May 25, 2021 – Click here to listen
I had some communication with a brother in Christ yesterday and he was lamenting the fact that he had started a Christian businessman’s group and out of the 12 guys he had signed up, only 3 were actually “walking the walk” instead of “talking the talk”.
He asked me why I thought it was so hard for these men to run their businesses like they were Christians, instead of living for the devil all week, making shady deals, treating employees shabbily, and even getting drunk on Saturday night, only to show up as an usher at church on Sunday morning.
Hmmm, I believe that too often people do not buy into the belief that if they will focus on God as their number one priority and earnestly try to follow His commands that God will bless them enormously. My own testimony falls on deaf ears to many of my own friends. I tell them that God is the difference in my life and I owe my success to Him. Either they do not believe that and mistakenly believe I am happy, enjoy peace etc. because I am a hard worker, smart, lucky, or whatever, or maybe they believe it but don’t think God will do likewise for them, or maybe they just do not want God’s blessings as much as they want to follow the world.
It is frustrating. It is not lost on me that the Bible clearly tells us that we are engaged in spiritual warfare against a powerful foe. Even when we want to make God our top priority, along comes Satan with some worldly temptation that pulls us away from attending church on Sunday, or Bible study, or even prayer.
As I enjoy the wisdom of my golden years, I can honestly tell you that God will bless you enormously if you will just acknowledge who He is and make Him your number one priority. Nothing good will come from living for the devil, getting drunk etc. Rationally think about what God asks us to do, i.e. Don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t covet, don’t commit adultery, don’t worship idols like money or material things, don’t drink or eat to excess, etc. Does anyone in their right mind actually think any of those things or the numerous other things God has warned us about will ever do us any good at all? I don’t think so.
God’s commands should be carefully analyzed and followed from the perspective of being written by a loving Father who wants us to succeed and not someone who wants to outlaw everything that is fun.
Good things happen to those who seriously want to obey God and try their utmost to do so. Although we might not always succeed, He knows our heart and that we are trying our utmost. Do this and we can sit back and count our blessings because He will heap them upon us. Don’t do it and bad things will eventually descend upon us
Luke 13:32
Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom . . . For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.