Bigger, Better, Newer
What is the most common sin among church goers in America?
During the late 1990s there was a tremendous demand for programmers due to the Y2K problem. The Y2K problem was that dates were stored with only two digits for the year so that when the year 2000 rolled over computers all over the world would treat year "00" as 1900 instead of 2000. This was a serious problem because in tests where the date was rolled forward to see what exactly would happen all kinds of things went wrong. What are some examples of things that seriously went wrong in these tests?
The engines of semis would not start because the computers that ensured they had mandatory maintenance would show that the last maintenance had been done 99 years earlier if the maintenance had been done in 1999. In some cases, the engines of commercial aircraft would shutdown while running for the same reason. The air traffic control systems in like manner would shut down as well. Every large corporation and government organization ran tests, looked at the results and came to the same conclusion - if the Y2K problem was not fixed when the year 2000 (Y2K) began then everything in the world that was relied on computers was going to shutdown. Why did companies and governments insist on using two digit years if it would eventually cause such problems?
The first computer had been invented in America by Herman Hollerith in 1889. He found a company in New York that would later be known as IBM. From that time until late 1990s computer storage was very expensive. In fact, when I got ram in the early 1990s at $25 per megabyte (MB) people were impressed with my negotiating skills. This is why dates kept being stored with two digit years. Yet everyone who worked in IT (Information Technology) knew that this was a ticking time bomb that would have to be defused before the year 2000. So why did companies wait until two years before 2000 to start defusing this time bomb?
Even though their own tests and studies showed that the longer companies waited to fix the Y2K problem the harder it would be to fix and the more it would cost, for the most part they just put it off year after year in the 1990s so it would not impact their earnings for that year. Then suddenly every company started desperately trying to fix it at the same time. This drove up the wages of those of us with the right skills to unheard of levels. I was stopped in the middle of my interview and asked when I could start because I had those skills. I was offered more money per hour than any other time in my life and I could work all the hours that I could stand. The company that was interviewing me was desperate and wanted to be sure that they got my services before someone else did. Suddenly, like most companies, this problem that they had been warned about for years but had ignored was now being treated as a matter of life and death for the company.
What caused all of these companies to suddenly treat Y2K as a life threatening crisis? Was it the fact that airplanes full of passengers could fall out of the sky? Was it the prospect of rolling blackouts that would shutdown the power grid in the northeast corridor of the US that serviced 60 million people in the dead of winter? Was it the certainty that the semis which carried food to cities across the US would come to a grinding halt and possibly cause food shortages? Was it the prospect of people dying in hospitals due to medical equipment ceasing to operate?
No, it was due what happened to a power company in western Oregon that also serviced part of northwest California and southwest Washington. This company had a complete shutdown in 1997 due to a Y2K problem from its predictive systems showing that certain vital equipment was 97 years old and overdue for replacement. The power company was sued by all three states for their neglect in causing so many people to be without power. This lawsuit not only went against the company but also against all of the officers from the CEO all the way down to the director level. The company lost and all of the officers suffered severe financial punishment as a result.
A legal magazine picked up the story and stated that the legal industry stood to make one trillion dollars off of the Y2K problem because it was not being fixed. When those in charge of other corporations realized that they could personally be sued then it was suddenly a matter of life and death. They were suddenly willing drain the coffers of their companies to protect their own personal assets. Nothing was as important to them as protecting their endless pursuit of getting bigger, better, newer things.
I must be quick to point out that the officers of these companies really did not act any different than most Americans. Most Americans are on a hamster wheel of pursing bigger, better, newer things instead of taking care of other people. America has a long history of putting the acquisition of bigger, better, newer things in front of pretty much everything else most of the time. After all, the word "America" comes from two Spanish words that mean "lover of riches".
This is why America tends to ignore the judgment of the Father of Truth (Yahoveh aka Yahweh aka God aka The Lord) for its sins when those judgments come in the form of natural disasters like hurricanes, huge wars like WWI and plagues like the flu outbreak of 1918-1919 that killed close to a million Americans. It was only when He stopped their acquisition of bigger, better, newer things with the stock market crash of 1929 that Americans took notice and began to repent of their sins in the 1930s.
This is not to say that Americans have a monopoly on greed. Among the many inventions of the Americans, like the computer, greed cannot be included. People were placing the pursuit of bigger, better, newer things over the welfare of other people long before Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492.
There has never been a country that did not have part of its population infected with greed. There have always been people that place the pursuit of bigger, better, newer things over the welfare of other people.
Most Americans, like many people who live in other countries, are in constant pursuit of bigger, better, newer things that they do not really need. This endless pursuit of bigger, better, newer things is driven by the desire to have things at just because their neighbors have them. Americans refer to it as "keeping up with the Jones".
This desire of people to have things at just because their neighbors have them has several motives. One motive is the desire to have what belongs to their neighbor.
The Law of Truth (Torah aka The Law) commands people to not desire (covet) anything that belongs to their neighbor (Exodus 20:17). In fact, this is the last of the Ten Commandments that The Father of Truth personally spoke to the Children of Israel at Mount Sinai (Deuteronomy 5:21-22). The Renewed Covenant (B'rit Chadashah aka The New Testament) also calls this desire to have things that belong to your neighbor a sin (Romans 7:7). This should be no surprise because the Renewed Covenant defines sin as transgressing the Law of Truth (1 John 3:4).
So the most commonly broken commandment in the Ten Commandments in America is probably the least understood of all of the commandments by the average church goer in America. Many American church goers might be wondering what is so wrong with endlessly desiring bigger, better, newer stuff?
Well, for one thing people are tempted to look for ways to gain more money unjustly so they can continue to acquire bigger, better, newer things. Unjust gain is any financial gain that comes from breaking any commandment of the Law of Truth because those commandments are holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12). Those that love other people do not break those commandments in order to get bigger, better, newer things (Galatians 5:14).
These commandments include things like charging each other fair prices for goods and services (Leviticus 25:14). The Renewed Covenant says the same things. People are to charge no more than the true value of their services (Luke 3:12-13). They are not use violence or say anything false to gain wealth but are to be content with the wages they agreed to work for (Luke 3:14).
The Law of Truth says many other things that are not just to gain from. It says that it is not just to gain by working seven days a week (Exodus 20:9-10). It says that it is not just to gain by neglecting to take care of your parents (Exodus 20:12). It says that it is not just to gain by stealing (Exodus 20:15). It says that it is not just to gain by lying about other people (Exodus 20:16). It says that it is not just to gain by holding on to every last thing that is produced through your efforts for yourself (Leviticus 19:9-10). It says that it is not just to gain by dealing or swearing falsely (Leviticus 19:11-12). It says that it is not just to gain by taking advantage of the foreigner that works for you in any manner including pay (Leviticus 19:33-34). It says that it is not just to gain by not measuring what is sold fairly and accurately (Leviticus 19:35-36). It says that it is not just to gain by not paying tithes to take care of His ministers (Numbers 18:26-28). It says that it is not just to gain by taking the means of production from someone else (Deuteronomy 24:6).
In short, unjust gain comes from breaking the royal law of the Book of Truth - loving your neighbor as yourself (James 2:8).
Greed, coveting and unjust gain are so intertwined that the same Hebrew root word is usually used for all three of these words. In fact, often where it is translated as some form of covet or greed it would be more clear if it had been translated as unjust gain. Greed and coveting are the motivations that cause people to pursue unjust gain.
Those that acquire unjust gain find that their endless pursuit of bigger, better, newer stuff is draining the very life out of them (Proverbs 1:19). They seem clueless that this pursuit of bigger, better, newer stuff is destroying their home life (Proverbs 15:27). They look to casinos and lotteries as a replacement for hard work and ingenuity to get bigger, better, newer stuff instead of providing honest work to obtain wealth so they can take care of others (Proverbs 21:25-26). They cannot see the poverty that their get-rich-quick schemes will bring (Proverbs 28:22). They do not foresee the loneliness that their pursuit will bring (Ecclesiastes 4:8). They can never have enough stuff to satisfy the emptiness in their souls (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Their pursuit of bigger, better, newer things leaves them no time to actually enjoy what they already own (Ecclesiastes 5:11). They are robbed of sleep from concern over keeping up in the race to obtain bigger, better, newer stuff (Ecclesiastes 5:12). They do not understand that they can never be satisfied with bigger, better, newer stuff for good times do not last forever (Isaiah 56:10-12). The endless desire for bigger, better, newer stuff causes them to oppress others with violence (Jeremiah 22:17). They do not understand that the pursuit of bigger, better, newer stuff will destroy them because the love of money is the root cause of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
The Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) says that coveting comes from an evil heart (Mark 7:21-23). This evil heart that covets comes from ignoring the Father of Truth when making decisions (Romans 1:28-29). Those with this evil heart that desires bigger, better, newer stuff just because their neighbors have it do not know the His ways (Ephesians 4:17-19).
Those with this evil heart persecute the poor to get bigger, better, newer stuff because they do not consider the Father of Truth when they make their decisions (Psalm 10:2-4). They commit every kind of evil to get bigger, better, newer stuff because they have forgotten the Father of Truth (Ezekiel 22:12).
Those with this evil heart do not consider that the Father of Truth will smite those that pursue bigger, better, newer stuff instead of love (Isaiah 57:17). They consider not that no one will escape the judgment of the Father of Truth against those that do such things (Micah 2:1-3). They have deluded themselves into believing that all of this bigger, better, newer stuff will save them from His wrath (Habakkuk 2:9). They act like the Father of Truth will not judge them for oppressing the foreign worker or those in dire circumstances by paying them less than the regular wage for their work (Malachi 3:5). They do not understand that all who want bigger, better, newer stuff just because their neighbors have it will not inherit His Kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
How can so many church goers in America be so trapped in the pursuit of bigger, better, newer stuff?
They are trapped because so many of them attend congregations where the religious professionals are Ministers of Lies.
The Ministers of Lies do not warn their congregations to not spend their lives in pursuit of bigger, better, newer stuff because they are doing the same thing (Jeremiah 6:13). They do not heed what the warning in the Book of Truth (the Bible) of judgment for pursuing bigger, better, newer stuff instead of love but will instead tell their congregations the lie that the Father of Truth will not judge anyone (Jeremiah 8:9-11). The Ministers of Lies lead their congregations in hearing His Word and singing His praises while also leading them to not do what He says because they earnestly desire bigger, better, newer stuff just because their neighbors have it (Ezekiel 33:30-32). They mock the Ministers of Truth who tell people, that they cannot serve the desire for bigger, better, newer stuff, and the desires of the Father of Truth, at the same time (Luke 16:13-15). These Ministers of Lies do not warn others that those who desire bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbors have it, will not have an inheritance in the Kingdom of the Man of Truth and His Father, because they are engaged in idolatry (Ephesians 5:5). Since they will not submit to the Man of Truth in every area of their lives, then they reject the truth, and instead teach that the blessing of the Father of Truth can be measured in the accumulation of bigger, better, newer stuff (1 Timothy 6:3-5). They earnestly desire bigger, better, newer stuff, and they are just putting on a religious show, while denying that the Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost) demonstrates power in the congregations of the Children of Truth (those that obey the Father of Truth because they love Him) today (2 Timothy 3:2-5). They teach lies, instead of the truth, in order to obtain unjust gain (Titus 1:10-11). These Teachers of Lies will speak against the Children of Truth, and lie to their congregations, because they want to sell merchandise to their congregations, to feed their own desire for bigger, better, newer stuff (2 Peter 2:1-3). They have drank their own kool-aid, and do not understand, that they too will perish under the judgment of the Father of Truth for pursuing bigger, better, newer stuff, instead of love (2 Peter 2:12-14). They will meet the same end as previous rebels against the Father of Truth (Jude 1:10-12).
However, the Children of Truth have a different heart, that loves people more than bigger, better, newer stuff.
The heart that loves people fulfills the Law of Truth (Romans 13:8). Those who love others as themselves, do not covet what their neighbor has (Romans 13:9). Constantly wanting bigger, better, newer stuff, just because your neighbor has it, creates ill will towards your neighbor, instead of fulfilling the Law of Truth by loving them (Romans 13:10).
That is because they know, that those that hate unjust gain, are who the Father of Truth desires to rule in His Kingdom (Exodus 18:21). They delight in the eternal Word of Truth ,instead of being lured away by bigger, better, newer stuff, that will eventually end up in the junk heap (Psalm 119:35-37). They would rather have less stuff, in order to have more peace (Proverbs 17:1). They understand that it is better to be a poor man than a liar (Proverbs 19:22). They know that refraining from desiring bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbor has it, will improve their health and prolong their days on the Earth (Proverbs 28:16).
The Children of Truth know, that having the same type of character as the Father of Truth, is real wealth, because none of that bigger, better, newer stuff is going to follow them into eternity (1 Timothy 6:6-7). The Children of Truth are content with whatever the Father of Truth has provided them, because He is their helper (Hebrews 13:5-6).
The only thing that the Children of Truth are to earnestly desire, is for the Spirit of Truth to demonstrate supernatural power through them, so that they can help more in the work of saving the human race (1 Corinthians 12:28-31). Since they know, that everything commanded in the Book of Truth, is from the Father of Truth, then they earnestly desire for the Spirit of Truth to speak through them for the good of the congregation, and do not forbid others from speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:38-40). In other words, the Children of Truth are supposed to long to hear The Sound of Power.
Why do the Children of Truth earnestly desire the long term good of other people instead of getting bigger, better, newer stuff just because their neighbors have it?
The Ministers of Truth do not desire bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbors have it, but instead demonstrate how to live like the Man of Truth lived (Acts 20:33-35). The Ministers of Truth do not tell people lies that they want to hear, as covering for their own desire to have bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbors have it (1 Thessalonians 2:4-6). These pastors are not given to greed nor desiring bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbors have it (1 Timothy 3:2-4). Those who help with administrating their congregations are not given to greed, because they have faith in the Man of Truth (1 Timothy 3:8-9). These pastors do not desire unjust gain, because they love the Father of Truth, people, and the Word of Truth (Titus 1:7-9). The elders that assist them, do so because they love the Children of Truth, instead of seeking unjust gain (1 Peter 5:1-3).
Since life is not made better by owning bigger, better, newer stuff, the Man of Truth commands the Children of Truth to avoid desiring bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbors have it (Luke 12:15). They are not to even eat with anyone, who calls themselves a Child of Truth, but desires bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbor has it (1 Corinthians 5:11). The Children of Truth are to no more go around desiring bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbors have it, than they are to go around committing sexual sins (Ephesians 5:3). The Children of Truth are not to pursue bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbors have it, but instead are to pursue of the will of the Father of Truth, because they know that He will judge the Children of Lies for this idolatry (Colossians 3:5-7).
It is important to note, that the Father of Truth is not against people getting bigger, better, newer stuff, through just gain, to fulfill His purposes for their lives. The Father of Truth gives His Children the ability to gain wealth, so that His purposes can be accomplished in the Earth (Deuteronomy 8:18). He wants the Children of Truth to be diligent in their work, so that they can prosper through just gain (Proverbs 10:4). They are supposed to sell what they produce, so others can benefit from their labor (Proverbs 11:26). He wants them to be diligent in their work, so He can raise them up to influence the government (Proverbs 22:29). He wants them to be diligent in obtaining just gain, because wealth does not last forever on its own (Proverbs 27:23-27). He says that the ideal wife is engaged in business, to take care of her family and the poor (Proverbs 31:16-24). His Children are engaged in business, to use their just gain to take care of the Ministers of Truth (Acts 16:13-15). The Father of Truth just does not want the pursuit of bigger, better, newer stuff to be the focus of the Children of Truth, like it is for the Children of Lies (James 4:2-4). The Father of Truth is not against just just gain, as long as His Children recognize, that He is the source of that just gain (James 4:13-15).
The Father of Truth is not against any of the Children of Truth being rich, but it is up to Him, who He wants to make rich for His own purposes.
Some of the greatest among the Children of Truth were made very rich by Him. Abraham (aka Abram) was very rich (Genesis 13:2). Israel (Ya'acov aka Jacob) became very rich (Genesis 36:6-8). Joseph became very rich (Genesis 41:39-42). Job was very rich (Job 1:1-3). Daniel became very rich (Daniel 2:48). Mordecai became very rich (Esther 8:15).
Yet many others, that were the greatest among the Children of Truth, were not rich on this Earth, because riches were not needed to fulfill the purposes of the Father of Truth for their lives.
The Man of Truth sometimes did not even have a place to spend the night (Matthew 8:20). Many of the prophets were likewise often destitute (Hebrews 11:36-38).
The Children of Truth are to serve His purposes, with whatever they have. The blessing of the Father of Truth cannot be measured in the accumulation of bigger, better, newer stuff.
The Children of Truth are to learn to be content, whether they have a lot of stuff, or practically nothing (Philippians 4:11-12). They can do this, because the Man of Truth who lives in them, gives them the ability to do so (Philippians 4:13). They do not have to worry about accumulating of bigger, better, newer stuff, because the Father of Truth has promised to give the Children of Truth everything, that they need to accomplish His will for their lives (Philippians 4:19-20). The Children of Truth are to be content, if they have food to eat and clothes to wear (1 Timothy 6:8). He will give them anything else that they need to accomplish His will, if they will ask Him (1 John 5:14-15).
All that really matters is the Children of Truth doing their part to fulfill the plan of the Father of Truth to save the human race, whatever that part requires.
Perhaps you want to stop endlessly pursuing bigger, better, newer stuff, just because your neighbors have it. Perhaps you are ready to get off the hamster wheel.
You see it really does you no good to be playing church, while get bigger, better, newer stuff through unjust gain (Job 27:8). It does not matter how much bigger, better, newer stuff you get, if you lose your soul in eternity, because you do not love people more than things (Matthew 16:26).
You need to come into the House of Truth, so you can store up things that will you will be able to enjoy forever (Matthew 6:19-21). The Father of Truth wants to give you something that is bigger, better, and newer than anything on Earth, if you will come into the House of Truth (Luke 12:32-34). So instead of pointlessly wearing yourself out laboring for things, that you will one day either lose or leave behind, you need to come into the House of Truth (John 6:27). None of the bigger, better, newer stuff, that you may give up to come into the House of Truth, can compare to what you will gain (Romans 8:18). You come into the House of Truth, when you make the Man of Truth your king in every area of life, because you believe that His Father raised him from the dead (Romans 10:8-10).
Come into the House of Truth.
During the late 1990s there was a tremendous demand for programmers due to the Y2K problem. The Y2K problem was that dates were stored with only two digits for the year so that when the year 2000 rolled over computers all over the world would treat year "00" as 1900 instead of 2000. This was a serious problem because in tests where the date was rolled forward to see what exactly would happen all kinds of things went wrong. What are some examples of things that seriously went wrong in these tests?
The engines of semis would not start because the computers that ensured they had mandatory maintenance would show that the last maintenance had been done 99 years earlier if the maintenance had been done in 1999. In some cases, the engines of commercial aircraft would shutdown while running for the same reason. The air traffic control systems in like manner would shut down as well. Every large corporation and government organization ran tests, looked at the results and came to the same conclusion - if the Y2K problem was not fixed when the year 2000 (Y2K) began then everything in the world that was relied on computers was going to shutdown. Why did companies and governments insist on using two digit years if it would eventually cause such problems?
The first computer had been invented in America by Herman Hollerith in 1889. He found a company in New York that would later be known as IBM. From that time until late 1990s computer storage was very expensive. In fact, when I got ram in the early 1990s at $25 per megabyte (MB) people were impressed with my negotiating skills. This is why dates kept being stored with two digit years. Yet everyone who worked in IT (Information Technology) knew that this was a ticking time bomb that would have to be defused before the year 2000. So why did companies wait until two years before 2000 to start defusing this time bomb?
Even though their own tests and studies showed that the longer companies waited to fix the Y2K problem the harder it would be to fix and the more it would cost, for the most part they just put it off year after year in the 1990s so it would not impact their earnings for that year. Then suddenly every company started desperately trying to fix it at the same time. This drove up the wages of those of us with the right skills to unheard of levels. I was stopped in the middle of my interview and asked when I could start because I had those skills. I was offered more money per hour than any other time in my life and I could work all the hours that I could stand. The company that was interviewing me was desperate and wanted to be sure that they got my services before someone else did. Suddenly, like most companies, this problem that they had been warned about for years but had ignored was now being treated as a matter of life and death for the company.
What caused all of these companies to suddenly treat Y2K as a life threatening crisis? Was it the fact that airplanes full of passengers could fall out of the sky? Was it the prospect of rolling blackouts that would shutdown the power grid in the northeast corridor of the US that serviced 60 million people in the dead of winter? Was it the certainty that the semis which carried food to cities across the US would come to a grinding halt and possibly cause food shortages? Was it the prospect of people dying in hospitals due to medical equipment ceasing to operate?
No, it was due what happened to a power company in western Oregon that also serviced part of northwest California and southwest Washington. This company had a complete shutdown in 1997 due to a Y2K problem from its predictive systems showing that certain vital equipment was 97 years old and overdue for replacement. The power company was sued by all three states for their neglect in causing so many people to be without power. This lawsuit not only went against the company but also against all of the officers from the CEO all the way down to the director level. The company lost and all of the officers suffered severe financial punishment as a result.
A legal magazine picked up the story and stated that the legal industry stood to make one trillion dollars off of the Y2K problem because it was not being fixed. When those in charge of other corporations realized that they could personally be sued then it was suddenly a matter of life and death. They were suddenly willing drain the coffers of their companies to protect their own personal assets. Nothing was as important to them as protecting their endless pursuit of getting bigger, better, newer things.
I must be quick to point out that the officers of these companies really did not act any different than most Americans. Most Americans are on a hamster wheel of pursing bigger, better, newer things instead of taking care of other people. America has a long history of putting the acquisition of bigger, better, newer things in front of pretty much everything else most of the time. After all, the word "America" comes from two Spanish words that mean "lover of riches".
This is why America tends to ignore the judgment of the Father of Truth (Yahoveh aka Yahweh aka God aka The Lord) for its sins when those judgments come in the form of natural disasters like hurricanes, huge wars like WWI and plagues like the flu outbreak of 1918-1919 that killed close to a million Americans. It was only when He stopped their acquisition of bigger, better, newer things with the stock market crash of 1929 that Americans took notice and began to repent of their sins in the 1930s.
This is not to say that Americans have a monopoly on greed. Among the many inventions of the Americans, like the computer, greed cannot be included. People were placing the pursuit of bigger, better, newer things over the welfare of other people long before Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492.
There has never been a country that did not have part of its population infected with greed. There have always been people that place the pursuit of bigger, better, newer things over the welfare of other people.
Most Americans, like many people who live in other countries, are in constant pursuit of bigger, better, newer things that they do not really need. This endless pursuit of bigger, better, newer things is driven by the desire to have things at just because their neighbors have them. Americans refer to it as "keeping up with the Jones".
This desire of people to have things at just because their neighbors have them has several motives. One motive is the desire to have what belongs to their neighbor.
The Law of Truth (Torah aka The Law) commands people to not desire (covet) anything that belongs to their neighbor (Exodus 20:17). In fact, this is the last of the Ten Commandments that The Father of Truth personally spoke to the Children of Israel at Mount Sinai (Deuteronomy 5:21-22). The Renewed Covenant (B'rit Chadashah aka The New Testament) also calls this desire to have things that belong to your neighbor a sin (Romans 7:7). This should be no surprise because the Renewed Covenant defines sin as transgressing the Law of Truth (1 John 3:4).
So the most commonly broken commandment in the Ten Commandments in America is probably the least understood of all of the commandments by the average church goer in America. Many American church goers might be wondering what is so wrong with endlessly desiring bigger, better, newer stuff?
Well, for one thing people are tempted to look for ways to gain more money unjustly so they can continue to acquire bigger, better, newer things. Unjust gain is any financial gain that comes from breaking any commandment of the Law of Truth because those commandments are holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12). Those that love other people do not break those commandments in order to get bigger, better, newer things (Galatians 5:14).
These commandments include things like charging each other fair prices for goods and services (Leviticus 25:14). The Renewed Covenant says the same things. People are to charge no more than the true value of their services (Luke 3:12-13). They are not use violence or say anything false to gain wealth but are to be content with the wages they agreed to work for (Luke 3:14).
The Law of Truth says many other things that are not just to gain from. It says that it is not just to gain by working seven days a week (Exodus 20:9-10). It says that it is not just to gain by neglecting to take care of your parents (Exodus 20:12). It says that it is not just to gain by stealing (Exodus 20:15). It says that it is not just to gain by lying about other people (Exodus 20:16). It says that it is not just to gain by holding on to every last thing that is produced through your efforts for yourself (Leviticus 19:9-10). It says that it is not just to gain by dealing or swearing falsely (Leviticus 19:11-12). It says that it is not just to gain by taking advantage of the foreigner that works for you in any manner including pay (Leviticus 19:33-34). It says that it is not just to gain by not measuring what is sold fairly and accurately (Leviticus 19:35-36). It says that it is not just to gain by not paying tithes to take care of His ministers (Numbers 18:26-28). It says that it is not just to gain by taking the means of production from someone else (Deuteronomy 24:6).
In short, unjust gain comes from breaking the royal law of the Book of Truth - loving your neighbor as yourself (James 2:8).
Greed, coveting and unjust gain are so intertwined that the same Hebrew root word is usually used for all three of these words. In fact, often where it is translated as some form of covet or greed it would be more clear if it had been translated as unjust gain. Greed and coveting are the motivations that cause people to pursue unjust gain.
Those that acquire unjust gain find that their endless pursuit of bigger, better, newer stuff is draining the very life out of them (Proverbs 1:19). They seem clueless that this pursuit of bigger, better, newer stuff is destroying their home life (Proverbs 15:27). They look to casinos and lotteries as a replacement for hard work and ingenuity to get bigger, better, newer stuff instead of providing honest work to obtain wealth so they can take care of others (Proverbs 21:25-26). They cannot see the poverty that their get-rich-quick schemes will bring (Proverbs 28:22). They do not foresee the loneliness that their pursuit will bring (Ecclesiastes 4:8). They can never have enough stuff to satisfy the emptiness in their souls (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Their pursuit of bigger, better, newer things leaves them no time to actually enjoy what they already own (Ecclesiastes 5:11). They are robbed of sleep from concern over keeping up in the race to obtain bigger, better, newer stuff (Ecclesiastes 5:12). They do not understand that they can never be satisfied with bigger, better, newer stuff for good times do not last forever (Isaiah 56:10-12). The endless desire for bigger, better, newer stuff causes them to oppress others with violence (Jeremiah 22:17). They do not understand that the pursuit of bigger, better, newer stuff will destroy them because the love of money is the root cause of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
The Man of Truth (Yeshua HaMashiach aka Jesus Christ) says that coveting comes from an evil heart (Mark 7:21-23). This evil heart that covets comes from ignoring the Father of Truth when making decisions (Romans 1:28-29). Those with this evil heart that desires bigger, better, newer stuff just because their neighbors have it do not know the His ways (Ephesians 4:17-19).
Those with this evil heart persecute the poor to get bigger, better, newer stuff because they do not consider the Father of Truth when they make their decisions (Psalm 10:2-4). They commit every kind of evil to get bigger, better, newer stuff because they have forgotten the Father of Truth (Ezekiel 22:12).
Those with this evil heart do not consider that the Father of Truth will smite those that pursue bigger, better, newer stuff instead of love (Isaiah 57:17). They consider not that no one will escape the judgment of the Father of Truth against those that do such things (Micah 2:1-3). They have deluded themselves into believing that all of this bigger, better, newer stuff will save them from His wrath (Habakkuk 2:9). They act like the Father of Truth will not judge them for oppressing the foreign worker or those in dire circumstances by paying them less than the regular wage for their work (Malachi 3:5). They do not understand that all who want bigger, better, newer stuff just because their neighbors have it will not inherit His Kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
How can so many church goers in America be so trapped in the pursuit of bigger, better, newer stuff?
They are trapped because so many of them attend congregations where the religious professionals are Ministers of Lies.
The Ministers of Lies do not warn their congregations to not spend their lives in pursuit of bigger, better, newer stuff because they are doing the same thing (Jeremiah 6:13). They do not heed what the warning in the Book of Truth (the Bible) of judgment for pursuing bigger, better, newer stuff instead of love but will instead tell their congregations the lie that the Father of Truth will not judge anyone (Jeremiah 8:9-11). The Ministers of Lies lead their congregations in hearing His Word and singing His praises while also leading them to not do what He says because they earnestly desire bigger, better, newer stuff just because their neighbors have it (Ezekiel 33:30-32). They mock the Ministers of Truth who tell people, that they cannot serve the desire for bigger, better, newer stuff, and the desires of the Father of Truth, at the same time (Luke 16:13-15). These Ministers of Lies do not warn others that those who desire bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbors have it, will not have an inheritance in the Kingdom of the Man of Truth and His Father, because they are engaged in idolatry (Ephesians 5:5). Since they will not submit to the Man of Truth in every area of their lives, then they reject the truth, and instead teach that the blessing of the Father of Truth can be measured in the accumulation of bigger, better, newer stuff (1 Timothy 6:3-5). They earnestly desire bigger, better, newer stuff, and they are just putting on a religious show, while denying that the Spirit of Truth (Ruach HaQodesh aka The Holy Spirit aka The Holy Ghost) demonstrates power in the congregations of the Children of Truth (those that obey the Father of Truth because they love Him) today (2 Timothy 3:2-5). They teach lies, instead of the truth, in order to obtain unjust gain (Titus 1:10-11). These Teachers of Lies will speak against the Children of Truth, and lie to their congregations, because they want to sell merchandise to their congregations, to feed their own desire for bigger, better, newer stuff (2 Peter 2:1-3). They have drank their own kool-aid, and do not understand, that they too will perish under the judgment of the Father of Truth for pursuing bigger, better, newer stuff, instead of love (2 Peter 2:12-14). They will meet the same end as previous rebels against the Father of Truth (Jude 1:10-12).
However, the Children of Truth have a different heart, that loves people more than bigger, better, newer stuff.
The heart that loves people fulfills the Law of Truth (Romans 13:8). Those who love others as themselves, do not covet what their neighbor has (Romans 13:9). Constantly wanting bigger, better, newer stuff, just because your neighbor has it, creates ill will towards your neighbor, instead of fulfilling the Law of Truth by loving them (Romans 13:10).
That is because they know, that those that hate unjust gain, are who the Father of Truth desires to rule in His Kingdom (Exodus 18:21). They delight in the eternal Word of Truth ,instead of being lured away by bigger, better, newer stuff, that will eventually end up in the junk heap (Psalm 119:35-37). They would rather have less stuff, in order to have more peace (Proverbs 17:1). They understand that it is better to be a poor man than a liar (Proverbs 19:22). They know that refraining from desiring bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbor has it, will improve their health and prolong their days on the Earth (Proverbs 28:16).
The Children of Truth know, that having the same type of character as the Father of Truth, is real wealth, because none of that bigger, better, newer stuff is going to follow them into eternity (1 Timothy 6:6-7). The Children of Truth are content with whatever the Father of Truth has provided them, because He is their helper (Hebrews 13:5-6).
The only thing that the Children of Truth are to earnestly desire, is for the Spirit of Truth to demonstrate supernatural power through them, so that they can help more in the work of saving the human race (1 Corinthians 12:28-31). Since they know, that everything commanded in the Book of Truth, is from the Father of Truth, then they earnestly desire for the Spirit of Truth to speak through them for the good of the congregation, and do not forbid others from speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:38-40). In other words, the Children of Truth are supposed to long to hear The Sound of Power.
Why do the Children of Truth earnestly desire the long term good of other people instead of getting bigger, better, newer stuff just because their neighbors have it?
The Ministers of Truth do not desire bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbors have it, but instead demonstrate how to live like the Man of Truth lived (Acts 20:33-35). The Ministers of Truth do not tell people lies that they want to hear, as covering for their own desire to have bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbors have it (1 Thessalonians 2:4-6). These pastors are not given to greed nor desiring bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbors have it (1 Timothy 3:2-4). Those who help with administrating their congregations are not given to greed, because they have faith in the Man of Truth (1 Timothy 3:8-9). These pastors do not desire unjust gain, because they love the Father of Truth, people, and the Word of Truth (Titus 1:7-9). The elders that assist them, do so because they love the Children of Truth, instead of seeking unjust gain (1 Peter 5:1-3).
Since life is not made better by owning bigger, better, newer stuff, the Man of Truth commands the Children of Truth to avoid desiring bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbors have it (Luke 12:15). They are not to even eat with anyone, who calls themselves a Child of Truth, but desires bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbor has it (1 Corinthians 5:11). The Children of Truth are to no more go around desiring bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbors have it, than they are to go around committing sexual sins (Ephesians 5:3). The Children of Truth are not to pursue bigger, better, newer stuff, just because their neighbors have it, but instead are to pursue of the will of the Father of Truth, because they know that He will judge the Children of Lies for this idolatry (Colossians 3:5-7).
It is important to note, that the Father of Truth is not against people getting bigger, better, newer stuff, through just gain, to fulfill His purposes for their lives. The Father of Truth gives His Children the ability to gain wealth, so that His purposes can be accomplished in the Earth (Deuteronomy 8:18). He wants the Children of Truth to be diligent in their work, so that they can prosper through just gain (Proverbs 10:4). They are supposed to sell what they produce, so others can benefit from their labor (Proverbs 11:26). He wants them to be diligent in their work, so He can raise them up to influence the government (Proverbs 22:29). He wants them to be diligent in obtaining just gain, because wealth does not last forever on its own (Proverbs 27:23-27). He says that the ideal wife is engaged in business, to take care of her family and the poor (Proverbs 31:16-24). His Children are engaged in business, to use their just gain to take care of the Ministers of Truth (Acts 16:13-15). The Father of Truth just does not want the pursuit of bigger, better, newer stuff to be the focus of the Children of Truth, like it is for the Children of Lies (James 4:2-4). The Father of Truth is not against just just gain, as long as His Children recognize, that He is the source of that just gain (James 4:13-15).
The Father of Truth is not against any of the Children of Truth being rich, but it is up to Him, who He wants to make rich for His own purposes.
Some of the greatest among the Children of Truth were made very rich by Him. Abraham (aka Abram) was very rich (Genesis 13:2). Israel (Ya'acov aka Jacob) became very rich (Genesis 36:6-8). Joseph became very rich (Genesis 41:39-42). Job was very rich (Job 1:1-3). Daniel became very rich (Daniel 2:48). Mordecai became very rich (Esther 8:15).
Yet many others, that were the greatest among the Children of Truth, were not rich on this Earth, because riches were not needed to fulfill the purposes of the Father of Truth for their lives.
The Man of Truth sometimes did not even have a place to spend the night (Matthew 8:20). Many of the prophets were likewise often destitute (Hebrews 11:36-38).
The Children of Truth are to serve His purposes, with whatever they have. The blessing of the Father of Truth cannot be measured in the accumulation of bigger, better, newer stuff.
The Children of Truth are to learn to be content, whether they have a lot of stuff, or practically nothing (Philippians 4:11-12). They can do this, because the Man of Truth who lives in them, gives them the ability to do so (Philippians 4:13). They do not have to worry about accumulating of bigger, better, newer stuff, because the Father of Truth has promised to give the Children of Truth everything, that they need to accomplish His will for their lives (Philippians 4:19-20). The Children of Truth are to be content, if they have food to eat and clothes to wear (1 Timothy 6:8). He will give them anything else that they need to accomplish His will, if they will ask Him (1 John 5:14-15).
All that really matters is the Children of Truth doing their part to fulfill the plan of the Father of Truth to save the human race, whatever that part requires.
Perhaps you want to stop endlessly pursuing bigger, better, newer stuff, just because your neighbors have it. Perhaps you are ready to get off the hamster wheel.
You see it really does you no good to be playing church, while get bigger, better, newer stuff through unjust gain (Job 27:8). It does not matter how much bigger, better, newer stuff you get, if you lose your soul in eternity, because you do not love people more than things (Matthew 16:26).
You need to come into the House of Truth, so you can store up things that will you will be able to enjoy forever (Matthew 6:19-21). The Father of Truth wants to give you something that is bigger, better, and newer than anything on Earth, if you will come into the House of Truth (Luke 12:32-34). So instead of pointlessly wearing yourself out laboring for things, that you will one day either lose or leave behind, you need to come into the House of Truth (John 6:27). None of the bigger, better, newer stuff, that you may give up to come into the House of Truth, can compare to what you will gain (Romans 8:18). You come into the House of Truth, when you make the Man of Truth your king in every area of life, because you believe that His Father raised him from the dead (Romans 10:8-10).
Come into the House of Truth.
posted by The House Of Truth @ April 27, 2014
<< Home