"Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin."
In the world we live in today, debt is a common occurrence. Everyone has been in debt at some point. So pervasive is this debt that even the entire nation is in debt. Corporations had needed to borrow trillions in loans to stay afloat. Even now America has had to raise its debt ceiling to avoid economic catastrophe by our defaulting on our bills.
America is caught in a never ending cycle of debt, having to borrow money just to pay back money they already borrowed. This is nothing new to the LORD. He foresaw the slavery and captivity being in debt causes and has chosen to set his people free even from debt. He declared on every 7th year all debts would be canceled, breaking the debt cycle and setting the captives free
But men, in our selfishness, refused to lend money to those who could not pay us back by the time of the 7th year. So the poor are left to be poorer and the rich become richer at the expense of the poor. Our economy is sin and based on greed. Is there any wonder why it is failing?
Showing posts with label greed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label greed. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Matthew 23:25-26
"Woe to you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."
Jesus taught that we needed to be washed and cleansed from the inside out. Greed and self-indulgence are only two things Jesus mentions, but they have a common link. They both are evidence of selfishness. The one who is greedy cares only for his own provision and possession and not for others. Someone who is self-indulgent is focused solely on their own pleasure to the exclusion of those who live in misery. They turn a blind eye to those who are in poverty and who suffer. They eat cake and ice cream while starving children want only bread and water.
How detrimental is that old line "I deserve this, I've earned it, I need to treat myself every once and a while" to receiving grace? Is $9 spent on a 2 hour movie better spent that 2 hours chatting with a homeless man over a $9 meal? How can we preach what we do not practice? What good is it if everyone else believes it but you don't believe it?
Jesus called us to wash the inside of the cup and be justified and sanctified by his blood. However, he still wants us to wash the outside of the cup too.
Jesus taught that we needed to be washed and cleansed from the inside out. Greed and self-indulgence are only two things Jesus mentions, but they have a common link. They both are evidence of selfishness. The one who is greedy cares only for his own provision and possession and not for others. Someone who is self-indulgent is focused solely on their own pleasure to the exclusion of those who live in misery. They turn a blind eye to those who are in poverty and who suffer. They eat cake and ice cream while starving children want only bread and water.
How detrimental is that old line "I deserve this, I've earned it, I need to treat myself every once and a while" to receiving grace? Is $9 spent on a 2 hour movie better spent that 2 hours chatting with a homeless man over a $9 meal? How can we preach what we do not practice? What good is it if everyone else believes it but you don't believe it?
Jesus called us to wash the inside of the cup and be justified and sanctified by his blood. However, he still wants us to wash the outside of the cup too.
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