92 LIKE THEM
92 LIKE THEM
The world [or, really, the people of the world] wants Christians to be like them. They want us to live for ourselves and not for God and others.
They want us to look like them and wear every fad or skimpy outfit that is in fashion. They want us to spend God’s money on the expensive and outrageous so we can show the people of the world that our credit is just as good as theirs and that we can work long hard hours paying it back, just like them. [Wait a minute; God’s money? I thought He only got a tenth and the rest was mine. Noooo. He wants you to give a tenth to the church so they can teach God’s word but He wants you to spend the rest meeting your neighbours and your needs. Like, you need food, clothing, a home, a bed, heat, water, etc. and your neighbour needs these things, too; weather he can afford them or not.]
The people of the world think that because their neighbours have 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom homes on 2 acres of land, that that is what they need to keep up and be accepted by their neighbours and, if they can get 3 acres of land, their neighbours will look up to them and accept them as their friends because they think their important because of what they have.
It’s like more and more wealth to feel secure and accepted by your peers; bigger and bigger houses, bigger and more powerful cars and trucks, more expensive furniture, better and prettier looks, etc.
The world and its people are putting their trust in their things to be secure. Take away their money and what would they do – panic. How would they buy food, pay their bills? [We are going to find out because the economy cannot keep going the way it is going much longer before it crashes.]
The people of the world do not want to be honest, kind, caring, giving, sincere, etc. Those things will take away your wealth, your time [for yourself, your pleasures, your wealth getting], your energy [again, you won’t have energy for yourself] and, all those things take hard work and no benefit for yourself; its hard work so others can gain.
They want us to be like them and they are succeeding. They come to us and we accept them just as they are, shake their hand, call them friend and listen to their swearing and rude stories without scolding them or stopping them.
Why should they change? If we accept them as they are with no changes to their personality, then surely God has accepted them, too. No.
He wants us to be the standard that He spoke about in His word. When someone lies, don’t accept the lie and, unless they change, don’t accept the liar. Show them they are wrong by not being their friend and accepting their behaviour.
Avoid dishonest people and don’t trust them. Let them know why you are not hanging around with them. Don’t shame Jesus by befriending His enemies. If someone does not want to change their speech out of respect for you or your friend, Jesus, don’t accept them as your friend and become like them. Reject them and show them that you are different.
The people of the world were afraid to be associated with the Christians of old for fear of dieing; yet today they are found in our churches, in our homes and beside us at public gatherings, looking and acting just like us. [or is that we’re looking and acting just like them?]
