It'$ all about the Benjamin$

I'm sure everyone, including those who don't read

the bible, has heard

"Money is the root of all evil"

which comes from 1 Timothy chapter 6.

Now I don't ever really talk about money

in my blogs or on my website,

but what I talk about isn't important per say.

What is important is Gods word, and what

he has to say about money, and money

is mentioned more then a few times

in the bible.

I've mentioned giving and what not,

and probably Matthew 6:21 and Matthew 6:24

"For where your treasure is, there your

heart will be also."

"No one can serve two masters.

Either he will hate one and love

the other, or he will be devoted

to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve both God and money."

Thats kind of a given right?

I mean you can't put money first,

you can't make it your whole life

and just throw God in on occasion.

The truth is you can't put anything above God,

as i've said before, because whatever you put first

is essentially your god(your idol).

"A faithful man will be richly blessed,

but one eager to get rich will not go

unpunished."

Proverbs 28:20

The fact of the matter is money shouldn't be a worry,

getting rich not a priority. God wants you to be happy,

and he will always provide for you if you

just have F.A.I.T.H. Sure, easier said then done..right?

specially in this day and age, and right now with the whole

"economy thing" where we are told to do nothing but

worry. Isn't the creator of all things more important

then a piece of paper? Not to mention he created

this whole universe correct? and everything in it?

and you are worried about money?

worried about if he will provide enough for you?

and let us remember what Jesus said to the rich man

"How hard it is for the rich to enter

the kingdom of heaven"

Mark 10:23

For the rich man was asking how

he can inherit eternal life,

and Jesus told him you know the commandments,

and the man replied that he has kept them

since he was a boy. Jesus then said

the man lacked one thing, and he told him

to go sell everything he has and give it to the poor,

and the man went away sad.

Is Jesus saying everyone has to

live in rags and have no money,

give all we have away? No...

the point was Jesus knew the man

was putting money before God,

and he proved it when he asked the man

to give up everything, and he didn't want to.

I think we all should think about that,

would we be willing to give up all we have

to follow Jesus Christ? and ask yourself that

question, and reply seriously, for sure it would be

easy to say "Hell YES!" but saying and doing are

two different things are they not?

I'd struggle at first to be honest, if one day

I woke up and the roof over my head was gone,

and I had nothing but the clothes on my back,

but I know I'd come around and put my life

in His hands knowing full well he doesn't want

me to suffer and he will provide my true needs.

If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not

agree to the sound instruction of our Lord

Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,

he is conceited and understand nothing.

He has an unhealthy interest in controversies

and quarrels about words that result in envy,

strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction

between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed

of the truth and who think that godliness is a means

to financial gain.

1 Timothy 6:3-5

Something that gets under my skin, is

people that use God for a profit.

"I'll heal you....just give me money"

and the ever so popular

"Do what God says and follow his word, so

he will bless you with riches"

I don't seek God to get "blessings"...

God is not a get rich quick scheme,

and don't get it twisted...I'm not saying

God won't look out for his flock, that

he wont provide for us.

I'm saying if you are only seeking God

because what you really want is money and "blessings"

then you are a fool, yes YOU ARE A FOOL.

First of all, God judges the heart,

so it's not like he can't see what you

really want, and once again

deep down you are putting money above God,

and hence you are breaking the number one commandment...

"Do not worship any other god"

but lets continue with 1 Timothy chapter 6

before I go off into a rant about false teachers.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into the world,

and we can take nothing out of it. But

if we have food and clothing, we will be

content with that. People who want to get rich

fall into temptation and a trap and into many

foolish and harmful desires that plunge men

into ruin and destruction. For the love of money

is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people,

eager for money, have wandered from the faith

and pierced themselves with many griefs.

But you, man of God, flee from all this,

and pursue righteousness, godliness,

faith,love, endurance and gentleness. Fight

the good fight of the faith.

1 Timothy 6:6-12

For we brought nothing into the world,

and we can take nothing out of it.

That says it all right there, those who have

there eyes on money and being rich...

better enjoy this short life while they can,

because the next will be far from enjoyable.

May God bless you and keep you...

and your eyes be opened to see,

and your ears to hear.

Ecclesiastes 2:1

In these times of struggle

with the economy and people losing jobs

depression and suicide rates increase

that may be a given to most of us,

obviously when we are struggling with bills,

and just living in general, then depression and suicide will

rear their heads. However even in times of plenty

they will appear as well.

I'm sure everyone has heard the expression

"Money doesn't buy you happiness"

and to be honest when I hear that

I just think:" I dunno...I think it would make me pretty happy

if I were to get a million bucks"

but you see that is not the point,

sure you would be happy with a big paycheck

or if you just won millions of dollars

but the thing is, life isn't about things

you'll only be happy for so long.

Once you become so use to having a lot of money

you'll only want more and more and for what?

a bigger house? bigger tv? bigger boat? new cars?

they're just things...things we can't take with us

The problem is in todays media

and just the worlds mindset in general

we are raised to think life is about money...

it's about you and what makes YOU happy.

Don't get me wrong...i'm not saying if I won the lotto

or a crap load of money fell into my lap

I wouldn't be happy, what I am saying

is if I let it consume me and I put money above God..

it's only going to become a burden to me.

Lets take someone like Kurt Cobain for an example,

people look at him and wonder why he killed himself,

I mean he had it all right? he had people

eating up anything he said...he had money...he had fame..

and while there was obviously drugs and others things involved

the main thing is... money couldn't buy him happiness,

and neither could fame. The fact is Kurt Cobain

didn't even want the fame in the end or so he claimed,

Cobain reached the top he crafted something new in music.

Cobain was searching for the point of it all,

what is life about? Once he made the top. he probably thought

is this all there is? I'm suppose to be happy right?

but he wasn't happy. because what does a man gain

from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?

as it says in Ecclesiastes.

When people make there life about wealth and success..

what happens when they reach that goal of theirs? what happens

when they become so huge it was beyond

what they even thought they could be?

When they truly ask "Is this all there is? and what's the point"

all you've earned all you work hard for it's all just going

to get passed down as you are forgotten.

If we don't put God first nothing and I mean nothing

in this world will ever make us happy.

Am I saying people who don't put God first

can never smile or feel happiness?

no..I'm saying they will never be truly happy

they will never be fulfilled.

They will just keep searching for the next big thing.

We were created in Gods image right?

and what is Gods image?

who is God?

what is he like?

Will to be short and sweet about it God is LOVE,

God wants to give love freely but at the same time

also receive love. Don't all of us in the end

want love? Can you love money?

sure you can but can it love you back?

Who or what is the only thing that can Love

you more then you could ever imagine,

more then the sand on the sea shore?

I believe thats God right?

God is the one in the end who allows happiness right?

money..pleasure happiness it's all meaningless

unless we know the giver.

Through trusting God and putting your faith in him

all things are possible.

God will never let you down...never leave you...never forsake you

never say "I don't even want to talk to you"

God is always there for YOU!

us as... human nature screw up...

we let each-other down we fight with eachother

but God is always just plain and simple...

LOVE

Take a look at what Ecclesiastes says about

wealth and accomplishments and putting

them above God...

I thought in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with

pleasure to find out what is good." but that also

proved to be meaningless. "laughter," I said, "is

foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?"

I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly

my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to

see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven

during the few days of their lives.

I undertook great projects: I built houses

for myself and planted vineyards. I made

gardens and parks and planted all kinds

of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs

to water groves of flourishing trees.

I bought male and female slaves

and had other slaves who were born in my house.

I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone

in jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold

for myself. and the treasure of kings and

provinces. I acquired men and women singers,

and a harem as well-the delights of the heart of man.

I became greater by far than anyone in jerusalem

before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;

I refused my heart no pleasure.

My heart took delight in all my work,

and this was the reward for all my labor.

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands

had done and what I had toiled to achieve,

everything was meaningless, a chasing

after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11