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Blessed are poor by for theirs is the kingdom of God. For Christ, who was rich, became poor, that the poor through his poverty, can become rich.
M
G O D
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André Cronje
Copyright
Licensed for personal enrichment and may be used for edification and motivation. No part may be reproduced for profit or resale.
André Cronje © 2020 Copyright
Conceptual Art by André
A special honor to King James.
Contents
Copyright
1. Jesus on Finance
2. A Bad Deal
3. The Love Of Money
4. My Brother’s Inheritance
5. Cash In The Bank
6. Jesus And The Rich Kid
7. The Good Thief
8. Who’s The Boss
9. Equal Pay For Everyone
10. Increase And Prosperity
11. Failure Is Not Fatal
12. Business Lunch With Jesus
13. God’s Provision
14. The Blessed Man
15. Charitable Donations
16. The Prophet And The Prostitute
17. Miraculous Provision
18. Overnight Express
19. A Rich Man’s Bio
20. Warning To The Rich
21. A Blessing for You
The Author's BookClub
1. Jesus on Finance
In God and Money, you will read real financial stories and find practical applications to spiritual laws taught by Jesus on finance and how to lay up treasure for yourself in heaven. Ultimately you will discover an inheritance, that you knew little or nothing about, as it is revealed in God’s word. God is upright and dependable and does not lie. What is better than rubies? And of all the things that you can desire, there is one thing that cannot be compared to it. Wisdom, wisdom says, receive my instruction and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold. Riches and honor are with me, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my revenue better than choice silver. I will cause them who love me to inherit substance, and I will fill their treasures.
The teachings of Jesus are nothing short of radical. The people recognized that because he taught them with authority and not like the hypocrites who never do. His message provoked love and obedience for his Father's kingdom. Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Jesus often taught financial wisdom and success. After hearing him and seeing the richness and terror of the kingdom, a Tax collector came to his senses and decided to change, and to obey Jesus by giving half of his possessions to the poor, and restoring with interest, the money he gained from his white-collar crimes. He also taught financial principles that would enable any man to get a bank account in heaven. This was the good news to the poor. Not how to get rich in this world but to be rich towards God first. And he never scammed people out of their money either. Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God he commanded. And when you follow his teachings as it is written in God's word you will prosper. And if thieves would come to rob you naked, or the acts of God sweep away precious belongings that you still may take comfort in knowing, that he who keeps your soul, will keep you as the apple of his eye.
Three years Jesus moved around Israel doing good and healing the sick. But it was never a breeze in the wind. Once he said, foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the son of man has no place to lay his head to rest. Paul said I count all things as dung that I may win him. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. But if you do it your way, you will lose all, and nothing gained. Christ became a curse so that the blessings of Abraham may come on the gentile nations. Once, strangers to the commonwealth of Israel, but now co-heirs with Christ in God’s kingdom. This gospel was preached to Abraham that in his seed all the nations of the world would be blessed. Many say I am rich and have increased with goods, and need nothing, yet they don’t know how wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked they really are. Come and buy from me gold tried in the fire that you may be truly rich, and salve for your eyes that you may see, and a robe to cover you that the shame of your nakedness not be exposed.
Jesus was often invited to dinner by the rich and influential leaders of his day. One time he responded to an invitation by saying the following. When you prepare a dinner call not your friends, nor your brethren, neither your family nor your rich neighbors. Lest they also return the favor by inviting you, and so you receive payback for your kindness. Instead, prepare a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind. So will you be blessed? For they can’t return the favor. Then will you be rewarded at the resurrection of the just? For what you have done to the least of these you have done it unto me. So pour out your soul to the poor and the light of your rising will shine brighter and your healing will also spring forth at the same time. Remember the fatherless orphans and widows without husbands, do not forget to do them good.
If gold is God's money, then take God's advice on this matter. After Jesus went to his Father, two of his disciples, who were on their way to the temple to pray, passed a disabled beggar who was cripple from his youth. He wanted some alms, but they had none. So Peter said to him, look at us, silver and gold have I none, but as what I have we give you to you. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up and walk. And he grabbed the lame man by the hand, and immediately he stood to his feet and started to jump and shout for joy. Jesus said, invest not here on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Instead, lay up for yourself treasures in heaven, where there is no corruption or deflation. Start today to invest in your eternity, for you are here just a short time. Even the poor can afford it, but the rich will not invest where they have no interest.
2. A Bad Deal
Now everybody knows how to spend money, but the secret on how to make money is a pearl on a necklace. And when you seek those clues and put them to work, then money and opportunities will make room for you. Everyone has their own way of doing business that works for them. Some prefer the easy route to fortunes, while the wiser stick to hard work that eventually pays off. But have you ever thought about what God says of wealth and riches? The bible states that Christ became poor to make many rich. But isn't it good news to the poor, that they too can be rich? And for the poor living in poverty, it certainly is good. How can anyone dispute that this is not God's will for them? Is it not written that God makes rich and God makes poor? And is it not right and comely for one to eat and drink and to enjoy the good of all his labor under the sun, all the days of his life, which is his portion from God? Who wants to stay poor anyway? Poverty is a curse, they say, but why is some poor much happier than certain rich and famous? Of course, they suffer, and riches do offer comfort against most severe weather, but it's not to be trusted as the answer to everything. The thoughts of God and the imagination of man are not the same. Indeed, God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that loves him, giving them an inheritance, they never had. This is the grace of our Lord Jesus that though he was rich, yet for our sake, he became poor, that we by his poverty could be made rich. But this has little or nothing to do with the pursuit of riches and happiness in this life. For in Christ alone is every man's freedom secured and their debt to God paid in full. Stop turning God's words into a money-making machine. God forbids. Jesus never endured the shame and sorrow of the cross for financial gain.
Countless money-making offers and investment opportunities float out there both online and offline. But for your own safety and peace of mind Google search the reviews on each selected choice before signing up, or buying in. Many lucrative offers come with a deceitful 'free' label that turns the sweet candy into a sticky mess. Often people are invited to financial seminars to help them cope, or escape their current state of affairs into a Utopia, a lifestyle of milk and honey. And like any business, they do require you to invest time and money. Whoever promises a quick effortless return is a con artist. Farmers know that it is essential to prepare the soil for sowing before reaping, which may take months and even years to fully mature. But don't despair, hard work has its rewards. But it is in these hard times when the vulnerable and desperate are lured with fast-food cash-in and drive-off scams. Most offers are so tempting it is hard to resist, and when swallowed it has that bittersweet ending. Just like, when the serpent deceived Eve with his cunning sales speech. Did God really say that? It's because he doesn't want you to become gods. Just try it once, no one will know! And when she saw that the fruit was good to eat, she ate of the forbidden tree of knowledge of good and evil. Then she also gave it to her husband, and when Adam took his bite, their whole world went into a total Black-Out. And instead of becoming gods, they found themselves bud naked hiding from God.
What happened in Paradise should never happen again. Adam’s sin bankrupted the entire human race. Created in the image and likeness of God, the bite of sin into human DNA corrupted good, with evil thoughts and intentions. A one-night stand with that snake in Eden and all went horribly wrong. When their eyes opened, all innocence was gone. They found themselves stripped naked and hiding from God. So, they lost their home and friendship with God and got evicted. They stock market crashed down from shining glory into a Pandora’s Box of sin and death. Only the redeeming blood of Christ could stop dead men walking and save them from his wrath to come. Tormented with curses and the fear of death, they served the god of this world with the passing pleasures of sin. But for this reason, Jesus came from heavens beauty down to earth's manure, to destroy the works of the devil, and not to judge or to condemn. Satan’s lies made slaves of them, but the love of God makes men sons again, turning sinners into saints, and teaching rebels to obey. The lights came on in the rooms he went to prepare for them, and till he comes again, these living stones in pots of clay will cry psalms of praise to him night and day. Lose him and let him go, Jesus said! The foolishness of God’s wisdom much wiser than brainy men.
3. The Love Of Money
In God we trust, but the love for money is the root of all evil. Money in itself is neutral, but it's the love of money that lets the devils in. For it is not possible to serve two masters. Hate the one or love the other, or follow this one and forsake the other. That's how it goes. You can't serve both God and Mammon. For in the house of pain, I saw many men bow to slots and tables to strike it rich at the push of a button. I was one of them. They played their cards, and bet on horses but fail to win. Sadly, some have won but lost their souls. Winners know when to stop, they say, but winners never quit I was told. Cry to God, whoever you are, for the love and loss of money will drag your soul deep into hell's despair. The real lucky ones are not the lotto winners but those who won the battle against flattering riches to escape the devils' torture. For whoever wants to be rich falls into many temptations and snares, and into foolish and hurtful lusts that drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil, which some coveted after, have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. For the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life choke them and end up failing to bring fruit to perfection. Perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness, from such withdraw yourself. For godliness with contentment is a great gain. You brought nothing into this world, and you can certainly carry nothing out.
Having food and clothes, with that be content. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. Don’t lay up for yourself treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust corrupt and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourself treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves cannot break in to steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart also be. The light of the body is the eye and if therefore your eye is single, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness?
4. My Brother’s Inheritance
Speak to my brother Lord, that he may share his inheritance with me. But Jesus replied, who made me judge and lawyer over you? Then he turned to the crowd and said: Watch out and be careful against covetousness. For a man's life does not consist of the abundance of the things he possesses. And he spoke a parable saying: A business of a certain rich man did very well. And when he ran out of storage for all his goods, he looked for a solution. And with the help of an architect, he redesigned a bigger and better barn, to keep all his products and precious fruits. Then he praised himself and said, I have plenty of goods laid up for many years. I will retire, go on holidays and spend quality time with friends and family, shop, and play golf. But God interrupted him and said: You fool, this night your soul will be required, and who will take over your wealth and power? So is it to him who lay up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Take no thought for your life, what you will eat, neither for the body nor what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. Look at the birds, they don’t sow or reap and have no storehouses, and yet your Father feeds them daily. How much more valuable are you than these little birds? And who of you by worrying about these things can add one inch to his length. If you then are not able to do that, then why worry about the rest? See the flowers, how they grow. They neither spin nor toil, yet Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of them. If God then so clothes the grass, which is today in the field and tomorrow burns by fire, how much more will he not clothe you, you of little faith?
Fear not my little flock for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms. Provide for yourselves bags which wax not old, and treasure in heaven that fails not, where thieves can’t reach, nor the moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will you find your heart.
5. Cash In The Bank
When a government is dependent upon bankers for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation, since the hand that gives is above the hand that takes. Money has no motherland. Financiers are without patriotism and decency, their sole object is gain. Napoleon Bonaparte
Money in the Bank has everyone's interest. For a rich man's wealth is his god. But Mammon will always be an inferior god to the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Yet it competes for the hearts of men. It puts up an impressive show of power, promising you a world of comfort and safety. It flaunts itself and takes you many places, but so quickly lets you down like a rundown battery in need of a recharge. It is an unfaithful lover that makes you look and feel good. And like a harlot it changes hands without conscience or shame. The world's your oyster and then without warning it inflates or loses value while you crash and burn over a pile of debt caused by the loss of income and unemployment. But Mammon is a guru in motivation that gets you up and going when you follow its principles with passion and resolve. Soon you find yourself on top of your game again, and as you know, everybody loves a winner.
Money plays you well and keeps you hooked with lust and greed, wanting more like a junkie on coke or acid. You dream of Las Vegas, the Bahamas, and off you go to the house of the rising sun never to hear the whisper of the risen One calling your name. Perhaps you are fortunate and wisely avoid easy money, slots, and scams, to happily follow the proven path up the ladder. Your prosperity knows no end, and money makes you shine like a diamond. You are covered with policies, assets, and portfolios all fortune 500 listed. Your paper is imported, and your signature a collector's item. Finally, your name is printed on every invitation, yet you take no account whether it is recorded in the Lambs book of life.
Carpets turn red, while the fans keep you cool in the crazy heat of summer. You're a shooting star, and if you burn long enough, people would claim you're a god(ess) heading for the sun. Life's a party, and you never have to save a penny, for another day. You wine and dine with caviar and champagne, and your tea is imported by the masters of a forbidden trade. Your presence anywhere is a crowd magnet, yet a reed in the wind. That's how you live and die. With pride on your wall, you believe the web of lies that money, success, family, and friends are all that matters. Notice how God is missing.
You have clothed yourself with the fat of the land while milking the poor and needy for a nickel and a dime. You got away with murder, theft, and secrets, not to mention adultery, and those sins everybody does it. You have no care, no worry, and no fear in the world. You rock and roll like the king of old. But with all this media publicity hype, you still can’t escape the moth in your closet and the thief in the night. Your money has an answer for everything, but when depression hits, it’s as dumb as an idol. It boosts your confidence and lifts you above the rest. Still, you’re one breath away from ashes in a tiny jar. Your Botox, medicine, and plastic surgery make for a photo-shop finish, but not even the most advanced mummy can escape that coffin worm. You keep buying time for money, hoping death would go away. You avoid truth and light, while incognito dark demon invested places. Is eternal darkness really the end you want? Heaven cannot be bought or bribed. Jesus is the only way and light that can save an entire household.
6. Jesus And The Rich Kid
Whenever Jesus taught he always provoked men to ask important questions. And so it happened that a rich young ruler came running up to Jesus, kneeling down he asked: Good Master what must I do to get eternal life. Jesus responded, why do you call me good? There is none good but one, God. Do you know the commandments? Don't commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, defraud not, honor your father and mother. And he answered: Master, all these have I observed from my youth. And Jesus beholding him loved him. Then he said to him, there's one thing you lack. Go your way and sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back to take up your cross and follow me. But when the rich young man heard this, he became sad at that saying and went away depressed for he had great possessions. Then Jesus remarked, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter God's kingdom.
Did you notice that Jesus loved this young man? Jesus also saw his potential value was hidden underneath his velvet status and fortress wealth. He probably came from an aristocratic family who gave him a proper education but also taught him to keep the commandments of God, which he did. He was influential, smart with a firm religious belief. But one thing was missing that would have made him perfect. Only a true master, teacher could dare to speak such a truth that would cut to the heart of his students and followers. But when he heard the answer his weakness was exposed. He was strong in gather temporary wealth but weak in letting go of passing riches to acquire eternal life which he was short of. The price of salvation is so high that no man can afford it. That's why Christ who was rich became poor that you and I through his poverty could become rich. And so this rich young rich ruler walked away from the best deal any man could ever be offered. You see class, status, wealth nothing of this matter to him but the heart of a man whom he created.
For the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a certain piece of land. And when someone stumbles upon it, he hides it, and for the joy thereof, he goes and sells all that he has, just to acquire that property and the treasure thereof. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a pearl collector who found a pearl of high value and decided it's worth selling everything else just to get that one.
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