Sometimes if you take a passage of scripture and only read the first line or too and ignore what else is said about a subject one would find themselves selling all they had and giving to the poor to earn salvation with verse 24: “But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.” Does God want his people in poverty? I Think God wants his people to enjoy life, but not to where the things of life destroy them and their relationship with him, plus the ability to love others by helping them out.

God never intend his people to give everything away, after all Jesus taught if you had two coats and someone ask you for a coat you were to give it. The other day someone asked me for dime, and I had to tell them I did not even have a nickel, Yet the point is not if I had a dime or nickel, most will give a dime or nickel even if they have only one. How many boyfriends have taken off their coat and given their girlfriend it in order to keep the girl warm, on a cool night? Yet the boy only receives it back after taking the girl home. Yet this is point often people lend or give without thinking. It something taught and something society accepts no matter faith or religion. Jesus did not speak untruth about giving or sharing but these things will not get one into heaven. A person that treasures their wealth or greed more then God and the spiritual hope of salvation through His Son Jesus has lost the hope of salvation. Only choice is repentance or face the fiery pit called hell.

How easy it is to take one verse without knowledge of scripture and twist it to say God said you had to be poor. What God said was to honor Him first. A person is to honor God through belief. Honor Him second by doing His will upon the earth by demonstrate his love by His Spirit. Third share the reason for this honor, so the world does not forget Him or dishonor Him. It is not hard to say praise the Lord, but it is harder to come up with ten things to be thankful for sometimes, then if one begins to make a list, that list grows from one thing to 100 things even if it has to be added to daily starting small and enlarging the borders of God’s blessings. God’s blessings come to all of us that believe, rich, middle class or poor it matters not. God’s blessings through faith come to those that believe. Fear not friends the poor or rich God is willing to bless, but you must believe not in the blessings of wealth but the blessing of salvation through faith in His Son and Him. Do not allow the riches of this world to cause you to loose your salvation for those riches will be your only heaven, for hell will consume you one day.

Dear Heavenly Father may our wealth come through faith in you. We love you and praise your name for your blessings of salvation first and the ability and the strength to love as you love us. In Jesus precious name, Amen.