FOLLOWING JESUS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MATERIAL GAIN

by Kevin Nunez





Following Jesus Is More Important than Material Gain


Every one of you who does not say good-bye to all his possessions cannot be My disciple

(Luke 14:33).

If we have made a relationship with Jesus a priority and have committed to His purpose for a lifetime, we must let go of material wealth. Jesus declared that nothing in life can take the place designed for Him. Things can become gods as easily as people can. If Jesus does not allow people to assume God’s place, neither will He allow material possessions to


"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money"

Matthew 6:24.

Scripture teaches that God is the owner of all possessions,


"The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him"

Psalm 24:1.

and that humankind is only a steward charged with their care. Even the church’s teaching on tithing is sometimes misunderstood. Some believe that if they give a tithe of their income back to God, the remaining 90 percent is available to be used any way they choose. The reality is that all belongs to God, and a Christian is responsible for using all 100 percent in a way that glorifies God. The tithe is just the prompter.

Biblical discipleship involves following Jesus rather than adhering to a moral code. Although the task seems daunting, it is life at its very finest. Jesus said,


“A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance”

John 10:10.

Jesus is not just the giver of abundant life. He desires that all people experience it,


The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

2 Pet. 3:9.

However, it is found only in following Him. The good news is that Jesus enables even the following if someone in faith chooses to do so. That is the work of the Holy Spirit, who comes to indwell the believer at the moment of expressed trust in Jesus’ atoning death for him. God Himself is at work in the believer’s life to manifest His grace and goodness


For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Phil. 2:13.

He prompts someone and even arranges circumstances to enable the person to do what He desires, but He never forces or manipulates the person. He always allows the individual to make the decision to follow Him.

(Don’t miss tomorrow’s blog post as we will cover, Foundational Tenets of Christian Discipleship)

More to come on this topic, “Biblical Discipleship.”

Source: http://www.lifeway.com/

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Always, for God’s glory and our joy in Him!

Kevin Nunez

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