The Big Trap

The last week God reminded me of some important values which we forget easily. After listening to a very convincing speech about how money is important after marriage, I got my mind full of worries. I´m glad God was mercyful and patient with me again (as well my wonderful fiance:). Our God has a special knack for turning us into the right way over and over again. I´m so thankful for that.

Well, that´s the point: how much do we put our hope and confidence on money? After so many examples in the history and the current bad economy, how long it will take us to understand how dumb it is to trust on worldly treasures? We see rich and “stable” people losing everything because of Wall Street. I even have heard of people not affected by the crisis (with the sad ilusion that anything can affect them) feeling so empty and not satisfield at all.

It seems like we never learn that to build our life on this foundation is a trap. You look at the out side and it gives you the impression of a real base, a safe place, but it´s all fake. At the end you will discover it was not worth of all your time, your fights and headaches.

I don´t think money for itself is the problem. The problem is much deeper. It´s inside our mind which still needs to be renewed. We still care so much about someone else´s opinion. The pride is still there, sometimes very well cloaked.

Here is the truth… we desire things not because it´s impossible to live with less, but because we don´t want to live with less when we see others living with more! That´s greed and the bible speak to us about it:

“Then he said to them: Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man´s life does not consist in the abudance of his possessions”(Luke12:15)

 

“I saw that all labor and all achievement springs from man´s envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:4)

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said: Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”. (Hebrews 13:5)

The Kingdom has another currency. If we are really part of the Kingdom of God we have other values, completely different mind, renewed to experience the perfect will of God (not the perfect will of this system, nor of your mom, who I´m sure wants the best for you, but most of the time doesn´t have a real sense about what “best” means).

HE has real treasures hidden only for those who understood the riches of HIS glory. And because it´s a real treasure, it isn´t so accessible or easy to get. It´s a way down… first you need to give up everything you have kept to “buy” the land, then you will start to dig deep and deep…. sometimes you will feel really small before other people…. but if you know the value of what you are investing your life on, nothing can stop you, nobody will make you feel poor….for some time ago you were blind, but now you can see! You know that in God´s eyes the bigest is the smallest and the smallest is the bigest. And what HE thinks is all that really matters.

I feel like just writing some bible´s verses which speaks for themselves…

“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (I Timothy 6:9-10)

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor put their hope wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life”.(I Timothy 6:17-19)

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. (Matthew 6:19-21)

“My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasure full” (Proverbs 8:19-21)

“Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and , and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33)

Nothing can make you fulfill besides God. There are two lords. We can´t serve HIM and money at the same time. The question is: who are we seeking more? Who has the most influence in our choices? Who do we miss the most? Who do we want the most? It´s time to examine ourselves.