Making Merchandise of You

God wants us to be happy. Consider what He said to the prophet Moses in the following scripture. Deuteronomy 33:29. Happy art thou, O Israel who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found to be liars unto thee, and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
God delights in our happiness and does not condemn the rich but will humble them when they are filled with pride, over the blessings they have received by him. As a merciful and loving Father, God has endowed men with riches and the power to gain wealth. There is a wonderful blessing for those who have been chosen to be stewards of wealth. There is also a very pointed warning. As the following scripture reveals, God is not angry with those who are rich. Many believe that riches come to those who oppress the poor, and to be rich means that one must be insensitive to the needs of the poor.
To say that rich people are evil is generally not true. God does not see as man sees. Servants of God, who are seeking to be rich will use the world’s principles of merchandising to gain wealth which is evil in the eyes of the Almighty God. The word of God warns the believers that they should not labor to be rich. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. Verse 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.(KJV)
The Apostle Paul is instructing Timothy to preach with emphasis, warning the believers to resist the temptation of building their future here on earth and trusting in uncertain riches. Jesus warns his followers using the following words.
Matthew 6: 31-33. Therefore take no thought saying, What shall we eat; or What shall we drink? Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the gentiles seek) For your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. Matthew 6: 33 But seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.(KJV)
God transforms the minds of rich men to be righteous and full of good works according to His divine purposes. This is evident in the life of the gentile believer named Cornelius.
Acts 10:1-3 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band. A devout man, and one that feared God with all his household, which gave much alms to the people and he prayed always. (KJV)
Many believe that when they accumulate riches, they owe it to themselves to squander as much as possible on seeking all the pleasure that money can buy. This comes from the misunderstanding that money creates power. One prophecy scholar said that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The scripture says that the love of money is the root of all evil.
Those who yield to the temptation of the love of money and sexual immorality fell from grace and divine favor with God. Many have been destroyed. and their ministry brought to ruin. The life of this holy man of God teaches us that we can have an abundance of riches and walk in absolute obedience to the Almighty God.
The apostle Peter encouraged the believers that there is the possibility that we can never fall. This is based on certain spiritual conditions. In 2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things ye shall never fall.
What are the things that the apostle is talking about? They are given to us so that we cannot be excused, but we can prevail and overcome our weaknesses. 2 Peter 1:5-8 And beside this giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness ; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
It is a fact that due to the present state of the economy, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. If that is so, it means that the rich Christians are getting richer and the poor Christians are getting poorer. This is the economic condition of the world and especially here in the United States of America. Our God is faithful and will continue to use the rich Christians, even the rich unbelievers to show the body of Christ that He is the same yesterday today and forever, changing men’s hearts to be like Cornelius during the first century Christian era.
One of the most amazing examples of Christian stewardship is found in the record of the apostle Paul in his encounter with the governor Felix recorded in the book of Acts. Paul had the powerful desire to maintain his purity while the rich Governor was seeking to satisfy his greed through manipulation. The power of Christ prevailed over the power of greed. When the Governor realized that he was not going to get the man of God to yield to temptation he determined to do him evil.
Acts 24:25-26, And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time, when I have a convenient time I will call for thee. Verse 26 He hoped also that money should be given to him of Paul that he(Felix) loose him wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and commune with him. Verse 27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix room: and Felix willing to shew the Jews pleasure left Paul bound.(KJV)
When the apostle preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Felix trembled under the conviction, but he never surrendered to accept Christ. All believers must remain steadfast until the very end. The manipulation of the Governor was not enough to overcome the faith and love of Christ in Paul.
Don’t lose your victory in the final battle against the enemy in your ministry. The tempter will attacked the saints just to deprive them of the final victory. The apostle Paul was determined to maintain that humble state of contentment so the words he wrote to his spiritual son Timothy would be backed up by a life of uncompromising faithfulness. Here us what Paul said through the Holy Spirit to the church.
1Timothy 6:6-10 But godliness with contentment is great gain. Verse 7 For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. Verse 8 And having food and raiment let us therewith be content. Verse 9 But they that will be rich, fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. Verse 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil; which some coveted after have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.(KJV)