Reply to original message in Conference & events, Message ID:1576704

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>Where's the line between fair margin and wrong ?

We have a few models to consider:

(1) In the Old Testament, God asked the Israelites to only gather as much Manna from the ground each day as they could individually consume. No more. Anything more that they gathered turned rancid and wormy. The only exception to this gathering was the day before the Sabbath when they could gather twice as much, some for that day, and some for the Sabbath. God allowed for an increase equal to consumption for the time devoted specifically to Him.

(2) In the New Testament, Jesus teaches, "He who wants to be first [in the Kingdom of Heaven] must be last [here on Earth], and the servant of all." Here we see the purpose of our life here on this Earth. It is not to acquire wealth or power, but to serve. So, our goals here are in service in all things.

(3) In the New Testament, we have Paul, a man chosen and imbued by God with the knowledge of the Kingdom of God, of Jesus, through the power of God's Holy Spirit. Paul teaches us that none of us should seek our own wealth, but each man should seek another's wealth.

These models God has given us keep us at a break-even ratio, relying upon God for all things. We lean upon Him trusting that He knows what our needs are, and that if He dresses up the Lillies of the field, and arrays them in such fine splendor as is their beauty, and if He cares for the Sparrow, and we are worth more than many Sparrows, then how much more will He feed and clothe us (oh ye of little faith)?

It comes back to relying upon God and not relying upon self. We (believers) move and pray and have faith and we trust in God in all we do. We rely upon God for all increase. That He Himself will orchestrate the universe so that our needs are met. We are taught at various places in scripture that God caused various people to give out of their own bosom, even to Israel precious items like gold.

God really is in control. He's given us a model to follow. He's growing members of His eternal Kingdom. He refers to us as servants, priests, ambassadors upon this Earth. We are to be those things, in service to Him, relying upon Him, pointing all others to Him, that they too might be snatched away from the devil's many snares upon the minds of those people upon this Earth.

Our lives are not of glory, nor of power, nor of fame, nor of anything far reaching, except in that we believe in God and are all united as brothers and sisters together, through Christ, in that way. And therein lies our glory, that the One whom we serve will someday bestow upon us whatever is right for eternity.


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Note: We also have some warnings about how not to serve:
(1) Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5), they sold a piece of land and brought the money forth keeping some back for themselves. They lied to the men there, thereby lying to God, about that being all the money. Ananias died immediately and was taken out and buried. Later his wife was asked the same question. Sapphira answered the same and immediately died as well, and was taken out and buried.

(2) A man had accumulated great wealth, and it was too much for him to contain. He said he would tear down his barns and build bigger ones. But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" With the following warning, "This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God."

And remembering what Jesus taught about us being "rich toward God," Matthew 5:31-46 (The Sheep and the Goats):

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”