Why Do People Accumulate Wealth?

Tomorrow's Financial Management Seminar at MKBC has prompted me to share with you some thoughts from Larry Burketts's  book Your Finances In Changing Times.  To answer the question Larry mentions that some people accumulate wealth for the following reasons:

1. Others Advice It - Simply because someone else advices them to do so. They do not have any clear personal plans or goals. They neither have short-term or long-term plans. - Proverbs 15:22;18:15
2. Envy Of Others - These fall in the trap of, "Keeping up with the Joneses" Advertising promotes this attitude, but God doesn't - Luke 12:15
3. Game of Money- Many people accumulate money as a game; they match themselves against others relentlessly.
4. Self-esteem - Those who accumulate money for self-esteem do so that others might envy them.  This is a worldly motive, yet it characterizes many Christians.
5. The Love of Money - Those who love money and wouldn't part with it for anything - not even for esteem. Their lives are characterized by hoarding and abasement. Luke 9:25
6. Protection - People accumulate money for protection. On the surface this sounds proper; certainly we need to protect ourselves, don't we? 
7. A Spiritual Gift - The is only one reason that God supplies a surplus of wealth to a Christian - so he will have enough to provide for the needs of others. 2 Corinthians 9:11; Proverbs 30:8-9

Packer’s 6 Questions For Bible Study

Packer’s 6 Questions For Bible Study: "

J.I. Packer suggests that we ask 6 questions of any bibilcal text. I’ve found these most helpful:

(1) What do these words actually mean?

(2) What light do other scriptures throw on this text? Where and how does it fit in to the total biblical revelation?

(3) What truths does it teach about God, and about man in relation to God?

(4) How are these truths related to the saving work of Christ, and what light does the gospel of Christ throw upon them?

(5) What experiences do these truths delineate, or explain, or seek to create or cure? For what practical purpose do they stand in Scripture?

(6) How do I apply them to myself and others in our own actual situation? To what present human condition do they speak, and what are they telling us to believe and do?

J.I.Packer, Among God’s Giants: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life, p138.

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A Church In The Endana Settlement

It is a memorable day of rejoicing at the bush settlement. The Church building was finally up. The pastor of this church Kiopire had worked with the church members in the preparations and structure. The work was accomplished in 3weeks. Aug 1, 2010 was the dedication day. Ten churches in our fellowship sent representatives. It was a day of praise and thanks to God. The put some decorations in the building for the joy the had. They appreciate very much the funding of this building by Pst Ron Williams and Palmetto Ave Baptist Church. Deacon Washington from Kwahuku Baptist Church gave a testimony of how Palmetto was a blessing to them in Mission Possible 2002.  This church has built over 33 churches since then in their obedience to the great commission (Matthew 28:19,20).  Enjoy more pictures of this memorable occasion here.
   Pst Daniel Kalasinga brought a message from Ephesians 6. We had many church choirs that sung.
   Glory be to God.

Peace Like A River

Preacher Power

Preacher Power: "

The following quote first subdues my pride (‘my preaching cannot save a single soul’) but then lifts me from despair (‘God’s Spirit can’!):

“The gospel is preached in the ears of all men; it only comes with power to some. The power that is in the gospel does not lie in the eloquence of the preacher otherwise men would be converters of souls. Nor does it lie in the preacher’s learning; otherwise it could consists of the wisdom of men. We might preach till our tongues rotted, till we should exhaust our lungs and die, but never a soul would be converted unless there were mysterious power going with it – the Holy Ghost changing the will of man. O Sirs! We might as well preach to stone walls as preach to humanity unless the Holy Ghost be with the word, to give it power to convert the soul.” (Charles Spurgeon, quoted in Stott, I Believe in Preaching, 335)

Or as Paul put it:

“…our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.” (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

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