor. The ministry of Jesus Christ [actually, the arrival of the Holy Spirit – editor], however, brought an end to adherence to many of the ceremonial codes that were fundamental to the Jewish faith. Tithing was such a casualty. Since the first-century, Christians have believed in generous giving, but have not been under any obligation to contribute a specific percentage of their income.

Read Entire Article

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Amazingly, the disinfo continues in American churches. Notice the reasoning used in the following article, while considering the state of churches today—where the money comes in no matter what—where people aren’t being taught to be led by the Holy Spirit and common sense in the crucial issue of $money$—the love of money being the root….
Many pastors aren’t currently qualified to lead—so shouldn’t be getting any money. The money shouldn’t automatically come in. The law of tithing was set up so those who were born into the Levitical priesthood would have provision to be able to perform their old covenant duties.
Now we have “a better way”—Hebrews 7.

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From: Pioneer Press, June 23, 2008

“The pastor should tithe, the church should tithe, and everybody that attends should tithe,” Matthews [pastor of the 1,200-member New Life Interfaith Ministries in Bessemer, Ala] said. “It’s fair for everybody, high income or low income. It’s still the first dime out of every dollar. It’s a management system. Do I trust God? If I can’t be trusted with that, how can I be trusted with more?“

Many [pre-new covenant/pre-Pentecost – editor] passages in the Bible cite the command to set aside the first 10 percent of the harvest for God.

“It’s something God insti-tuted even before the Bible, with the tree in the Garden of Eden,” Matthews said. “You have every tree, but of one tree, don’t touch.” [This is even farther out there than the more commonly taught, if-pre-law-then-must-also-be-post-law fallacy, which states that because tithing happened before the law (once with Abraham & Melchizedek) it must apply after the law – editor.]

Pateo recalled how tight finances were when her children were in day care and her salary barely covered the costs. But she believes it’s a religious duty to tithe to her church, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

“It’s not easy,” she said. “But other blessings come to you if you are faithful.”

Read Entire Article
Related:
The Day that Tithing Ended — To Now Be Led By the Holy Spirit
Russell Earl Kelly, Ph.D.: Tithing is Not a Christian Doctrine — “Tithing, today, is reaching the levels of a modern scandal”
Russell Kelly, Ph.D.: Reply to Jim Feeney, Ph.D. on Tithing
Tithing or the Carriage Driver?
David Bercot CD teaching: What The Early Christians Believed About Tithing and Fasting? “You might be surprised to know…”
Teaching tithing keeps the little (and the big) children from coming to Jesus where they can have life!
All of my Tithing or Spirit-led posts