322-Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Be#
322-Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Be
(JP Text Group - Organized by the Little Prince of Heaven)
Matthew 6:19-21
19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth; where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven; where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you! A new week has begun, and we come before you to receive your word. Your word is our strength and help; our hearts look to you at all times to receive your provision, for you are the source of all blessings. Please guide this time so that those who seek you may find you. Thank you and praise you, Lord! In the name of our Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen!
Sharing Topic: Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Be
Do not lay up treasures on earth; what is there on earth? Here it refers to past forms of money, such as silver coins, which can decay over time, especially the copper coins and fifty-cent coins used in the past, which rust if left for too long. This does not refer to paper money but rather to coins like copper coins. Moreover, when there is a lot of money, thieves may break in and steal; if they have their eyes on it, it becomes troublesome.
Treasure refers to things that are valued, which can mean money, profit, or fame, or perhaps something else. In short, whatever you value, your heart will be there. Simply put, if I value Sunday gatherings, my heart will definitely be there, setting aside other matters and prioritizing the gathering. This indicates that my heart is here; conversely, where your heart is, you will spend much time in that place.
If a person wants to make money, what do they think about? They look every day for ways to get rich, see how celebrities make money, or attend training sessions, spending a lot of time on this, often thinking about these topics, and discussions often revolve around money-related matters.
So where is our focus today? Where is the center of our lives? It is essential for everyone to understand where our center lies. Our joy and sorrow are actually in the Lord Jesus. If your heart is with Jesus, it proves that Jesus is your treasure. Therefore, you should believe in, cherish, and rely on Him. This is very important. I do not oppose believers being prosperous or making money.
There is nothing wrong with that, but when some people loudly proclaim that Christians should be wealthy, that becomes a problem. Their focus is on money. In fact, God desires for us to be prosperous; everyone must believe this. However, God does not want money to become our focus and center, nor does He want us to rely on schemes to make money. Let us look at two verses.
Proverbs 28:20-22
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. 21 To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong. 22 A man with an evil eye hastens to be rich, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him.
Proverbs contains principles for life. When reading Proverbs, do not overthink the spiritual interpretation; just understand it literally and live by it. Proverbs can be understood even by those who do not believe in the Lord.
Here it tells us that a faithful man will abound with blessings. What is emphasized in business today? Means, skills, and deceit. Can such people make money? Yes, but their business will not last beyond three years. The reason is that once someone is deceived, they will not return a second time; no one is foolish, right? Only the business of a faithful person is long-lasting, and the blessings they receive are the most.
Everyone knows that business requires integrity, but where does integrity come from? If one does not know God and is only focused on making money, disregarding others, using counterfeit money, fake medicine, etc., their goal is to make money, not to benefit others through their products. This is why so many fake things appear. What is the purpose of these counterfeiters? To get rich quickly. In the past, pigs took over a year to grow before being sold, but now they can grow large in just three months. Chickens, ducks, and geese are the same. What did they eat? Hormones. Since these animals can grow rapidly with hormones, what happens when people eat this meat? They mature early, which inevitably leads to early aging.
When people feed these animals, are they thinking of our benefit? No, they are thinking of getting rich quickly. Therefore, when Proverbs mentions repeated phrases, we must pay attention. In Proverbs 28, it specifically mentions getting rich quickly twice. Is that good? Is getting rich overnight good? Some say yes, but let me tell you how good it is. You may have seen in the news that some people suddenly became millionaires or billionaires overnight. How did their lives turn out about three years later? They lived worse than before. The money came too quickly, and they fell into punishment.
Verse 22 says that a man with an evil eye hastens to be rich.
What does an evil eye refer to? Jealousy, even wanting to turn someone else's quick success into their own, with the goal still being to get rich quickly. The latter part says, but does not know that poverty will come upon him. I believe everyone may have similar experiences. When I was about ten years old, I saw those chess games on the street where a game cost a hundred yuan. If you win, that hundred yuan is yours. Isn’t that simple? You mentally calculate countless times how to win step by step; the goal is not to play chess but to get that hundred yuan. Many people fall into it. What is the purpose of the person setting up the chess? To earn your money, not to give you money; they are not altruistic. Why do people fall into these traps? They all want to get rich quickly, but they do not realize that poverty will come upon them.
We must understand this point. Many people participate in full-time church service but have given up looking to God. This is very scary. The world is not Jesus; they do not know our Lord and do not understand that the source of blessings is with God. Relying on oneself is one thing, but many Christians still rely on themselves to get rich quickly. Both of these outcomes will come upon them.
As long as one thinks about getting rich overnight, it is indeed quite dangerous. Many believers lack discernment and follow the trend. For example, there are some virtual currencies and quick-money marketing schemes. If one is greedy for that money, it is easy to fall into it. Please remember: wanting to get rich quickly does not mean getting rich quickly; it means getting poor quickly. Everyone must have this wisdom.
First Point of Sharing: Wealth is not something you can rely on; Jesus is.
Proverbs 23:4-5
4 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. 5 When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.
This tells us not to toil to acquire wealth; do not rely on your own wisdom. This is what Solomon wanted to tell us in his later years. Was his wealth gained through toil? No, you must believe that Solomon's personal wealth is still the highest in the world to this day. How did his wealth come about? Many Christians particularly want to earn money in a not-so-good economic environment and want to be prosperous. There is nothing wrong with this, but it is not about just seeking God and doing nothing. Solomon's wealth came from asking God for something; he did not ask for money but for wisdom.
So it is simple; my advice to you is very simple. If you want to be prosperous, you must ask God for wisdom. Once you have God's wisdom, you will not rely on yourself to toil for wealth, nor will you rely on your own cleverness. You will even disdain the scams on the street because you know that God will provide for you, and you will see God's abundant blessings in what you do.
Verse 5 tells us why those people ultimately face punishment and why they end up in poverty. Verse 5 asks, do you want to set your eyes on the fleeting wealth?
Does God want you to be prosperous? Yes, but God does not want you to treat money as the only thing, just like today’s saying, falling into the trap of money, leaving nothing else. If your focus is on this fleeting wealth, it is something you cannot grasp. The Bible gives us a metaphor that this money will fly away like wings.
How should this be understood? Let me tell you how the Jews view this matter. Today, Jews are still regarded as the smartest businessmen in the world. Why are they the smartest? They live by obeying God's words from a young age. Jews believe that money is fluid, but our concept is that money sitting in the bank is ours. Jews believe that the money in your pocket is yours at this minute, but in the next minute, it has already become someone else's. Therefore, they never teach their children to save a certain amount of money; they always tell their children to let money flow, so it will increase. This is the Jewish way of teaching.
Moreover, there is one more thing. When they encounter robbery, do you know what Jews do? They will obediently take all the money out of their pockets and then say, "I have given you all my money; can you leave me some fare to get home?" Do you think this is foolish or clever? Clever. In the robber's mind, they think, "I have the upper hand now; I will pity you and give you some money." They leave you your life. This is what Jews tell their children: if you lose your life, what use is that money? But for us, we would rather die than let others take our money. What good is life without money? This is a difference in perspective. Jews believe that God can give them more wealth, while we think, "I have worked hard all my life; I cannot let others take my money." They forget what is most important at that moment.
So brothers and sisters, believe that God's words are correct. Since God said that money will sprout wings, it proves that today it can fly into someone else's pocket, and tomorrow it can fly into yours. Who controls where it flies? Our God. Therefore, we should look to our Lord and rely on our Lord, not on money, which is unreliable.
For example, there are some social phenomena that many people do not understand. I will mention a rather special one. Today, some full-time pastors are also doing business. Is that acceptable? Some say yes, some say no. In fact, in Europe and America, many pastors do part-time business, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, from my personal point of view, I do not want to do this because I believe that God is my entire provision.
Consider this: if I were to preach full-time and also sell things to you, what would you first think I am doing? You would think I am not a pastor but a salesperson. Then you might think, "Even if you preach, it is just to sell us your products." Even if I serve you, you might feel guilty and think, "You served me today; you prayed for me, so I should buy your stuff."
Have you thought about it? Your focus would be on what I am doing; I am no longer a pastor but a salesperson, right? This is where the problem arises. Brothers and sisters, your trust in me would decrease; half would go to the product I am selling, and half would go to God. I do not want to do such things; I believe God will provide for all my needs.
Before I embarked on the full-time path, I prayed to God, and He indeed gave me a clear answer. At that time, I said, "Lord! The moment I serve you full-time, I will not participate in other things to make a living. I believe you will provide for me." God said to me, "I will supply you in this way."
In these ten years, countless people have told me: "You are so eloquent; come work for our company as a lecturer, and we will pay you this much a month..."
I said, "Sorry, I will not do that."
Some said, "I have a funding scheme that can make money; I will report a deal to you."
I said, "Sorry, no need." They said, "It really can make money." I said, "You can keep it for yourself..."
I do not look down on them, nor do I not believe them. I tell them that I have a covenant with God: I serve full-time and want to dedicate all my energy to serving everyone. This way, you will first trust me, and I will have enough time to listen to God's words, understand the truth, and share the truth with you.
Do you know what a pastor in the 21st century looks like?
They should not only understand the Bible; they should also understand the world outside of the Bible. If they cannot be ignorant of other matters, they should at least be proficient in two things: one is the Bible, and the other is understanding the current situation. This is my requirement for myself. Of course, I cannot demand that all pastors be like this. I do not want someone who does not believe in the Lord to think of a pastor as a scruffy old man standing still on the platform, knowing nothing about worldly matters, not even knowing what TikTok is. We should be at the forefront of the world.
Wealth is the same; when you are at the forefront of the world, everything you encounter should be behind you, including wealth. I just mentioned that full-time pastors should convey God's words. What is the purpose of doing business? To make money. So these two things conflict.
As a pastor, I wholeheartedly hope for your betterment. I hope you can do business, and I can pray for you, asking God to give you wisdom and help you understand God's truth and gain more wisdom. But if I am doing business to make money, then I am thinking about how to turn your money into my money. Isn’t that thinking about getting rich quickly? Then my focus may be on fleeting wealth.
This will lead to the issue mentioned in the book of James. If a very wealthy person comes to the church, I will nod and bow like a lapdog, saying, "Oh, you are here! Let me clean the chair for you to sit in the front." But if a person with nothing comes, I will say, "You can just squat in that corner."
Why is that? Because my focus is on money. But if my heart always looks to Jesus, then everyone should be treated the same, regardless of who they are. Hallelujah!
My personal view is that if you want to make money, please seek advice from professionals. If you want to ask me about biblical knowledge and understand the truth, you can definitely ask me. If you want to understand the gospel, finding your pastor is the best.
If your pastor has never done business before and now says he wants to help you do business, whether he claims to be a prophet or an apostle, do not follow him because he has never done it.
I want to tell you that I did business for many years before serving full-time, and I have a clearer understanding of many things. I just want to tell everyone to be cautious about the currently crazy virtual currencies and preferably not participate because you may not be able to handle it. I will pray for you, asking God to bless the business you are doing. If you know that the source of blessings is with God, there is no need to chase trends or do the same things as others. Trust that God will bless what you are doing.
In this world, there are 360 professions; isn’t there someone who excels in every profession? So why choose that which you think is good? It is still relying on your own cleverness. Just pray to God for wisdom and ability in what you are doing now, and God will make you the best in the world. Amen!
Let me ask you something: Can you plant potatoes? Yes. There is a person in the Bible named Isaac who, during a year of famine, sowed seeds in faith. Perhaps he sowed potatoes or something else, but no matter what it was, I believe anyone can do that. However, he relied on God, and through that, he became very wealthy. Amen!
He did not say during the year of famine, "No! I need to think of a way; otherwise, I will sell bottled water." In this matter, you think it cannot be done, but my God will bless me. Hallelujah! So I will pray for you, asking God to give you wisdom. Brothers and sisters, if I do it with you, the nature of the matter changes.
Matthew 6:24-26
24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (mammon means wealth). 25 Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Christians can make money and be prosperous, but that is not your entirety; your entirety should be Jesus. Amen! Your eyes should not be filled with money but with Jesus. Here it tells us that a person cannot serve two masters, meaning that if you think wealth and Jesus are equally important, that is serving two masters.
We should put Jesus first. Let me tell you about the initial principle in the Bible. Do you know that after God created the world, He blessed Adam and then told Adam to manage the birds of the air, the animals on the ground, and the fish in the sea, right? Did all things listen to Adam? Actually, it is in this order: God is at the top, Adam is below, and all things are at the bottom. Adam listens to God's words, and Adam uses God's words to manage all things, and all things listen to Adam.
Everything became very good. There are many treasures in the world, many beautiful, fun, and useful things that God prepared for Adam, but they were not meant for him to obtain through his own efforts. They were originally his, given by God. However, after Adam sinned, meaning he disobeyed God's words, the order was disrupted. God is still at the top, all things are in the middle, and man is at the bottom.
You see, there are so many materialistic people, so many people who envy those who are wealthy and powerful, like lapdogs... But have you noticed what the problem is? They forget what their identity is. Romans 8 also tells us that all things are floating in vanity.
Why are they floating in vanity? All things should be used by people. If there is a computer, isn’t it for us to use? If you treat the computer like God and bow down to it every day, is that useful? This loses the computer's original function. What is money for? It is for use. God gives you a tool to use to love others, but today many people worship it, making it the center of their lives. This easily leads them into traps and also tells us that they no longer trust God. Moreover, a person who lives centered on money often lives in anxiety.
I once heard a pastor say that the reason there are so many sighs, worries, and concerns in the world is actually due to two sentences: the first is wanting what cannot be obtained, which leads to many worries; the second is fearing the loss of what has been obtained. All of this is because of a lack of God, not knowing God's blessings, and relying on oneself to maintain things. Perhaps you maintain your marriage, your career, or your family relationships, but are you not very tired? If it is God's blessing, everything becomes particularly simple. Amen!
I hope that we brothers and sisters do not serve two masters; it is too tiring and will produce a lot of worries. Jesus tells us here not to worry about what to eat, drink, or wear for life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Hallelujah!
Too many people care about appearances, what clothes they wear, and what food they eat, forgetting that life should be more precious than food and the body more precious than clothing. They spend all their time buying better clothes while neglecting to provide for their bodies. But the only one who can provide for your life and body is Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!
Now that the economy is developing more and more, and food conditions are improving, people's hearts are becoming emptier. This is because they have not fed their lives with the food of life, leading to constant worries and concerns. Jesus tells us to look at the birds of the air, which do not sow, reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Do not take extremes and say, "Now that you say this, I will stop working and do nothing, just wait for the Father to provide for me." What kind of birds is He talking about? Birds that fly. What is the difference between flying birds and other birds? Flying birds represent those that are flying. God did not say that He feeds all birds. Are there birds that starve to death? But God says He feeds the flying birds because when they are flying, they are looking for the food that God has already provided. Amen!
If you are acting and doing things, you can ask God to bless what you are doing, and God will surely give to you. When you ask, do not worry or think, "Will this prayer be useful?" Never think about whether it is useful. Just like the flying birds looking for food, do they think, "Will I not find food today?" No, they believe that as long as they keep flying, they will definitely encounter the food that God has prepared for them.
But we worry about the food stored at home, which is a pity. This is because in our lives, the most important thing is not only Jesus but also other things. I still want to tell everyone that Christians can be prosperous, but remember, this is not your entirety. God wants you to be prosperous and hopes you have a lot of wealth to help others, but God absolutely does not want to see you being used by money, allowing wealth to dominate you.
What does it mean to be dominated by wealth? Your thoughts, words, and actions revolve around two words: making money. Why do I say making money instead of money? A person who makes money may already have a lot of money in their account but still will not be satisfied. It is truly a pity. The book of Ecclesiastes tells us about a certain group of people who are quite pitiful, like money-making machines, constantly making money but never spending it. In the end, they die, and that money is unknown to whom it will go. Would you like to become such a person? Some say, "I haven't made that much money yet; you tell me how to spend it." I just want to tell you not to worry. What is a blessing? It is mentioned multiple times in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes that being able to enjoy what you have worked for is a blessing.
How many people can make money but cannot spend it? They can earn money but cannot eat what they have bought. This is very unfortunate. Some people cannot eat cold drinks in summer because it hurts their stomachs; some cannot eat lamb, cannot eat this, cannot eat that. We are so fortunate that we can eat anything; this itself is God's best blessing. Amen!
God hopes you are prosperous and wealthy, but God absolutely does not want you to be dominated by wealth. God does not want your mind to be filled only with the word "earn." What your eyes see and what your mouth says actually represent what fills your heart. If your heart is filled with material things, your mouth will constantly think about how to earn more. Then be careful; it indicates that your heart is filled with materialism. Again, God wants you to be prosperous but does not want you to be bound by wealth.
How to discern this matter? Even if it is a pastor, if they talk about offerings every day and tell you to make money every day, it proves that their heart is bound by money. I am not boasting; what I tell you the most is not how to make money or how to have more money, but to tell you to center your life on Jesus Christ. God will take care of the rest. Because I know that when you place Jesus at the forefront of your life, God will easily resolve other matters for you. Hallelujah!
Be careful not to let material wealth become the priority in your life, or you will become a slave to money. Those who see only wealth may be driven by greed or fear, lacking a sense of security, feeling that they cannot live without a certain amount of savings in the bank. This is the message the world conveys to us.
For example, many young people are particularly afraid of marriage. It is not that they do not want to marry, but they are afraid. They say they have nothing, no car, no house, and feel embarrassed to ask a girl to marry them. They feel inferior. Brothers and sisters, is it really like this? If a girl looks at what you currently have, then after you marry, you will not be happy because if one day a wealthier person comes along, she might leave you. Marriage should never be based on material wealth. I just want to tell you that when you make Him the focus of your life, He will take care of the rest.
Why do I have such confidence? Because I was influenced by many classmates. First, there was that pastor who, when he got married, said, "At that time, I had nothing. How did I win over your teacher?"
I said, "Please tell us."
He said, "When I met your teacher, I held a Bible in my hand and said, 'All my possessions are in this.'"
I believe very few brothers would dare to say such a thing. If they said it, the girl might immediately leave. At that time, the teacher could see that he was a potential stock, and the two got married. The brother who encouraged me got married three years before me.
He said, "My wife’s family is wealthy. I was a scruffy teenager. You say it is better for her to marry me than for me to marry her. I told my wife, 'I only have five thousand yuan at home, which can buy half a pig. If you are willing, I will take this half a pig to your house.'"
At that time, I thought, "How can you do this?" In fact, that was not long ago; it was just 2007 when he got married. Is this a fairy tale? Today, young people say they do not dare to marry because there are too many worries involved. They say they do not dare to have children because they do not have money to raise them. They forget who their provider is. If you are always driven by fear and worry, trying to grasp these things, it is very difficult; you will never be satisfied and will always have fear or greed within you.
1 Timothy 6:17-19
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
I also share this verse with everyone, especially for those who are fearful about the future and do not dare to marry. Keep this verse in your heart. And for those who are already wealthy today, do not be haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches; trust in the living God who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. You should not focus on finances; you should focus on and rely on our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
If you know that everything you have now is given by God, will you feel pain when you give it away? No, because it is given by God. Why would you feel pain? It is like if I give you one hundred yuan and ask you to give ten yuan to someone else; would you be willing? That is too easy; I still have ninety left. This is how God wants us to do things. God blesses you first, and then He asks you to take out a tenth and help others little by little.
You say it is better to enjoy it yourself... Actually, you do not want your child to be like this, right? You buy them a bag of candy, and they eat it all themselves without sharing. Do you think such a child is good? When they grow up, they will either be fearful or worry about many things, or they will be greedy. You must believe that the one who blesses you and allows you to enjoy is our God. Amen!
Where is your foundation? It should be on the words of Jesus Christ. So here it tells us that true prosperity is feeling rich in your heart, being willing to give generously and share with others. God will give you more. Hallelujah! By doing so, you are also laying a good foundation for yourself, preparing a good reward for the future, which is stored in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in, but is kept forever.
Second Point of Sharing: Do not covet wealth, but rely on the God who supplies you with everything.
Many people accept grace because they feel that God is a God of blessings who can give us various graces. This is not wrong, but if you only focus on God's blessings, what you gain will only be a little. In the Bible, there is a person named Peter. Jesus borrowed his boat, and after finishing speaking, told Peter to put out into the deep and let down his nets for a catch.
Peter listened to Jesus and caught so many fish that two boats were filled. Isn’t this a profitable deal? I lent my boat to a person named Jesus, He spoke for a while, and I listened to Him, and I caught two boats of fish. Peter should have said, "Great! Jesus, come back tomorrow and preach on my boat." Although Peter was a fisherman, he was not foolish.
What did he see through those two boats of fish?
He saw the God who blesses. This is why Peter, who was older than Jesus, knelt before Jesus and said, "Lord, depart from me, for I am a sinful man." He saw that this young man was not simple; He did what Peter could not do. He could bless me, but I could not bless Him.
Brothers and sisters, you must have such wise eyes to see the greatness of God through the blessings He gives you. Today, if you pray for someone and they are healed, do not be proud of it; see that it is God using you. If you pray for something and God blesses you, do not be overly happy about that blessing; see that God can give you this and will give you more, making you a channel of blessings. Hallelujah!
Peter was a wise man; he wanted to follow Jesus. Jesus said, "Then rise up; from today on, you will catch men." So we say he is a fisher of men, and he caught many people afterward. Peter had a very good perspective at that time; he knew that following Jesus would ensure he had a good life. Today, we should be holding onto wealth, saying, "Please do not leave me," but we should be holding onto Jesus. Amen! Many people only want blessings but do not want the God who blesses, which is a very sad thing.
Do you know the difference between Abraham and Lot? Let us take a look at Abraham first.
Genesis 12:1-4
1 Now the Lord said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
Now I want to ask everyone, why did Lot go out with Abraham? Why was Lot willing to follow Abraham? Do not tell me he believed in God and looked to God, wanting to obtain the inheritance God gave him. He did not have that heart or that faith. So why did he follow Abraham? The reason is simple: Abraham was already a very respected person in the area, with a lot of wealth. Lot, with his tiny brain, could figure out that following his uncle would be fine.
How many people are foolishly following others today? "Oh! Our pastor is a prophet; it will be fine to do business with him." You are wrong. If God does not bless him, what is he?
Lot thought that following Abraham would definitely be fine; he had a large family and wealth, so he would not lose anything. Lot's focus was always on the blessings. Even if he believed in God, his focus was still on the blessings. This is very unfortunate; he thought God was a God of blessings. Abraham was different. At that time, God told Abraham to leave his country, family, and father's house and go to the land He would show him, saying, "I will make you a great nation."
Do you notice the difference in their perspectives? Lot was only thinking about money, while Abraham was thinking that God would bless him and make him a great nation.
If you want to earn money your whole life, you are just a businessman. If you say, "I want to cultivate many people in this area," congratulations! You have already become a very famous person. It all depends on where your foundation lies. God said to him, "I will bless you and make your name great." Did Abraham believe these words? He believed and then left. Do you know? He always believed that this God would make him a great nation and bless him. So what Abraham believed was the God Himself, while Lot believed in the blessings that God gave.
Some people say, "What is the difference you are talking about?" Let us look at the next passage.
Genesis 13:10-12
10 And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah), like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. 12 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.
Why did they separate? Because of money. The herdsmen quarreled with each other. Why did the herdsmen quarrel? It was because they were afraid their sheep would eat less, have fewer lambs, and thus earn less money. Lot had a small calculation in his heart, figuring that if he continued to stay with Abraham, he would lose too much and needed to separate from him. So he used his own perspective to see where was better? The plain of Jordan was better.
From a human perspective, choosing Sodom was good; that place was indeed suitable for grazing sheep. Why did Abraham not choose it? Because he knew that what he relied on was not what he could see; he relied on his God. Amen!
In your life, many people come and go. Do you know how many people have separated because of money? Isn’t it particularly many? Is it common in the church? If some people serve with the purpose of making more money, when the church does not provide enough for them, they will definitely leave and even speak negatively.
If your focus is on God, and your service is to glorify the Lord or to serve out of gratitude to God, you will not care how others treat you or how much they pay you. Abraham was very clear in this matter. When he had a conflict with Lot, he preferred to choose to live in the mountainous area of Canaan. The two of them separated because of financial issues. Now I want to say that Lot's eyes were on the financial blessings God gave, while Abraham cared about the God who blessed him. Abraham's eyes were always on God.
This is why many Christians say they do not believe when they do not receive blessings. They do not pray anymore. Their focus has not yet reached God but remains on the blessings God gives. Brothers and sisters, we must elevate our perspective and place our eyes on God Himself, not on the blessings God gives.
If you understand this, even if God does not answer your prayers today, you will still believe in Him and follow Him. Even if God has not healed your illness today, will you still be willing to follow Him? Yes, because what you care about is not what He gives you but what kind of God He is. If you understand this principle, other problems in your life will be easily resolved.
For example, regarding marriage, if a brother is not yet married and a sister looks at what you currently have, do you know how dangerous that is? If one day you become poor, she will definitely leave you. In times of great difficulty, everyone will fly away. If you have nothing, you cannot fly away, and she will leave. If a girl looks at what you have, be cautious. Conversely, if that girl looks at the person you are rather than what you have, that relationship will be stable. Even if that boy becomes very successful one day, she will still follow him. Even if one day he truly has nothing, she will still follow him because she loves the person, not what he possesses. Can everyone understand this?
Interpersonal relationships are the same. In my heart, I see you all as equal. Why? Because I do not see what you possess to reflect your identity. No, in my view, you are all treasures loved by God. In God's eyes, you are all holy and righteous. These worldly things are temporary; only this identity is eternal. If you also view the people around you in this way, when you see someone promoted, you will not flatter them, and when you see someone with nothing, you will not look down on them. This is how to set the relationship with God right, and your relationships with people will also be good.
When external changes occur, if your focus is not on the person itself, people's hearts will change. Similarly, before God, you must think about whether you care about God Himself or what He gives you. In the early stages, you can say, "God will give me this." No problem, but you must first believe that He is a good God, and everything He gives you is the best. He will not give you anything bad; this is the first point we must understand.
1 Timothy 6:8-11
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
Is our God not a heavenly being? Does He not want us to make money? He just wants us to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Many churches say it is okay to be poor, and even if you are sick, it is okay; what you should pursue is righteousness and godliness. Brothers and sisters, have you ever thought that these two things do not conflict? You can pursue righteousness and godliness, and can God not make you prosperous? It is not a conflicting matter. What is feared is greed. Those who desire to be rich fall into what? Temptation, snares, and many foolish and harmful lusts; lust is what is terrible.
If I do business with the sole purpose of making money, I will be looking at your pockets, not your lives. This is a very scary thing because there is greed involved. In the world, people have greed in their hearts. There is no absolute fairness, no absolute love; only in Christ Jesus is there.
Let’s talk about the virtual currency again. In fact, the country does not allow us to engage in this activity, but some people just do not believe it. I now tell you that you should never touch this; be cautious. Because you see the profits others give you, but others see your principal, so you will never outplay the dealer. Some regulatory authorities in China have already stopped the issuance and trading of these virtual currencies, stating that Chinese policy absolutely does not allow the issuance of virtual currencies. Do not look at how they do it abroad; you should focus not on these but on God Himself. Amen!
Today, many people do business in the church, and pastors lead believers in business. I personally do not agree with this. I just want to tell everyone to place your focus on God, and God will give you wisdom. Amen! Do not chase trends; God can bless you and make you abundant.
Proverbs 15:16, Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.
Is it better to have less money? You cannot take extremes. Why does having more money lead to trouble? Because the focus is all on money. I once shared a small testimony. When my parents' house was demolished, they received a lot of money. The child was particularly concerned about his mother's money, and in the end, his mother left forty thousand yuan for herself, which was for her medical expenses because she was not in good health. The son beat his mother in front of the bank, insisting that she withdraw all forty thousand yuan and give it to him...
Where is the family affection? Where is the love? It is all gone. Why is this? The reason for the trouble is that their focus is entirely on money, not on pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. But when you pursue these things that God gives you, you can enjoy the blessings God provides. So here it says that having little wealth and fearing the Lord is better than having great wealth and being troubled.
This is a comparison. If you had to choose, you would rather choose to fear God with little wealth than choose a pile of money that makes the home cold and lifeless. You would not want that kind of life. Believe that God Himself is a giver of blessings. You should follow God, and He will supply all your needs.
Deuteronomy 28:12-13
12 The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath.
Do you particularly hope that this blessing will come upon us? Then I ask everyone a question: Do you know that God is the source of all your blessings? He will open the heavens for you and give rain to your land in its season, blessing all the work of your hands. Do you know what this means? In the eyes of the world, there is only money. The prosperity that God gives you is not just about being wealthy; it is about having God's blessings in everything you do. Brothers and sisters, which one do you want? Many people say, "I am poor; I am left with nothing but money." That is right; this is not contradictory. Family affection, love, and friendship are all gone, all deceived away, leaving only money, dying alone. What a pitiful person.
But the prosperity God wants to give you is not just money; it is that everything you do is prosperous—your marriage, family, career, mood, and health are all good. You are filled with joy every day, and your home is filled with harmony. You do not have to worry about chaotic things happening at home, nor do you have to worry that your children will end up with nothing and die alone because you know that God will bless you. God is your provider. Many parents place their focus on their children, thinking that having children is for the purpose of supporting them in old age. This leads to great despair because they do not rely on God.
I tell everyone to place your focus on God Himself. You cannot rely on everything in the world; God will provide for you. Hallelujah! Have you thought about this question? In the church, when we are old, we can chat about God, talk about Jesus, and sing songs together. Isn’t that great?
There is no need to scheme against each other. Believe that God will bless us in everything we do. To what extent? You shall lend to many nations but not borrow from them. If you think that the prosperity here refers to money, that is fine, but there are also other things. For example, joy; today you can give joy to others, comfort to others. Many people have money, but their hearts are filled with sorrow. You can give them joy, comfort, and peace to their restless hearts. Today, many people find that the more money they have, the less secure they feel. Brothers and sisters, you do not need that. What God gives you is something that no one can take away.
The latter part says clearly that the Lord will make you the head and not the tail. Who makes you the head? It is our Lord. You only need to do one thing: make Jesus Christ the priority in your life, and let His words become the standard in your life and the basis for your living. Just live according to what God says; how the world lives is their business. You only need to live according to God's words. Amen!
As for the rest, God will lift you up. After He lifts you up, He will make you the head and not the tail. When God lifts you up, no one can pull you down. Amen! But the world is not like that. When you are in a high position, they always want to pull you down, using tricks and various methods to try to bring you down, but it is useless. If God lifts you up, no tricks will work.
Titus 3:6-9
6 Whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. 9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
Finally, I leave this passage for everyone to meditate on. This passage tells us that the Holy Spirit dwells in your hearts. He reminds you that Jesus Christ is your Lord, your giver of blessings, and the source of all your blessings, pouring out various blessings upon you. Know that you have been justified by His grace; this is your greatest blessing. You are called righteous; this is God's greatest blessing for you. You can also become heirs according to the hope of eternal life, meaning you can inherit the inheritance from God. You do not need to seize it like Jacob; you only need to receive it like Isaac, and at the right time, God will give it to you. This saying is trustworthy.
I also want you to affirm these things constantly. This is what Paul told Titus, to let Titus tell the brothers and sisters in the church that you should believe this is real. And I have the obligation to explain these things to you, so you do not always focus on money but rather focus on the God who blesses. I also want you to affirm these things constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.
What is a good work? Any work that complies with national laws is acceptable. Now, no matter where God blesses you or what kind of industry you are engaged in, it does not matter. In your current position, pray and ask God to give you strength. If the time comes, God will lift you up at the right time, and that will be the most suitable blessing for you, which no one can take away. Amen!
So be careful to maintain good works. Be cautious and stay away from schemes to get rich overnight or super rebates. If you have accidentally entered into them, please withdraw immediately. This is not a joke. Why should we maintain good works? Because these are good things and beneficial to both yourself and others.
Verse 9 says to avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and useless.
This sentence is very simple. Today I mean something else. When I give you these pieces of advice and encourage you to maintain good works, there will always be someone who disagrees. There will always be someone who tells me, "You do not know; that makes money so quickly. I have earned so much money." They will have many testimonies, but I tell you, we will not debate with them. I will only tell you the truth. Those who can receive it will receive it; those who cannot receive it, I cannot say you are wrong or heretical. It depends on each person's faith.
We should not argue because arguing is unprofitable and useless. Just look at the final result. Amen! If this is a blessing from God, no one can take it away, and it is beneficial to ourselves and others. Thank you and praise the Lord!
Let us pray together.
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you! Thank you for letting us know through these words that the giver of blessings is you. Our treasure is where our heart is, and Jesus is the greatest treasure in our lives. You can bless Peter with two boats of fish, and you can bless what we do with our hands. When we follow you, the world and all the blessings in it will follow us. This is the simplest thing because everything in this world is created by you, and you know all that we need.
You let us look at the birds of the air because they do not worry. You feed them, and we do not need to worry because we are treasures in your eyes. You will give us the best, having given us your most beloved Jesus. Will you not freely give us all things? You are willing to bless what we do with our hands. I thank you for my current work and pray for it, and I often express my gratitude.
When I work here, you will lift me up at the right time. You know the position that is most suitable for me. My heart is willing to always look to you. Jesus Christ is my Lord, my helper, and my giver of grace. Thank you and praise you! As a new week begins, I am willing to look to you in everything. Please lead me to become your beautiful blessing in this world, to be a channel of this blessing, bringing benefits to more people. Thank you and praise you! In the name of our Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen!