Worldly Minded versus Spiritual Minded

[Pastor Michael Samuels]

I write this blog to get peoples opinions, thoughts and to discuss what the Bible actually says. I have read several blogs on BPN. I am intrigued that some people seemingly jump to particular acts (pursuits/discussion) being worldly (ungodly) rather spiritual (godly), for example, people are quick to judge acts around money, sex,some businesses and beyond as worldly.

Food for thought: Worldliness has at its foundation the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. These things bring along with them, greed, selfishness,uncleaness, self righteousness, and many other ungodly spirits and negative character concerns.

On the other end, Spiritual(godly)-meaning a godly spiritual mind versus a spiritually demonic fueled mind has at its foundation love, life,unity,holiness and promotes these through acts of service and giving.

Now let me give you a scenerio, You have 2 people both are millionaires and have become millionaires through honest work, wise investments, through giving to local charities, their churches and to help the poor. Each of these men, because of their insight, knowledge and understanding of how money works knows how to increase his money. Which one of these men is commiting a worldly(ungodly act)? Suppose that one of these men is saved and the other unsaved.One of these men sold out for and to God the other man just goes to church as a religious act...

What are your thoughts?

[Lonnie Kluttz]

Brother Luckett,

As I said before, having wealth doesn't mean you will have money. look up the hebrew for the word wealth.

God bless

[Sadara]

SAY THAT BRO. HANCOCK....

[Eric Hancock]

You are hitting the nail on the head with the Hanmer,,So you and I agree,,if it comes down to money and one having a relationship with the creator,, God would rather the relationship!!! But it is so sad that in some churches ,,money has replaced the Gospel

[Lonnie Kluttz]

Brother,

I have everyone of those scriptures, but it gives a difference between wealth and money.

Eccles. 5:10

He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver, Nor who loves abundance, with increase. This is vanity.

Proverbs 22:1

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches (money), Loving favor rather than silver and gold (money).

Proverbs 22:4

By humility and the fear of the lord Are riches and honor anf life.

Proverbs 15:16

Better is alittle with the fear of the LORD, than the great treasures with trouble.

Brother this is just a couple of verses. God speaks of so much more than money and making people rich. There is so much more people can have other than money. God can give most people as He did solomon and they will turn away from God as Solomon did. That's what God is telling us. Seek Him and the Kingdom of righteousness.

God bless

[Eric Hancock]

aGAIN WE SEE THAT IT WAS NOT SO MUCH AS MONEY,,BUT TODAY THIS IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT


The bible has a lot to say about wealth and prosperity. There are multiple instructions involving attitude, tithing, behavior and rightousness. Don't expect a simple solution, this is more a lifestyle that causes God to want to bless your finances.
First of all:
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops;
Then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Proverbs 3: 9,10

The Lord expects you to have a habit of giving to Him before He will bless your wealth.
So:

Cast your bread upon the water, for after many days you will find it again.
Give portions to seven, yes eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
Eccl. 11: 1,2

This could be saying to spread your wealth around, you don't know where it is going to be needed most or give the best return, and also don't expect a quick return.(after many days).
Remember this: Whoever sows spraringly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Cor. 9 6,7

If you only spread a few seeds, you only get a few plants. The plants don't bear fruit for a while and not much if you don't have good seeds. Apply this to what money you give and the good seed as the cheerfulness as to how it is given.

Also
There is one who scatters, yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want.

The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.
Prov. 11: 24,25 An Old Testament proverb says almost the same thing as the New Testament verses above.

Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me. But you ask, 'How do we rob you ? 'In tithes and offerings.
"You are under a curse -the whole nation of you - because you are robbing me.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this," says the Lord Almighty, " and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it"

Malachi 3: 8-10
God is being specific about a tithe, which is 10%. He says here in the last book of the Old Testiment specifically, that it belongs to Him. If you don't give it back you are stealing it from God, and God will bring a curse on those who don't pay properly. On the other hand, when you do return it properly, God will bless you so that you will have more to give him more the next time around.

And you say, 'What a burden!' and you sniff at it contemptuously," says the Lord Almighty." When you bring injured crippled or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hand ?" says the Lord

"Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king." says the Lord Almighty, "and My name is to be feared among the nations."

Malachi 1:13,14 I put this here because in those days, the flock was their wealth, and offering. When they brought a defective animal, it was a curse, not a blessing. A short tithe, could be like a defective animal, only the full tithe invokes the blessing, anything short is incomplete and could invoke a curse. If you are paying a tithe, pay the whole thing, you don't want to short the Almighty God. If there is a formula, 10% returned from your increase is in the equation.

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the alter and there remember that your brother has something against you.

leave your gift there in front of the alter. First go and be reconciled to your brother, them come and offfer your gift.

Matthew 5:23,24
This is important, if someone has a grudge or reason to be angry with you, (expecially had you cheated or done them wrong) and they have not forgiven you, it is not the time to give your offering, that would be a waste. You need to straighen that problem out and ask for forgiveness. That would be another way to defile your gift, better to put it aside, save it up if needed, and get the reconcilement and forgiveness finished first.

God says:
I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me.
Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, and my yield than choicest silver.
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the path of justice,
To endow those who love me with wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.

Proverbs 8:17-21 Love and seek God, He is among the paths of righeousness and justice. He knows who truely loves Him, and those are the ones who share the His treasure and wealth.
The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and He ads no sorrow to it.
Proverbs 10:22 How will you invoke the blessing of the Lord ?
But:

Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth
Proverbs 10;4 Don't expect wealth to fall in your lap, work diligently.
He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich - both come to poverty.
Proverbs 22:16 Taking from the poor and giving to the rich is the opposite of Robin Hood. Be careful to give to the poor for favor with God.

He who is gracious to the poor, lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deeds.
Prov 19:17 Now, is it clear who God wants you to help ?

And you shall again obey the Lord and observe all His commandments whcih I command you today.
Then the Lord your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the Lord will again rejoice over you for good, just as he rejoiced over your fathers.

Deut 30:8,9 The promise comes to pass from obedience of Gods rules and ways, abundant prosperity.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in or steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matt. 6:19-21 When you master the above and all along the way, you need to keep the habit of giving back to God. What you keep on earth is temporary. Like a pension plan or 401K, every week you make a deposit with the Lord, in the form or tithes and offerings.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

1 Tim 6: 17,18 Once again, develope the right attitude of how you will handle wealth, once it comes your way. My guess is God will build your wealth slowly to be sure you have the right habits first.
But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Deut. 8:18 Make sure to acknowledge and thank God for your prosperiry, if you think or claim it is all you own doing, then you will likely get Him angry. Remember He can take away, in an instant, all you have, wealth, health, wife, life and more and has been known to do so especially in the case of personal pride.
Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, Cease from your consideration of it.
When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings, like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
Prov. 23:4,5 Hopefully from the above you can see that you don't pursue wealth, It has wings to fly away.
It is the blessing of the Lord that make rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.
Prov 10: 22 You do the things God wants you to do and He blesses you with prosperity as you show yourself faithful.
Do not be with heavy drinkers if wine, or with gluttonous eater of meat;
For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will cloth a man with rags.
Prov 23 :20,21 Drunks and Gluttons, hopefully this is self explanitory. If they have money, it is ussually not for long. How many rich ones do you know ?
Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, but the one who gathers by labor increases it.
Prov 13:11 Cheating, lying, stealing, is not going to get lasting wealth. It is best obtained by working diligently and working smart.
Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by unjust means. When his life is half gone, they will desert him, and in the end he will prove to be a fool.
Jer. 17:11 Dishonestly is specifically cursed as a means of gaining wealth. Jeremiah the profit has yet to be proven wrong. God will not be mocked.

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent make rich.
Prov 10: 4 Slow, lazy and careless workers get the smallest raises, if any

[Eric Hancock]

AGAIN PROSPERITY,,,PROMISES,,that man turned into money,Be mindful back then you were RICH according to your land ,live stock,Skins of clothing as well as Jelwrey,,even in some cases number of children
Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want".

2. Psalm 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That bringeth forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also doth not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper

3. Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

4. Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

5.Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

6.Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus

7. Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

8. Psalm 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon

9. Proverbs 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

10.Psalm 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant

[Eric Hancock]

These Verse did not mentioned money,,BUT people today relate it to MONEY

Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the ant, sluggard; consider her ways and be wise; who having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provides her food in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest.

Proverbs 21:5
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenty; but the thoughts of everyone who is hasty only to poverty.

Proverbs 22:3
A prudent one foresees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.

Proverbs 24:3-4
Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms shall be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Proverbs 25:28
He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a broken down city without a wall.

Proverbs 27:12
A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, the naive proceed and pay the penalty.

Proverbs 27:23
Know well the face of your flocks; and pay attention to your herds.

Proverbs 27:26
The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.

Luke 14:28-30
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he may have enough to finish it; lest perhaps, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish, all those seeing begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish.

1 Corinthians 16:2
On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

[Eric Hancock]

well
Brother klutz there a book I read years ago by Ms. Catherine Ponder called Millionaires of the Bible back then when you had riches it was called SUBSTANCE

Abraham is the next millionaire profiled. We come to learn that he was an aristocrat, well-schooled in prosperity principles. Abraham reached a creative level of prosperity where there is no competition for riches. He affirmed God as the source of his prosperity and was not affected by people or conditions. He also gained wealth through using the visualization faculty. Abraham pictured the good that he wanted in his mind and held that picture to the exclusion of the apparently barren land around him and was richly rewarded by Jehovah.

Melchizedek's exploits are then detailed. He was a high priest whom Abraham gave a fortune in tithes. He represents the third level of the mind that some have referred to as the superconscious or The Christ Mind. Some wise men over the course of history have developed this level of their mind to such an extent that they have been able to manifest directly from substance, as Christ did in the New Testament. We also learn of the prospering power of tithing in giving one tenth of our income to a source of spiritual support.

Ishmael teaches us that even though we may be a minority in terms of our politics, race, or religion, we are a neccessary part of the whole and can achieve as high a station in life as anybody. Ishmael's name means "who God understands", and this shows that independent of our background or lifestyle God will always hear us and be there for us if we are willing to go to Him.

Issac was a man who prospered by practicing joy and peace. A peaceful state of mind brings about physical healing. In addition we learn how observing and appreciating beautiful environments can bring wealth into our lives.

The persistence of Jacob was the prime factor in his wealth building. For years he disciplined himself in practicing a success consciousness and was eventually bountifully rewarded. It is easy to give up when appearances are contrary to the life which we imagine for ourselves, but those who stick it out and hold their vision will get exactly what they visualize.

Jacob's success convenant with God teaches us that we must be specific in what we are ask of Him. Secondly we must tell Him what we will give Him in return. We also see from Jacob that we may encounter some apparent failures along the way, but these are only preparing us for our destined success. Each delay of our good offers a valuable experience to learn and hence profit from.

Joseph was the bible's first billionaire. He achieved this great level of wealth by appreciating all the wealth around him and by visualizing his good using his imagination. He saw vast wealth around him with his physical eyes and also saw prosperity for himself with his mind's eye.

We finally meet the first millionairess Ruth who demonstrated to us that there is always hope. No matter what tragedy has occurred in our lives we must see that life consists of cycles and that great things will come back into our life in a different form.

The Millionaires of Genesis provides a library of positive affirmations. The amazing results of those who have practiced these statements daily are also chronicled. Independent of our religious background, the "faith" factor of this book provides an inspiration and one knows that an uplifted state of mind always prospers.

[Lonnie Kluttz]

One question which no one has answered. We keep discussing wealth. It is biblical that God gives wealth. But, you are getting to the point where you are telling people to expect God to give you money. Where no where in the entire bible God said He is going to give anyone a bunch of money. On that note, where is there one scripture that say God will give you money?

God Bless

[Rev. Vanessa G. Oncken]

I believe the key word you have addressed here is minded Both individuals are exhibiting sound Christian principles, and the Lord honors this, whether a spiritual commitment has been made or not. How many times have we heard about financially successful people who, though there was no confession of commitment to Christ, had shown sound biblical principles regarding their finances, prior to their commitment. Prayerfully the Spiritually-minded principles shown by these individuals will spark the desire to make a Spiritual commitment to Christ.