Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Riding the Fence

We all know what it means to ride the fence don't we? It means lack of commitment. We say one thing but do another. We stand for something but then wavier in our stance. We say were a Christian, but we don't live like it.

The bottom line is this... You can't serve two masters at one time.

Matt. 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Luke 12:15 Then he [Jesus] said to them, "Watch out! be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

It's not that money in itself is bad. But what it causes us to do is bad. Money can cause greed. We want more and more and more than we really need. Money can blind us into a sense of comfort and peace but in the end it's only temporary. It has no eternal value at all and it definitely is nothing we can take with us when we leave this world. When money is our master we strive to get more. We sacrifice our time for it, we sacrifice our family for it. We sacrifice our work for God for it. But when God is our master, money is not the focus or the issue. God provides for us as we need it. Greed is not the main thing. Money or material things is not the focus but living in obedience to Christ is the focus and desire for our life.

Which master do you serve? Are you riding the fence with one leg straddled on each side. The way of the world or the way of the Lord, which side of the fence are you on? Are you content in your life or do you feel like a boat being tossed this way and that on the waves. Just when you think your living right, another wave knocks you back or steers you off course again. It tough staying the course isn't it? It's all about the masters we serve in our life that dictates our contentment. The love of money will never leave us content (although we think it will). By keeping free of the love of money we can be content.

Heb. 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" [Deut. 31:6]

Our contentment comes form God. He will never leave us or forsake us. We must take a stand on one side of the fence for Christ and never go back over to the other side. We must quit riding the fence and go ahead and get our feet planted firmly on the ground of righteousness. If we do this we will have everything we ever need. God will provide because we've put our faith and trust in Him rather than our faith and trust in our money.

Matt. 6:33 Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Do you want to stay off the fence? Then seek out Christ. He'll give you more than money and possession could ever give you. Contentment, love, peace, and eternal life. All of which money can't buy. So get off the fence and serve only one master... Jesus Christ. make him Lord of your life today!

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