PODCAST
Hardened By Hoarding
November 19th, 2012
James 5:1-6
It is wise to consider rainy days and hard times and prepare for days of retirement. But to hoard is selfish. We must keep in mind God’s promise. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). These days of economic hardship can cause us to worry and hoarding selfishly at the expense of service to others.
In Luke 12, Jesus tells about a man so busy taking care of himself that he hoarded his wealth. When his wealth exceeded his capacity, he increased his barns instead of helping others. That night God required an accounting. Luke 16 tells of another selfish man who would not help a beggar who lay in front of his house. After death he looked through the flames of eternal punishment and saw Lazarus the beggar in eternal glory. These men did not perish because they were rich, but because they hoarded selfishly at the expense of others.
When one puts more emphasis on saving instead of giving, the heart becomes hardened toward the needs of others.
November 19th, 2012 at 7:15 am
“When one puts more emphasis on saving instead of giving, the heart becomes hardened toward the needs of others.”
The heart does seem to harden or soften according to the choices we make.
In researching the scriptures in regards to this, sometimes God hardens our hearts and sometimes we do. Therefore, it comes down to the issue of “free will” or “destiny.” With the belief of “freedom of choice,” we must go to HIS nature of ever-present (Psalm 46:1), all-knowing (Isaiah 55:9), and all-powerful (Psalm 147:5) to conclude that HE “knows our choices before we make them” (all knowing). Therefore, He made our bodies to reflect HIS Will regarding our choices (all powerful); and is ever-present to help us change our mind regarding the choices we are going to make.