IS THE LOVE OF THE WORLD EATING THE LOVE OF GOD OUT OF YOUR HEART?
"Covetousness is the ruining sin of multitudes that make a great profession of religion; it is the love of the world that secretly eats the love of God out of their hearts." - Matthew Henry
"There be many who take pleasure in hearing the word, but make no conscience of doing it; and so they build upon the sand, and deceive themselves." - Matthew Henry
"Shallow hearers discuss the messenger rather than his message." - Pulpit Commentary
"We may be very attentive upon all 'means of grace,' may never absent ourselves from the 'house of the Lord,' may go solemnly and even reverently through all the outward ordinances of the Christian faith, and yet remain outside the kingdom of Christ. None were more constant in their 'devotions' than the Pharisees, and none more blameless in their attitude and, demeanor - and none more really ungodly than they." - Pulpit Commentary
Ezekiel 33:31 says - "And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love; but their heart goeth after their covetousness."
Colossians 3:5 says - "...and covetousness, which is idolatry."
Ephesians 5:5 says - "For this ye know, that no...covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
Week after week, multitudes of people flock to the churches to hear some Preacher preach the Word of God. They come as the people of God. They come early, constantly, and with seeming pleasure and delight. Most come because everyone else is doing so - for the fellowship or for fashion-sake. They don't come to have their consciences touched nor their hearts changed, but simply to have their fancies pleased by the Word. Hearing the Word is merely a recreation, diversion, and pretty amusement to them.
This is how things were in the days of Ezekiel. The people would come to the Prophet's house to hear him preach. They assumed the attitude of God's people. With great reverence and seeming devotion and attention, they would gather as a crowd and listen eagerly to what the Prophet had to say. They were greatly charmed by his discourses. They looked upon him as a fashionable orator.
There was but one problem here - they listened eagerly to the words but did not heed the counsels. They heard the words but did not do them. Lending their ear to what he said was easy - obeying it was a different story. This was their fatal omission - their defect. They had not the spirit of obedience.
Just like today, they flattered the preacher with lip-thanks and made verbal acknowledgement. Today we have our shouts of - "Amen!" "Hallelujah!" or "Praise the Lord!" Yet their hearts were not touched nor their conduct affected. The words failed to produce a moral reform in their lives.
How could this be? How could it be that people will gather together in large crowds to attentively hear the Word preached and still not be affected by it? How could they find it so interesting or amusing and yet not be touched by it?
The problem was in their hearts. Ezekiel explained it in this way - "but their heart goeth after their covetousness." In other words, something had their hearts besides God.
What exactly was it that was causing the Word to appear profitless?
Their heart was pre-occupied - it was entwined about things other than God. They loved earthly things and didn't relish those of heaven. They were after the world and the things in it. Their heart's affections were transferred from the Creator to the creature. Affections which rightfully belonged to God were set on worldly wealth. Self and money were deified in the heart instead of God.
This was high treason! What should have been reserved for God was now being given to self and worldly goods.
Nothing could be more highly provoking to God than this!
Let's stop and think for a minute what is being said here in this message. Week after week, multitudes are going to some church to hear the Word preached. They appear to be God's people, but, in all actuality, they are not! They only gather together because it is the thing to do! On Saturday night, it is popular to visit the movie theater, and then on Sunday, everyone is off to somebody's church.
The Word never affects them because their hearts are shrines for wealth, fame, and pleasure. A love of the world and self occupies the throne of their hearts rather than God.
They come as God's people. However, the Apostle Paul says that - "no covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." The truth of the matter is - they are "hearers only" and not "doers of the word, deceiving their own selves" (James 1:22).
"Covetousness is the ruining sin of multitudes that make a great profession of religion; it is the love of the world that secretly eats the love of God out of their hearts."
Is the love of the world eating the love of God out of your heart?
Are you one who takes pleasure in hearing the Word, but make no conscience of doing it?
The last sermon you heard - are you practicing it?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved
Subscribe to Daily Bible Messages at - connie@walkingintruth.org.
Walking In Truth Ministry | P.O. Box 383016 | Duncanville | TX | 75138
"There be many who take pleasure in hearing the word, but make no conscience of doing it; and so they build upon the sand, and deceive themselves." - Matthew Henry
"Shallow hearers discuss the messenger rather than his message." - Pulpit Commentary
"We may be very attentive upon all 'means of grace,' may never absent ourselves from the 'house of the Lord,' may go solemnly and even reverently through all the outward ordinances of the Christian faith, and yet remain outside the kingdom of Christ. None were more constant in their 'devotions' than the Pharisees, and none more blameless in their attitude and, demeanor - and none more really ungodly than they." - Pulpit Commentary
Ezekiel 33:31 says - "And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love; but their heart goeth after their covetousness."
Colossians 3:5 says - "...and covetousness, which is idolatry."
Ephesians 5:5 says - "For this ye know, that no...covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
Week after week, multitudes of people flock to the churches to hear some Preacher preach the Word of God. They come as the people of God. They come early, constantly, and with seeming pleasure and delight. Most come because everyone else is doing so - for the fellowship or for fashion-sake. They don't come to have their consciences touched nor their hearts changed, but simply to have their fancies pleased by the Word. Hearing the Word is merely a recreation, diversion, and pretty amusement to them.
This is how things were in the days of Ezekiel. The people would come to the Prophet's house to hear him preach. They assumed the attitude of God's people. With great reverence and seeming devotion and attention, they would gather as a crowd and listen eagerly to what the Prophet had to say. They were greatly charmed by his discourses. They looked upon him as a fashionable orator.
There was but one problem here - they listened eagerly to the words but did not heed the counsels. They heard the words but did not do them. Lending their ear to what he said was easy - obeying it was a different story. This was their fatal omission - their defect. They had not the spirit of obedience.
Just like today, they flattered the preacher with lip-thanks and made verbal acknowledgement. Today we have our shouts of - "Amen!" "Hallelujah!" or "Praise the Lord!" Yet their hearts were not touched nor their conduct affected. The words failed to produce a moral reform in their lives.
How could this be? How could it be that people will gather together in large crowds to attentively hear the Word preached and still not be affected by it? How could they find it so interesting or amusing and yet not be touched by it?
The problem was in their hearts. Ezekiel explained it in this way - "but their heart goeth after their covetousness." In other words, something had their hearts besides God.
What exactly was it that was causing the Word to appear profitless?
Their heart was pre-occupied - it was entwined about things other than God. They loved earthly things and didn't relish those of heaven. They were after the world and the things in it. Their heart's affections were transferred from the Creator to the creature. Affections which rightfully belonged to God were set on worldly wealth. Self and money were deified in the heart instead of God.
This was high treason! What should have been reserved for God was now being given to self and worldly goods.
Nothing could be more highly provoking to God than this!
Let's stop and think for a minute what is being said here in this message. Week after week, multitudes are going to some church to hear the Word preached. They appear to be God's people, but, in all actuality, they are not! They only gather together because it is the thing to do! On Saturday night, it is popular to visit the movie theater, and then on Sunday, everyone is off to somebody's church.
The Word never affects them because their hearts are shrines for wealth, fame, and pleasure. A love of the world and self occupies the throne of their hearts rather than God.
They come as God's people. However, the Apostle Paul says that - "no covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." The truth of the matter is - they are "hearers only" and not "doers of the word, deceiving their own selves" (James 1:22).
"Covetousness is the ruining sin of multitudes that make a great profession of religion; it is the love of the world that secretly eats the love of God out of their hearts."
Is the love of the world eating the love of God out of your heart?
Are you one who takes pleasure in hearing the Word, but make no conscience of doing it?
The last sermon you heard - are you practicing it?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved
Subscribe to Daily Bible Messages at - connie@walkingintruth.org.
Walking In Truth Ministry | P.O. Box 383016 | Duncanville | TX | 75138
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