Who do we serve, GOD or mammon?
The city of Babylon (Revelation 18), with all its avarice and greed, is a description of a world given over to the spirit of Mammon. Some scholars cite Mammon as the name of a Syrian and Chaldean god, similar to the Greek god of wealth, Plutus. It was sometimes used to describe all lusts and excesses: gluttony, greed, and dishonest worldly gain. Ultimately, mammon described an idol of materialism,
Affluence is meant for influence, income is meant for impact, and prosperity has a GOD given purpose.
Being broke is a temporary financial condition whereas poverty only sees meager possibilities. Hope from Above separates the two mindsets.
Prosperity means that you have no financial debt and you have more than enough resources to fulfill every Divine assignment FATHER has for you and enough left over to help others fulfill theirs. You will have finances in proportion to your assignment which means that all believers are not called to be multimillionaires.
We trust FATHER to give us provision for our vision. HE will not give us a calling without providing for the resources to fulfill that calling. We must not allow our mindset to restrict HIS resources which are available and awaiting our acceptance.
Moses recorded by THE SPIRIT in Genesis chapter 22:
13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”
15 Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son-
17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
Jehovah Jireh is one of the Names of GOD so we need to expect HIS provision. HE doesn’t expect us to beg for provision but instead we are to exercise our faith for righteous provision to fund our individual callings. We must not compare our calling to someone else’s calling. HE is the GOD of more than enough, not the god of scarcity!
Religion wants to keep us poor and unable to complete our callings. Tests are not to keep us poor but are to strengthen us so that we can handle more. In 1995-96, my wife and I went through an eighteen-month period I called a financial wilderness. It was severe but I stood on faith that FATHER would not let us down. At the end of the period, suddenly the finances returned, and we haven’t experienced lack since.
If FATHER can get money through you, then HE will get money to you… with plenty of money left over for your needs AND righteous desires. A desire is good as long as it doesn’t promote idolatry.
FATHER is looking for those who love not the world and can be trusted with the things of the world to reach the people of the world and, bring forth HIS Kingdom to earth.
FATHER wants people with resources who can hear HIM and will deploy those resources as directed by HIM. The rich young ruler is tested concerning this Truth.
Jesus encountered him in Matthew chapter 19:
16 Now behold, one came and said to Jesus, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have Eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into Life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’
19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall Love your neighbor as yourself.’ “
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect (fully mature), go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Did the young man truly Love his neighbor as himself? Wouldn’t he have assisted the poor if he truly Loved them? Do you think FATHER would have kept him penniless afterward? No!
More to come…