Beware of Greed

My Manna

"Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." Luke 12:15.

The desire to acquire stuff is called greed.
This is a huge issue in our society, just as it was when Christ walked the earth.
Jesus tells the parable of a rich man who had had such a good year that he had run out of places to store his crops and other treasures.
He decides to solve this "problem" by building bigger and bigger barns so he could have a place for all his new stuff.
With all these new riches, he reassures himself that he can now take it easy and spend the next few years eating, drinking, and merry-making.
Doesn't this sound great?
He's got everything he needs and much, much more!
Only he didn't realize that God would say:
"You fool - didn't you realize that this very night your soul would will be required of you?"
This man never gave a thought to the fact that it was God who had blessed him and entrusted him with all this stuff.
No, he thought it was his doing.
He earned it all by himself, truly a self-made man!
Trouble is, this ownership mentality leads to greed and hoarding, and ignoring God.
This man was rich in the world's eyes and poor in God's eyes.
It led to a pitiful entry into eternal poverty.

The need to need more than you need equals greed.

Being rich in your relationship with God is a richer way to live - forever.

Perfectly Broken

My Manna


"By reason of breakings they purify themselves." Job 41:25.

God uses most for His glory those people and things which are most perfectly broken!
The sacrifices He accepts are broken and contrite hearts.

It was the breaking down of Jacob's natural strength at Peniel that got him where God could clothe him with spiritual power.
It was breaking the surface of the rock at Horeb, by the stroke of Moses' rod that let out the cool waters to thirsty people.

It was when the 300 elect soldiers under Gideon broke their pitchers, a type of breaking themselves, that the hidden lights shone forth to the consternation of their adversaries.
It was when the poor widow broke the seal of the little pot of oil, and poured it forth, that God multiplied it to pay her debts and supply means of support.

It was when Esther risked her life and broke through the rigid etiquette of a heathen court, that she obtained favor to rescue her people from death.
It was when Jesus took the five loaves and broke them, that the bread was multiplied in the very act of breaking, sufficient to feed five thousand.
It was when Mary broke her beautiful alabaster box, rendering it henceforth useless, that the pent-up perfume filled the house.
It was when Jesus allowed His precious body to be broken to pieces by thorns and nails and spear, that His inner life was poured out, for thirsty sinners to drink and live.

It is when a beautiful grain of corn is broken up in the earth by death, that its inner heart sprouts forth and bears hundreds of other grains.

And thus, on and on, through all history, and all biography, and all vegetation, and all spiritual life, God must have broken things.

Those who are-
- broken in wealth,
- broken in self-will,
- broken in their ambitions,
- broken in their beautiful ideals,
- broken in orldly reputation,
- broken in their affections, and
- broken ofttimes in health; those who are despised and seem utterly forlorn and helpless,
- the Holy Ghost is seizing upon, and using for God's glory.