Your path to success is different than what your flesh (the carnal nature) craves. Your flesh will crave all manner of material things (homes, cars, jewelry, titles, power, fame, etc.) and will lead your mind, if you allow it, to make you imagine that these things will truly make you continually happy, or somebody special, or make you esteemed in the eyes of other people. If succumbed to, your flesh will make you imagine that you must be somebody special to God and that He must be extra proud of you because of what you have accomplished and/or because you have amassed material things sought after by other people.
The carnal nature resists the fact that God wants your actions to be sanctified (cleansed of impurities and set apart for God’s use in a way that is pleasing to Him) in order for you to be more and more like Jesus Christ as you live on earth. Through carnal resistance, demonic powers have an opening to try and convince you that you don’t even need God. They will sometimes even lead you to think you can believe in Him but go after what is pleasing to you without ever considering whether it is pleasing to Him and helpful to other people. I hope this isn’t you! However, some people have left the earth with this mindset and thus never truly gave their life to Christ and thus will feel the pain of their decision throughout eternity.
To be sure, nothing is inherently wrong with any of the material items and pedestals mentioned above unless they are produced, obtained, and/or maintained in a wicked (ungodly) manner. The problem is usually with the one seeking them. When they come to you in accordance with God’s plan for your life, they are perfectly matched to the calling God placed on your life and the position He desires to place you in to bring a certain amount of delight to you and your family.
You become the problem when you make obtaining material things a greater priority than pursuing God’s kingdom and His righteousness! You have crossed over into the dark side of worshipping created things instead of the Creator when you allow discontent to rule your life choices, vision, and pursuits. Discontent focuses your activities on going after material things instead of spending time with the Lord in studying the bible, praying, praising, worshipping, learning about Him, following His guidance, and living out His principles including biblical financial instruction.
The correct posture for you to have is one of godliness with contentment through which you seek the Lord directly and allow Him to guide your life, work, and ministry pursuits in a way that allows you to receive from His hand worthwhile material things that will not stand in the way of the plan and path He arranged for your life. Along the way, God will provide income and give you greater latitude to purchase many things that are now beyond the ability of your current income. In addition, He will supernaturally bring some things into your life that you can enjoy and do not have to pay for.
You should listen to the voice of the Lord to find out which things are good for you and for how long. You must understand that material things can be obtained righteously and un-righteously and the fact that you have them doesn’t signify that your life and actions please God. So, you must be clear and convinced in your own heart and mind that your life’s pursuit are directly aimed at God so much that blessings, reward, and prosperity that come to you are indirect results that can be expected as the result of loving and serving the Lord who loves and cares for His people beyond human comprehension. You must also be content in your heart so that your joy in and with Him will continually be full even if you do not receive material things esteemed by men and the flesh.
The only way to find such contentment is by having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ made possible by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit upon acceptance of Jesus as Savior and Lord. Placing your faith in Jesus Christ puts you on the narrow path of following the Holy Spirit's direction for your life. Not many people find this path.
His direction can be heard only through learning biblical truths and principles, praying, praising, worshipping the Lord, fellowshipping with believers, and continually allowing Christ to live in you thereby allowing you to live out biblical principles. When you trust Him enough to follow this path, He speaks to you more and more and helps you fulfill the purpose and plan for your life and uses you to help others fulfill His purpose and plan for their lives.
By delighting yourself in Him in this way, you will receive the desires of your heart because the closer you get to God the more His desires for you and mankind permeate your life and become your desires. The wisdom of this walk brings abundant, everlasting life and the honor, and riches of Heaven upon your life.
Being content entails doing God-honoring work in whatever moral occupation you’re called to work in. Also, it entails thanking God for the pay received and moving as God directs you in order to increase. It also encompasses properly managing your income via the process of tithing, budgeting, eliminating debt, saving, and diversified investing. Following such biblical guidance opens doors of opportunity for you that lead you step-by-step on God’s timetable to the fulfillment of your purpose and calling in Christ.
This godly plan has built wealth for many people via present and future income sources enabling them to greatly support the church, evangelize the lost, disciple believers, help widows, orphans, and the needy while placing them and their families in the best financial situation for their lives. God can and will do the same for you when you choose Him as Lord and obediently follow His biblically based instructions.
Please pray for this ministry and email any questions. May God bless you richly as you follow His plan!!!
Luke 3:7-14, Philippians 4:10-13, 1 Timothy 6:6-10, Hebrews 13:1-10
Please forward these bondage breaking articles to other people who can use helpful insight!!!
You can find books authored by Randy and Karen Parlor at www.Amazon.com.
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