James 4.5
"Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?." (ESV)
We have many needs. We need food everyday. We also need social fellowship, without nearness we die. But still we are more than our body and soul. Our spirit is in another dimension. But in this dimension is where closeness to God is hidden.
Who is the lover of your soul? There can only be one master in our lives. It is either God or an idol. God wants of us to just be close with him. As a bride is close to his husband. But to be close to God, we also need to be close to our brothers, the rest of his body. In that way the spirit can dwell richly among us..
God calls us out of isolation. He wants fellowship with us. When we have fellowship with each other in truth, that is also one way of having fellowship with God. God brings new grace each day, let's respond to his invitation in living in close fellowship with Him, the lover of our soul.
Matthew 6.24
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (NIV)
It is so many things that wants to allure us to believe that, happiness can be bought by money. "If I only had this, I would be satisfied". But the fact that Jesus points out this so clearly; "you will be devoted to the one and despise the other", makes it clear you can not please God, if you have this mentality.
It is so easy to loose perspective in life. What is of importance? Jesus gives us a new way of looking at the issue of money when he says:
"Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (verse 20)
Why speak of heaven, when money will not be an issue in heaven anyway? We can live on this earth, and pay our taxes, our bills, and also wish for new stuff, but our hearts should not let these things take dominion in our lives. Our hearts should rather be directed upwards, believing He will give us everything we need, because He is our Provider. We should also know, that everything belongs to Him, including our self. And everything that we have, has been given to us by Him, meaning He can also take it from us.
It's still important to live for something greater than our selves. If we spend all our money on our selves, it can be because our lives is too much involved around our selves. To give, breaks the habit off a self centred behaviour. And there we have Jesus as our primary example on the cross, when He gave his whole life. It shows the ultimate way of living, not for Him self, but for others.
Let ut all follow in footsteps of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!
