When the godly succeed it is time to praise the Lord—Rejoice with those who rejoice! (Rom12:15).
Often success brings security to an otherwise precarious existence, and in turn the ability to meet needs that were formerly beyond reach. If such success is born from God’s rich blessings, a Christian need only concern himself with storing up riches in heaven by use of worldly wealth.
Scripture does not hold back from warning against the evils of greed. Greed blinds a Christian and makes them seek spiritual fulfilment in money. Thus, making an entrance into the Kingdom impossible.
According to their own estimation, the Church in Laodicea had made it; they were rich in every way that mattered to them – they had no needs (Rev.3:14-22). Such churches think themselves “the hottest thing in Christendom,” and to hear Jesus call them “Lukewarm” (Rev.3:16), would have come as a bolt out of the blue. Jesus was sickened by their complacency and said so.
How can we, in our plenty, test ourselves to make sure that we are not “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” in Jesus’ sight? (Rev.3:17).
In Acts 3 Peter and John encounter a man who knew that he had no hope of success in this life. However, he did not have any idea what God had in store for him when he clamped eyes on the apostles. Notice the difference between the levels of passion between the Laodicean church that had no needs, and this man who had nothing but needs…
Peter said to the crippled beggar, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” …And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. (Acts 3:6).
The ultimate test of passion is praise!
John Staiger
0 Comments