Because we're slowing down and because these chapters are loaded, I thought to only discuss these two chapters here. I think I have to post right after reading a chapter so I don't lose my momentum nor my thoughts that occur while reading.
The first thing that I loved to read was the section on Crowns as Rewards. I've never seen the crowns spelled out like that. It is a beautiful list of what to look forward to and how to obtain those crowns. We say that we desire to hear our Lord saying, "Well done thou good and faithful servant." I have to admit that Alcorn is correct in identifying the missing ingredient in a Christian's life as MOTIVATION. I appreciated the examples and the encouragement to be motivated by looking ahead to a greater reward. I used to think that it was prideful to look forward to rewards but this book is showing me that's what God intends for us.
Chapter 10 has an excellent list of lessons concerning both the Master and the Servant on p. 147 and 148. I have been thinking about it since I've read it and considering how I can change my attitude so that the servant doesn't mistaken being the master!
At this point however, I still am feeling a bit hollow about my stewardship. My prayer is that the Lord would not just allow me to read this book and say, Boy, that was a good book. And then going on about my business. I pray that He will deal with this issue in my life so that I can honor and glorify Him. I read this morning once again about the young man who asked Jesus, "What good deed must I do that I may obtain eternal life?" Jesus replies, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." Was the Lord implying that giving away all our possessions would buy our salvation? Absolutely not! Christ nailed the very god in the heart of this young man. He knew that the true hindrance in being a true follower of Christ was the very fact that his heart belonged to Mammon.
I pray that the Lord would continue to work in my heart and settle this money matter within me. I don't want to go on without a major overhaul in this area of my life. I am sickened to even consider that by allowing the love of money and my poor stewardship it's betraying evidence of split loyalty.
I wish I could express myself better. Oh well! :-)
The Lord continues to work in me.
"Live in Light of Eternity" has taken on a new meaning...
Jules
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Chapters 5-8
I don't have time to comment on all the chapters I've read, but I have to comment on the section about the Prosperity Gospel. If you've read this already, isn't this just so true??? First of all, I'm really appalled at these so-called "Christian pastors" who strut around and tell this "other gospel" to these people. Second of all, I'm really appalled that those who preach this false gospel is filling their churches with 5,000, 10,000.. 30,000 people!!! (Joel Osteen) It's disgusting!! If they would read even a portion of their Bible, they would see how much it goes against what Christ had preached. I especially like the one that promised to give the secret reason why God wanted $27 if you sent it!! Yikes!!
What is so bad is that many churches have fallen into this trap, not just those preaching health and wealth. How many churches go into debt? How many have extravagant programs? How many have luxurious furniture? How many are paid in the 6 figures for their pastoral service?
What is very convicting - something that I've already been convicted about but have recently found myself excusing - is the REASON why God has prospered us: "that you will abound in every good work, that you can be generous on every occasion, that others may be relieved, that you may exercise dependence upon God for all your financial needs. I have a lot to think through and discuss with Anthony - because I'm wondering about saving up for the future. What the line is? I think this would be good for discussion. Any takers?
Read (or re-read page 86) for a real spiritual punch in the gut. But the kind that you know is so true, so necessary to hear... Wow, it's incredibly powerful...
I haven't finished chapter 8 yet.. but so far it's refreshing. Why? Because he has given me a taste of heaven, a desire to be there. I believe that nothing we read or are convicted of regarding money will be of lasting change if we don't long for heaven - because without that reality and that future hope, how can we battle the ever-present, tangible temptations around us? Delayed gratification doesn't seem possible if we aren't convinced the delay is worth it. I'm going to re-read "Heaven" by Alcorn after this. I've gotten about a third of the way through. It's also excellent. Ok, I'm talking to a wall here! Someone, write in!! :-)
btw, Christina's baby is really sick and in the hospital. Chris has limited computer access. She will hopefully post later. She's finished the book!
Eternity,
Jules
What is so bad is that many churches have fallen into this trap, not just those preaching health and wealth. How many churches go into debt? How many have extravagant programs? How many have luxurious furniture? How many are paid in the 6 figures for their pastoral service?
What is very convicting - something that I've already been convicted about but have recently found myself excusing - is the REASON why God has prospered us: "that you will abound in every good work, that you can be generous on every occasion, that others may be relieved, that you may exercise dependence upon God for all your financial needs. I have a lot to think through and discuss with Anthony - because I'm wondering about saving up for the future. What the line is? I think this would be good for discussion. Any takers?
Read (or re-read page 86) for a real spiritual punch in the gut. But the kind that you know is so true, so necessary to hear... Wow, it's incredibly powerful...
I haven't finished chapter 8 yet.. but so far it's refreshing. Why? Because he has given me a taste of heaven, a desire to be there. I believe that nothing we read or are convicted of regarding money will be of lasting change if we don't long for heaven - because without that reality and that future hope, how can we battle the ever-present, tangible temptations around us? Delayed gratification doesn't seem possible if we aren't convinced the delay is worth it. I'm going to re-read "Heaven" by Alcorn after this. I've gotten about a third of the way through. It's also excellent. Ok, I'm talking to a wall here! Someone, write in!! :-)
btw, Christina's baby is really sick and in the hospital. Chris has limited computer access. She will hopefully post later. She's finished the book!
Eternity,
Jules
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Chapters 1-4
Girls, I'm so sorry, but I just re-read these chapters and I'm really wanting to post some thoughts before they escape me!! i don't know how coherent it all will be since it's getting late and I am tired... anyway, talk about some convicting chapters!!! If you don't want this to spoil your reading, don't read this thread until you're done oki? :-)
First of all, it's obvious that materialism is not good. That we are to be careful with our finances. And not to place our heart on the things on earth but on things in heaven. Easier said than done!!! I thought, why is this book SO HUGE??? How much can Alcorn dig into our consciences about money? I didn't realize how often the Lord addresses money and how several times He judged "the REALITY of a man's salvation based on his willingness (or lack of) to part with his money for the glory of God and the good of others." If you are like me, you might consider yourself pretty generous. As Anthony calls me: outrageously generous. (I think that's a bit overstated but that's what he says..) But I have a feeling that after examining my true attitudes, I will find myself far from generous!
Convicting:"We'll eventually give an account of our lives to God... Where did it all go? What did I spend it on? What has been accomplished for eternity thru my use of all this wealth?" If Anthony thinks that I often spend frivolously, how much more would the Lord view it likewise!?
Convicting: "In Deut. the future kings of Israel are specifically warned not to accumulate horses (power), wives (pleasure) and gold (possession). Why? Because these would then become the center of the king's gravity." p.53 ooooohhh.... During residency, Anthony and I went thru really rocky period. We had very little income and we had 2 babies. We enjoyed the finer things in life and neither of us knew how to manage our finances. This was a blessing because it put us into a different mindframe than ever before. You should've seen the coupons, the self-control, the weighing of needs and wants, the prayers for every purchase, the appreciation of what the Lord provided us with, the absolute aversion to debt. When we started making money, we wanted to not be sucked into a materialistic lifestyle and accumulation of stuff. We tittered at those who looked rich and yet were up to their eyeballs in debt - big house, nice cars, fancy furniture, expensive clothes - zero in the bank account. If we don't change our ways, we will be headed that way as well. Oh Lord, bring us to our knees in this matter!!!
Food for thought: "Perhaps the "blessing" is no longer a true blessing but a curse in disguise. THe greatest blessing would be one that would return us to following God whoeheartedly - and our entanglement with wealth is certainly not accomplishing that." That goes with what I just posted on.
Convicting: "The central issue is not the things themselves, but the depletion of the resources of time, energy, enthusiasm, and money that might otherwise have been invested in the kingdom of God... Will owning this keep me from doing other things that God wants me to do?" p.56 This is an excellent section that I can totally relate to. And I know that you will too, Chris. It's uncanny how much it reflects a certain awful situation we're in!
Ok, last thing. I know I'm hogging this board but this one is so true: "It's important to avoid not only the entanglements of sin but also the entanglements in "legitimate things" that result in preoccupation with the peripheral." My stuff, activities, etc. can be one more thing that distracts me from what God wants me to be doing. I'm praying that I can eliminate this in my life - and that I can do it without judging others who continue on.
I'm moving on to the next chapters! :-)
I'm going to be devouring this book, I can tell!
First of all, it's obvious that materialism is not good. That we are to be careful with our finances. And not to place our heart on the things on earth but on things in heaven. Easier said than done!!! I thought, why is this book SO HUGE??? How much can Alcorn dig into our consciences about money? I didn't realize how often the Lord addresses money and how several times He judged "the REALITY of a man's salvation based on his willingness (or lack of) to part with his money for the glory of God and the good of others." If you are like me, you might consider yourself pretty generous. As Anthony calls me: outrageously generous. (I think that's a bit overstated but that's what he says..) But I have a feeling that after examining my true attitudes, I will find myself far from generous!
Convicting:"We'll eventually give an account of our lives to God... Where did it all go? What did I spend it on? What has been accomplished for eternity thru my use of all this wealth?" If Anthony thinks that I often spend frivolously, how much more would the Lord view it likewise!?
Convicting: "In Deut. the future kings of Israel are specifically warned not to accumulate horses (power), wives (pleasure) and gold (possession). Why? Because these would then become the center of the king's gravity." p.53 ooooohhh.... During residency, Anthony and I went thru really rocky period. We had very little income and we had 2 babies. We enjoyed the finer things in life and neither of us knew how to manage our finances. This was a blessing because it put us into a different mindframe than ever before. You should've seen the coupons, the self-control, the weighing of needs and wants, the prayers for every purchase, the appreciation of what the Lord provided us with, the absolute aversion to debt. When we started making money, we wanted to not be sucked into a materialistic lifestyle and accumulation of stuff. We tittered at those who looked rich and yet were up to their eyeballs in debt - big house, nice cars, fancy furniture, expensive clothes - zero in the bank account. If we don't change our ways, we will be headed that way as well. Oh Lord, bring us to our knees in this matter!!!
Food for thought: "Perhaps the "blessing" is no longer a true blessing but a curse in disguise. THe greatest blessing would be one that would return us to following God whoeheartedly - and our entanglement with wealth is certainly not accomplishing that." That goes with what I just posted on.
Convicting: "The central issue is not the things themselves, but the depletion of the resources of time, energy, enthusiasm, and money that might otherwise have been invested in the kingdom of God... Will owning this keep me from doing other things that God wants me to do?" p.56 This is an excellent section that I can totally relate to. And I know that you will too, Chris. It's uncanny how much it reflects a certain awful situation we're in!
Ok, last thing. I know I'm hogging this board but this one is so true: "It's important to avoid not only the entanglements of sin but also the entanglements in "legitimate things" that result in preoccupation with the peripheral." My stuff, activities, etc. can be one more thing that distracts me from what God wants me to be doing. I'm praying that I can eliminate this in my life - and that I can do it without judging others who continue on.
I'm moving on to the next chapters! :-)
I'm going to be devouring this book, I can tell!
Book Intro
It's been VERY hard for me to not read ahead as I've already finished four chapters before New Year's! I wanted to quote something that's found in the Intro that's worth noting:
"Because of the spiritual warfare that surrounds this great subject of money and possessions, if this book is to be read with eternal benefit, it must be read with prayer. Our use of money and possessions is a DECISIVE STATEMENT OF OUR ETERNAL VALUES. What we do with our money loudly affirms which kingdom we belong to. Whenever we give of our resources to further God's kingdom, we cast a ballot FOR Christ and against Satan, FOR heaven and against hell. Whenever we use our resources selfishly and indifferently we further Satan's goals.
The key to a right use of money and possessions is a right perspective - an ETERNAL perspective."
Growing up I have to admit that money was something that we used to give us pleasure, to buy temporary happiness, to contribute to our own comfort. The selfish attitude toward money was strongly dealt with in France - I think the book was Alcorn's "Treasure Principle" but I can't be sure. But frankly, I have recently forgotten God's purpose and my stewardship and my conscience is burning... I pray that this book study will bring about eternal changes and that I will honor the Lord in this important area of my life once again.
Let's read 4 chapters for this week, Jan 7-13th. Let's see how that works for our pace. Better to get more read now than later when our schedule picks up, right Sara? :-)
In light of eternity,
Jules
"Because of the spiritual warfare that surrounds this great subject of money and possessions, if this book is to be read with eternal benefit, it must be read with prayer. Our use of money and possessions is a DECISIVE STATEMENT OF OUR ETERNAL VALUES. What we do with our money loudly affirms which kingdom we belong to. Whenever we give of our resources to further God's kingdom, we cast a ballot FOR Christ and against Satan, FOR heaven and against hell. Whenever we use our resources selfishly and indifferently we further Satan's goals.
The key to a right use of money and possessions is a right perspective - an ETERNAL perspective."
Growing up I have to admit that money was something that we used to give us pleasure, to buy temporary happiness, to contribute to our own comfort. The selfish attitude toward money was strongly dealt with in France - I think the book was Alcorn's "Treasure Principle" but I can't be sure. But frankly, I have recently forgotten God's purpose and my stewardship and my conscience is burning... I pray that this book study will bring about eternal changes and that I will honor the Lord in this important area of my life once again.
Let's read 4 chapters for this week, Jan 7-13th. Let's see how that works for our pace. Better to get more read now than later when our schedule picks up, right Sara? :-)
In light of eternity,
Jules
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Money, Possessions and Eternity
Sara, Susan and Wendy! So looking forward to reading together! Sara and I really enjoyed our last discussion on Feminine Appeal. Just feel free to take your own pace although we will try and keep on the same chapter so that we could relate to each other's comments and keep accountability. Once again, if we need to slow things down, let me know!
Love you all.
Jules
Love you all.
Jules
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