Choosing What To Love

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.
-1 John 2:15 (New Living Translation)

   It's awesome waking up to thoughts of God's blessings. Even during those times when everything around you may appear to give you no cause to rejoice, it's great to open one's eyes to His goodness that isn't always apparent in our lives.  I was reading Psalm 47 this morning and it spoke of how when God's people shout out to Him with the voice of triumph, (victory; an over comer's spirit), how He will show up for us.  What a comfort this scripture was to me.  Sometimes, in spite of all we attain by way of material possessions, we have a greater need within us than anything the world can provide.  let me explain:

  Earlier this morning I spoke at great length to another good friend here in the city.  We were discussing scripture and he related to me how a brother of his had become angry with him because he was telling some friends where his brother had come from, (financially and materialistically), in relation to where he is now.  He stated how he was taken aback at his brother's anger towards him because all he was doing was showing the goodness of God upon his brother's life.  He stated that his brother felt it to be an embarrassment for others to know of his poor, meager beginnings.

  To boast on where we came from in relation to where we are today is a true testimony to God and His awesomeness and there is nothing to be ashamed of at all. I often have told the story of my own impoverished beginnings and I am very proud to give God the glory for my present state. 

  There is absolutely nothing wrong with having money, cars, a nice home or an abundance of food and clothing. There is; however, much wrong with being in love with these things.  It is paradoxical to love the world and the things that are in it and love God at the same time. You can only love one or the other.

  The love of this world has caused families to split, relationships to fail, friendships to utterly disintegrate and provoked wars among our brothers and sisters, (James 4:1-3). It has caused those who were otherwise godly minded to become lost in their lust for fleshly, (material), things and disregard the things of the Spirit such as love, gentleness, and faith.    
 

"Change your thoughts and you change your world"

-Norman Vincent Peale

 

 

With Love,

Dennis