The Root of All Evil

"Your money, or your life." We know what to do when a burglar makes this demand of us, but not when God does. ~Mignon McLaughlin

How do others see you?  There is the saying that actions speak louder than words and that is so true.  It is so easy to think that we have done something outstanding and the next step in our human nature is to boast about it to others.  I am guilty of not showing others God through my actions.  It is a constant struggle every day to live for God only and not myself because we are surrounded by so many worldly things.   

The very talents that God gave us are used to build ourselves up so that others can see how good we are and then we become boastful, unforgiving of others and we love money more than we do other people and our concerns are for earthly things more than for our very salvation. 

Our pastor gave a sermon on Sunday about Lazarus and the rich man.  Lazarus had nothing and the rich man had great "earthly" wealth. The problem was the rich man could not see that his wealth was temporary and that one day he would die and none of the wealth he had accumulated could be taken with him.  As our pastor stated, "There is nothing wrong with being rich, it is the use of our wealth that gets us in trouble." The very thing that the rich man loved so much on earth he lost in eternity.

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I am guilty of boasting and using the talents and resources You gave me for me instead of for Your kingdom.  Please help me when I become weak and begin wanting worldy treasures that this earth provides.  Help me to overcome my weakness and turn to You.  I don't want to accumulate great riches on earth only to be like the rich man and leave empty handed.  

Scripture: “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ Luke 16:19-26