OH, TO REALLY LIVE!
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. —Matthew 4:4
Just yesterday I went to one of my “fishing pools” to see who the Lord might have me talk with. I greeted a man who was there and he introduced himself. I had heard about this man, but had not met him. He is very wealthy and can have just about anything money can buy. He told me how he lived in Israel 1 month each year for the last 6 years and how he was looking to lease a field there for 25 years so Israelites and Palestinian children could play soccer together. He also told me that there are no mortgages on any of his property and that, not too long ago, he sat with the Dali Lama and planned translations of technical books in other lands so people could enter the modern world. He would foot the bill to do this and he told me other things. At one point I asked, “Could I show you something of great value?” He said, “What is it?” I handed him a Lamb Pamphlet (https://new-hopechurch.com/mans-greatest-need/) and said, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” We then talked about Jesus… Please pray for this man, Arnie, that he might truly come to the Lord.
There are many people like Arnie who can have just about any material thing money can buy, but that is not really living. Focusing on the material aspect of existence is only existing. What is the purpose? Is it true that “He who dies with the most toys wins?” I think not! Actually, I know that is not true. Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15). It is not wrong to have wealth as long as the wealth does not have us and is our god.
The above verse tells us that man should not live just on bread (the material), but he is also to feed and live by the Word of God (the spiritual). People who are seeking to live only by the material are “dead in your transgressions and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). Man was made to have relationship with God and not just to live for the stuff.
This is borne out in the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:13-21. This is how it will be for those who “store up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” They are not ready for death or to meet God. These type people are so focused on themselves that they do not even consider their relationship with God. But, a person can be a “Poor Fool” as well if they also do not consider their relationship with God.
Now, if the verse above is true, and it is, are we reading, listening and applying His Word, feeding on His Word, living for Him or are we living like Christian Atheists— saying we believe but really living like He does not exist or have anything to do with our lives? Oh, that we truly would have a hunger to hear Him speak to us, be obedient— showing our love for Him (John 14:21). May it be so!
Dear Father, thank You that we have Your Word. Oh, how grateful we are that You communicated to us so we could understand Your desires and our need. May we not just say we believe, but may we truly live like it in the authority of Jesus and by the Holy Spirit’s power.