Beware

Frequently, God through Jesus Christ warns God's people to BEWARE of certain people and concepts. Here are a few reminders.

1. Beware of religious people, especially so-called religious leaders, who seek praise and honor from other people. Study carefully Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45-47.
"As he [Jesus] taught, he said, 'Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.'"
Churches, institutions, universities are full of people who seek honor, respect, and the best seats. We will always have people who are self-centered, arrogant, confident they are the best people on earth. God through Jesus Christ warns honest, devoted Christians to avoid being trapped and overcome by this subtle sin.

2. Beware of covetousness. Study carefully Luke 12:15-21.
"And he [Jesus] said to them [the crowd]: 'Take care! Beware against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.' Then he told them a parable: 'The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, "What should I do, for have no place to store my crops?" Then he said, "I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will said to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, and be merry,' But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."
This is a DEEP HEART PROBLEM. Each person must make a decision to spend his or her life for himself or herself or spend his or her life devoted to God. One cannot serve God and wealth. What a wasted life to spend oneself on personal possessions, when God has given us abundant blessings and gifts to serve God and to serve others.

Share YOUR concepts and experiences and insights with others. Let me hear from YOU.

John Willis