It’s a Crazy World

Dr. Mike 2021 , , ,

1 John 5:19

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

It is an upside, down world.

The biggest problem: you and me and our carnal desires.

We may want what is best for ourselves and others, but apart from the Spirit of God, we fool ourselves into believing we know best.

The end result is chasing after wind. In the process, we lead ourselves, our families, our community, and nation into crazy directions which only end up in pain and misery for the masses.

We see it today within the political world. We witness it in the lies and propaganda displayed by the mainstream media. And closer to home, we even participate in the craziness with our personal family members.

We all want what is best; to pursue our dreams and goals, and experience life the way God intending life to be lived. Yet, what gets into the way?

When one is empty of the Spirit of God and relies on their own counsel, the end result usually may be good for yourself, but not for everyone else around you. Or maybe, everyone else around you are having a better day than you because of your lack of wisdom and decisions you have made in the past.

So rather than correct one’s worldview, we roll up our sleeves and declare war against everyone else to get what we deserve – we venture into the ways of the world.

Eventually, most of us will come to realize, the world doesn’t really care about you. In fact, the majority of us will fail and become bitter at the end because of the lies and falsehoods we accepted to build our lives upon.

The spirit of this world is on a mission to enslave you into their way of thinking and responding to their every command. Those in control of the key positions within government, business, and education want to maintain their life style and will continue to operate under the pretense of doing you a favor in exchange for the power and money they desire.

I have personally seen this in business board meetings when the decisions were based on maintaining control of those less fortunate so the company and ownership could prosper.

Human nature without God’s Spirit is dangerous. In fact, human nature with God’s Spirit is challenging. But over time leads to a life built upon the love and justice of an Eternal Being who has the wisdom to separate the good from the evil.

So rather than pontificate further, I simply copied the Biblical verses below that I read in preparation for this blog. God’s word speaks louder than I can. Read responsibly.    

Revelation 12:9

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Jude 1:19

It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

1 John 5:4

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

1 John 5:19

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

2 Peter 1:4

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

James 1:27

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Philippians 2:15

that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Galatians 4:9

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

1 Corinthians 2:12

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

John 7:7

The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.

John 15:18-19

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

John 16:33

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 17:14-15

I (Jesus) have given them your (Father God) word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.

Mark 4:19

but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Isaiah 26:9

My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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Copyright 2013-2021 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Weakness

Dr. Mike 2021 ,

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

In your weakness, you will discover more of who God IS and HIS power in your life.

Our human nature naturally despises weakness. We artificially put on facades to hide our shortcomings. We act tough when in reality inside we are little frighten kittens. When ask how are we, we immediately put on the smile and say everything is O.K. when we really want to hug someone and cry. We are naturally a shame of our weak condition.

Yet Paul writes here in the Book of 2nd Corinthians, plus in 1st Corinthians and Romans, as well as the writer of Hebrews, that when we are the weakest, we are privilege to witness God’s Spirit work in us and through us. In fact, he writes we should be boasting about our weakness so Christ’s power is manifested through us.

The Bible is loaded with examples. We see how Moses, who stuttered when he spoke, walked humbly with his God and led the people out of bondage. We read how even Jesus fasted for 40 days and physically was weaken from the ordeal but victoriously battled Satan in the desert, and Paul who personally writes how he asks God to remove a thorn from his flesh, but was told no so the pain would continue to remind him of his dependency on God.

Weakness is the natural cycle of life. As we all age, we decay. Our bodies slowly loose their tone, the eyes find it more difficult to see, hearing aids become the new fashion, and walkers the new vehicle of choice. Life leads us into a state of weakness.

In our youth, we are full of energy and feel invincible.  In our old age, we mellow out and realizing time is short; we learn to quick playing games and laugh at our shortcomings. We realize our time on earth is almost over and need to put our house in order. And yet we are at peace and look forward to each day as a gift from God. If only we had learned the joy of accepting our weaknesses much earlier in life.   

It took a while, but now we understand. So, the quicker we stop fighting to pretend and accept our weakest moments as the doorway for a more meaningful relationship with our Triune God, the better we will be for it. Life is a preparation for eternity; and weakness is the means to discover more of who God IS and HIS power in your life.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2021 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Christ-Centered Capitalism

Dr. Mike 2021 , , , , ,

Matthew 25:1-28

The Parable of the Talents

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[c] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, [ to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[e] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Capitalism is an economic system which allows the private ownership of property and the unleashing of human potential. The economic gains have alleviated poverty in more countries than any other man-made system.

The system rewards those who are successful and punishes those who fail.

The Parable of the Talents is a story Jesus gave which highlights what God expects from each of us.

In the story, Jesus emphasized the private ownership of property, personal responsibility, and economic trade. The owner was going on a trip and therefore invested a portion of his capital with three of his managers. But each manager’s share was apportioned based on their ability. One started out with 62.5% of the owner’s wealth, a second with around 25%, and the third with the remainder 12.5%.

When the owner returned, he asked for an accounting. The two who combined started with 87.5% of the owner’s investment, doubled his money. Each accepted the personal responsibility to venture out and invest the owner’s wealth to gain a good return on their efforts. The one who had the smallest amount to invest though, was fearful and didn’t do anything. In fact, he was so afraid of failing, he simply buried the start-up capital in the ground.

The owner praised the two who took risks and doubled his money. However, the one who didn’t even try, he chastised him. Even if he didn’t try himself, the owner believed he would have done better by giving the capital to bankers and received at least interest on the money. The owner called him wicked and lazy for not doing something more with the capital he received.

The shocking outcome though is the one talent was then given to him who had the most. Many of us in today’s culture would cry unfair. But the owner made the statement that those who have more will be given more, and those who have little, will even lose out on what they have.

Of course, we can solely spiritual the entire parable which emphasizes that those who have Godly riches and use them for the sake of others will experience more and more of heavenly rewards. But those who aren’t rich with heavenly treasures, and fail to share what little they have with others, will even have the little they own taken away. Yet, isn’t God also concern with both our spiritual well-being as well as the physical necessities?

Here Jesus demonstrates private ownership of property, employees, and capital investment. Yet shocks the audience with the fact that those who may have little will even have less unless they are willing to take risks with the small portion they are given.

Jesus lived under Roman domain with his fellow citizens. And throughout Scripture he emphasized principles of capitalism. It took Adam Smith to write his book some 1800 years later to reveal the benefits of a capitalistic system. As all systems reveal, the problem isn’t with the process or structure, but with the heart of humanity. It takes a strong moral compass to effectively work. And without God’s guidance and the bridling of human nature, people have a tenancy to destroy one another. Yet, under the authority of Jesus Christ, people can redeem any system and fully employ its benefits for all. The same is true with Capitalism.

The benefits and rewards have built the most developed civilization in human history. Yet humans still have the challenge of managing the power, money, and luxuries earned from their efforts. Without God’s Spirit allowed access to change a person’s heart, it is a matter of time for a person or society to self-destruct from their ungodly lifestyle. Yet Jesus once stated that what is impossible for man is possible with God.

The same is true with a Capitalistic society. But are we willing to make that happen?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books

 *  Dancing With God: Life-Giving Theology Explained
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-2021 Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved