Created for Christ

The Modern Church seems to view God as though He exists to please them. The truth is this: WE were created to please GOD. When we return to the purpose for which we were created we will experience the Presence Of God again: not an EMOTIONAL experience...but a TRUE visitation of the Almighty God.

It is much like a variation on the famous quote from John F. Kennedy: Ask not what God can do for you...ask what YOU can do for GOD!

In many Christian circles...the CROSS was simply NOT SUFFICENT...and Jesus' death was just NOT ENOUGH. In those circles and churches, God has to do MORE...and if He somehow fails to make them wealthy, He is not a worthy God. You see, it is a theology which negates the power of the cross, subordinating the death of Jesus to a "gospel" which seeks earthly blessings and financial wealth and earthly contentment...all while ignoring the truth: that we are to take up our CROSS and we are to follow Christ. We fail to realize the meaning of that calling...yet Paul saw it clearly as he said "that I may know Him (Jesus) and the power of His resurrection, and the FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS.."

Philippians 3:7-11 NKJV

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Jesus would define the price of DISCIPLESHIP:

Mark 10:17, 21 NKJV

17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" …21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."

But there is something VERY TELLING and VERY SIGNIFICANT in this passage that is often overlooked or quickly skimmed over. First, notice the rich man comes asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. As we all know, Jesus responded with the words of verse 21 which I posted above. But…once the rich man walks away dejected, Jesus then reveals that the focus of our TRUST is essential.

Mark 10:23-27 NKJV

23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."

What we discover is that the rich man placed his TRUST in riches…as does the PROSPERITY GOSPEL. Not only is the PROSPERITY GOSPEL a FALSE GOSPEL, but the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is based on a society that places its TRUST in RICHES. The entire premise of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is based on a false belief that RICHES are NEEDED to bring contentment and happiness. Face it…if RICHES were described by false teachers as “troublesome” and “fleeting” and “seductive” and “deceitfulness” then riches WOULD NOT be sought after NOR trusted. Yet…these are the words used by God throughout Scripture regarding RICHES.

The Church must realize that EARTHLY RICHES will pass away. Even Scripture describes a time when money will be USELESS. Yet…society and Christians alike place their trust in RICHES.

Jesus was inviting us to participate with him in something…yet it was NOT riches. Jesus called us to participate in the SUFFERING OF THE CROSS! Seeing Christianity as a PROMISE OF RICHES is to view God as existing for OUR enjoyment. Seeing Christianity as a CALL TO TAKE UP THE CROSS is to view US as existing to SERVE CHRIST.

The futility of riches? Here are just SOME of the passages in God’s Word about RICHES:

Psalm 37:16 A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked.

Psalm 39:6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.

Psalm 49: 6-7 Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches, None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him

Psalm 52:7 "Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness."

Psalm 62:10 Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them.

Proverbs 11:4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.

Proverbs 11:16 A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless men retain riches.

Proverbs 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

Proverbs 13:7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.

Proverbs 28:22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned and saw under the sun that-- The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.

Jeremiah 9:23 Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;

Matthew 13:22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.


NOW…examine just a few passages that focus on TRUE riches:

Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

Ephesians 1:7-14

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

The “inheritance” we have obtained is ETERNAL in nature…and the Holy Spirit is our “guarantee” of that inheritance (the guarantee is NOT earthly riches) UNTIL the day of “redemption” of that inheritance. You see…we will one day die…or we will one day be RAPTURED. And…on that day, we are able to REDEEM our INHERITANCE. Yet…even then…the RICHES will not equate to EARTHLY WEALTH: RICHES in heaven are measured SPIRITUALLY…not TEMPORALLY.

Have you ever REDEEMED anything? There was a time when people collected GREEN STAMPS…and those stamps could be REDEEMED for other things…you EXCHANGED your GREEN STAMPS for MERCHANDISE. Spiritually…our MORTAL will take on IMMORTALITY! We are REDEEMED by the BLOOD OF JESUS…and the Holy Spirit within us NOW is the GUARANTEE that we will one day EXCHANGE our EARTHLY existence for our HEAVENLY existence! Amen!

All of this is possible…when we TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS. Forsake ANY and ALL gospels that focus on the seeking of EARTHLY RICHES…supposing that we can TRUST God while TRUSTING in the futility of seeking wealth.

But…more than that…cease from seeing God as being there FOR US…and let us begin to see OURSELVES as existing for the GLORY OF GOD…to serve Jesus Christ…and to KNOW Him in the “fellowship of His sufferings.”

THAT is our calling.