Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
Proverbs 13:11 KJV
Don’t live for anything else but the Creator. Don’t live for vanity. Today, people are ready to hurt their fellows just to make a living. They’d do anything to succeed.
Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, But he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
Proverbs 13:11 HNV
Some people are into ritual killings to make wealth for themselves. It’s only a matter of time; no wealth will last forever.
Human beings are precious. Don’t let the devil fool you. Vanity doesn’t make more sense above spirituality.
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Ephesians 4:28 KJV
We work in order to add value to lives. I do what I do to add value to lives. We must have more value for people than things.
Our values should align with Christ. It is unfortunate that the world now pursue vanity.
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
Matthew 6:26-27
If God takes care of the birds in the sky, how much more you, His most precious handiwork?
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luke 12:15 KJV
Greed is growing and too many wrong things are coming up every now and then, but no matter what you acquire, it will only be for a short time.
You should never cheat someone to or treat people unjustly to be comfortable. You’ve got to advance life and treat it better. All your pursuit for material possessions will only garner praise from men. When you impact people’s lives, positively, that’s posterity. You must learn to truly love people.
“…seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness…” (Matthew 6:33). Let the kingdom be your priority.
And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
John 4:27 KJV
Jesus left his disciples to minister to the woman by the well. He was so excited ministering words of eternal value to her than merely satisfying His craving for natural food. How many Christians will you find give God’s business that much priority, today?
_*Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.*_
Philippians 4:1 KJV
Paul referred to souls as his joy and crown. Vanity shouldn’t determine your joy. What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul (Matthew 16:26). That’s why people are so engrossed in making a living than the kingdom.
Jesus put the world together. Man is God’s highest creation. Everything was made for man and man was made for God. Live for God and be proud about it—that’s most important.
Don’t live in uncertainty for eternity. Live your life to please the Father. Don’t hurt people for material gains. Lives are precious to God; else, Jesus wouldn’t have come to earth to die for them. If God could invest Jesus for the world, it shows how valuable we are.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Matthew 6:19-20 KJV
Invest eternity in life. If you live in the Will of God, everything will be just fine. If He made everything, He can give you everything (See, John 1:3; Romans 8:32).
Don’t get carried away. Open your heart to God and give Him your heart in service. Separate yourself from vanity and let God fill you up and draw you to true purpose.
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Romans 14:17 KJV
The kingdom isn’t in eating and drinking. It is not in materialism; don’t let anybody fool you. Don’t twist scriptures in a bid to satisfy your appetite for wealth.
Don’t hurt anyone or live to impress people. Align your values to heaven’s. Let your mentality, data and processing be Christ. Paul said, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
Take out time to ponder on these words as you reset and realign your focus to live for Christ, and Him alone.
Pastor Preston Idoro
www.perfectlovebelieverscentre.org