Monday: Blurred Spiritual Eyesight
We don’t need the Bible to teach us one obvious truth: the cares of this life and its riches are temporary. Nothing here lasts, and certainly not long either. As Paul said: “We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal;
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but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18). Christians have myopic vision when they are fixated on the cares of this world rather than on the path to heaven. And few things can blind their eyes to that path more than the deceitfulness of riches. Helen Keller, who was blind, said: “The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.” The Bible is filled with examples of those who could see but were, indeed, spiritually blind.
“Some love this world so much that it swallows up their love for the truth. As their treasures here increase, their interest in the heavenly treasure decreases. The more they possess of this world, the more closely do they hug it to them, as if fearful their coveted treasure would be taken from them. The more they possess, the less do they have to bestow upon others, for the more they have, the poorer they feel. O, the deceitfulness of riches! They will not see and feel the wants of the cause of God.” – Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, p. 267.
Blurred spiritual eyesight puts eternal salvation in jeopardy. It is not enough to keep Jesus in view; we must keep Him in focus.
Read Matthew 13:3-7 and Matthew 13:22. What danger is Jesus warning us about here? Why is this an easy trap for anyone, rich or poor, to fall into?
First, Jesus warns us regarding “the cares of this world” (Matt. 13:22, NKJV). Jesus knows that we all have cares, including financial ones. The poor worry that they don’t have enough, the rich worry about what else they might want. We just need to be certain that we don’t let such cares “choke the word” (Matt. 13:22, NKJV) in our lives.
Second, Jesus warns us of “the deceitfulness of riches” (Matt. 13:22, NKJV). Though riches themselves are not evil, they still possess the power to deceive us in a way that can lead to our ultimate destruction.
| What are ways that you can see in your own life the “deceitfulness of riches”? What practical choices can you make to protect yourself from this deception? |
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Riches and heaven don't go along together,if you are focusing on going to heaven limit your vision to riches
Simba, I know that you had something different in mind when you wrote this, but if we focus on going to heaven we are in the same boat as those who focus on riches now. Much of our talk about heaven and being saved sounds like cargo-cultism to un-churched people. I know what John 14 says about mansions in heaven and so on, but the key to understanding this passaage lies in John 14:3,4.
It is not the richness and mansions of heaven that is the focus but being in the presence of Jesus. There is much more in John 14 that is worth thinking about too that is relevant to our current study.
James 1:2-4 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Read Matthew 13:3-7 and Matthew 13:22. What danger is Jesus warning us about here? Why is this an easy trap for anyone, rich or poor, to fall into?
Jesus is warning us against focusing on the things of this earth and neglecting His word. These earthly things can be taken away at the whim of the mortgage holder, banks, organisations we work for. This is an easy trap for any of us if we view blessings from God as tangible – things we accomplish – a degree, a high paying job, a house, a spouse, children – and when we have accomplished our ‘everything’ we forget the Provider who afforded us these blessings. The busy-ness of accomplishing our earthly goals often render us numb to a true connection with the Word of God. The more we connect with God, however, the easier it will be to ignore the things of this world and the seeds (Word of God) planted will take root and grow - our best sustenance.
Bless ur 💖Ms Lindsay ur last statement is eyesalve---🌰Gods word is our sustenance-living(i,e)Christian living in faith thrives well w/less dough but sustained by God's word!!😘
This statement speaks millions!
"Though riches themselves are not evil, they still possess the power to deceive us in a way that can lead to our ultimate destruction."
How true riches are not evil.
Money in itself is not evil.
It's worth repeaating the quote from December 29th lesson study.
"“There have ever been in the church those who are constantly inclined toward individual independence. They seem unable to realize that independence of spirit is liable to lead the human agent to have too much confidence in himself and to trust in his own judgment"
The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 163, 164."
When we accumulate riches, not only do we care about what else we have to accumulate, but we constantly care about loosing the riches. The pattern is seen in the amount of time and resources invested in safeguarding the riches. in addition, we also loose our social footing due to riches, building barriers that sometimes make it hard for us to reach those who seek the gospel. Instead of using the resources to bless others, we embark on the path of SELF, denying our very existence as Christians and loosing focus of the work that God has given us to accomplish in this world. We thus need to faithfully update ourselves on such matters and request Christ to reign in us. Christ will provide direction on the best options of handling our materials and indeed, He will bless us more if we indeed demonstrate that our riches are meant to support His cause in this world.
We all have FUZZY spiritual eyesight at one time or another. However, the simple key this lesson is to stay FOCUS ON CHRIST. And to born again daily. Because once saved IS NOT always saved.
2 Timothy 4:10 “...For Demas hath forsake me, having loved this present world....” Paul the Apostle his letter to young Timothy.
To be spiritual is counter-culture and one fights the fight of faith every second of the day in a materialistic society, ‘the world will rub hard against’ us, this is where we find ‘the cross in the way to life’
Ellen Gould White (Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 2, p.266-267)”...But if your companions and children will not come, if you cannot win them to yield to the claims of truth, make their lives here as pleasant as possible; for all they will ever enjoy will be this poor world. But let not your duty to them interfere with your duty to God. [267] Pursue a straight-forward course. Let nothing they may do or say provoke an angry word from you. You have a hope that will yield you consolation amid the disappointments and trials of life. Your companions and children who will not be induced to tread the narrow, cross-bearing pathway with you, have not this divine consolation. They should have your pity, for this world is all the heaven they will have...”
Maybe riches/money/wealth, etc is not bad at all. but when our focus on God is turned to wealth, riches, money - this is when it is bad. we seem to put more effort / focus on riches than on God.
also that riches we have, we should turn it into a blessing by sharing/giving to those needed (poor, very unfortunate) etc......