STAY RICH : The new sermon series for September by Pastor Muriithi Wanjau
Money is often a sensitive issue when talked about in relationships, workplace, family, business etc. It gets even more uncomfortable when discussed in church.Many prosperity pastors have turned off Christians from hearing any preaching regarding money. This is because of the way they have packaged it. However, it is important to discuss money and know what God says about money.
Did you know that Jesus talked about money in the bible more than he did about heaven, prayer and healing? Yes, Jesus talks about use of money and what God has to say about this great resource.
The Bible has specific instruction for rich people. Paul, an apostle of Jesus was writing to his protege regarding riches in 1st Timothy 6:17-19
"WARN them that are rich in this world, that they be NOT high-minded nor trust in certain RICHES, but in the living God, who gives us RICHLY all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute(SHARE) willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good FOUNDATION against the time to come, that they may lay hold on ETERNAL LIFE."
Do you have or knew a friend who was once from a humble background, kind, happy, content with no money would come to visit you with torn slippers but still afford to put a smile on his face... then they got RICH? Something about him changed! he stopped caring, he become arrogant, he changed friends his new phone came with a new number- he was not the same person you knew. This is what happens when one gets extremely rich.
Below are the top 3 side effects of wealth.
1. DENIAL
Rich people suffer from denial! they can never admit that they are doing well. This has nothing to do with being humble its is just plain Denial. Ever wondered why your rich uncle never offered to pay your tuition fees when you were sent home to fetch the fee balance? They just don't think they are rich enough to start dishing out Handouts. They are in DENIAL.
2.DISCONTENTMENT
Discontentment is a restless longing for better circumstances. When you feed an appetite, it increases the urge to want more and more. The same applies to money- the more you have the more you want. Rich people are in a culture called upgrade. They upgrade everything and anything- they take something that works perfectly and replace it with a newer version for example, only the rich would stand in front of a wardrobe full of clothes, shoes, and jewelry and say they don't have anything to wear.
Their appetite have been fed and now they just want more and more.
3. HOPE MIGRATION
Wealth has a way of shifting your focus from trusting God to believing in riches and earthly treasures. You stop putting your hope in God and start believing that money can do everything for you like pay health insurance, pay your children's tuition fees, buy a good house or (in Kenya) bribe your way into getting a drivers license
"Get Rich or Die Trying" is what they all say. Never has it been said that, "Get Saved or Die trying."
Proverbs 10:15 "The rich mans' wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor is their poverty"
the poor tend to be more generous that the rich because they don't believe that their wealth will protect them from sickness, robbery or even divorce.
**** This could be your story, you were once in a position where you thought money can solve your problems. You said if only I could get money to pay my fees, my life will change forever and I will never as for anything I will be so content.
Maybe you are praying for your dream job and telling God that if he gave you your hearts desire, you will forever worship him and proclaim his goodness. You finally get what you wanted and your hope began to migrate. You begin to desire for more.
The truth is that as human beings, we will never be satisfied with what we have we will always hunger for more.
Therefore, I Urge you all not to put your HOPE in riches but put your HOPE on the one who RICHLY provides.
WRITTEN BY A COP:
Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or a loved one's life. In daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation... This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, & everyone you know. After reading these 9 crucial tips, forward them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.
1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do :The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!
2. Learned this from a tourist guide. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse,
DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you... Chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse.
RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!
3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy.. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.
4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.
DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head,
and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR ,
LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE..
If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, Repeat:
DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.
5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
A.) Be aware:look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor ,
and in the back seat.
B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door.
Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women
are attempting to get into their cars. C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side.. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)
6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)
7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN!
The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then,
it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!
8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.
9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late
and she thought it was weird.. The police told her 'Whatever you do, DO NOT
open the door..' The lady then said that it sounded like the baby
had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way,
whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.' He told her that they think a serial killer
has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby.. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.
10. Water scam! If you wake up in the middle of the night to hear all your taps outside running or what you think is a burst pipe, DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE! These people turn on all your outside taps full blast so that you will go out to investigate and then attack.
Stay alert, keep safe, and look out for your neighbors! Please pass this on
This e-mail should probably be taken seriously because the Crying Baby Theory was mentioned on America 's Most Wanted when they profiled
the serial killer in Louisiana
I'd like you to forward this to all the women you know.
It may save a life. A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle..
I was going to send this to the ladies only,
but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc.,
you may want to pass it onto them, as well.
Send this to any woman you know that may need
to be reminded that the world we live in has a lot of crazies in it
and it's better to be safe than sorry..
Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or
a loved one's life.
