Intro

This is Dreamwalker1960. As a reminder you can read the transcripts of all my podcasts at dreamwalker1960.com. You can use most podcast platforms if you wish to listen. All you need to do is do a search for Dreamwalker1960.

Discussion

Romans 6:15-23 NKJV – What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I was reminded of these verses by the music lyrics of the song “Bittersweet Symphony” by the Verse. In that song this line is heard:

“Tryna make ends meet You’re a slave to money then you die.”

Returning to the Bible Christ teaches this:

Matthew 6:24 NKJV – “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Mammon is defined as riches, money, possessions and property.

This is what most especially those that profess to being “Christian” make their master. This is who they are enslaved to. This is the way it has been for thousands of years. We even see it on display in the Word of God. I will give you an example that most should take to heart at this very moment.

Luke 12:13-34 NKJV – Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ‘ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The core element to this teaching is found at the very end of these verses.

“Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

“Sell what you have and give alms.”

This is a commandment from Christ.

You see you have been a slave to mammon. You have too much that is earthly as noted here in these verses from 1 John:

1 John 2:15-16 NLT – Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

We are to be content with clothing and food as shown here:

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NKJV – Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Therefore, all who profess to being a follower of Jesus Christ is commanded to downsize. They do this by getting rid of their mammon which they have accumulated showing all they live in and are slaves to the sin of materialism.

When you get rid of these accesses do not seek profit from them. Give them to charities. Goodwill, Salvation Army or any thrift shop that shows they use their income to help those in need. For to seek to gain profit from sin is tainted due to the fact that they come from sin. Expect to loss money for money is sin.

Do not seek to own property unless you can use said property to help those in need. Look to the second chapter of Acts.

Acts 2:44-47 NKJV – Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Measure the size of your household. If you have children, then find a place large enough to give them shelter as well. However, once the children leave. Find someplace smaller that suits the needs of you or if you are married you and your other half. Never own or seek to own. Give away all your earthly goods that are not a necessity. Truely live a needs-only lifestyle.

If you have a special need due to a medical condition that is a need. However, don’t use it as an excuse to own or accumulate mammon as many do.

Christ makes it very clear more than once we are not to seek mammon. We have already shown two so far. However, we will add to this.

Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 16:13-15 NKJV – “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Seeking after mammon is what is highly esteemed amongst those of the world. As I have taught in the past. Those that seek what is esteemed are seen as an abomination in the sight of God. Being seen as an abomination is being seen as an equal to the antichrist. Someone that is destined for the lake of fire.

This is why it is so important to downsize. And expect no earthly profit as you do so. This is why Christ says this to the young rich man:

Mark 10:17-21 NKJV  Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,’ ‘DO NOT MURDER,’ ‘DO NOT STEAL,’ ‘DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.'” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

However, what is the response to this command by Christ Himself to this man.

Mark 10:22 NKJV – But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

This is how most now act and respond. Many even believe it is not required by them. This is because Christ is soon to return. What most don’t realize is the seven letters in the second and third chapter of Revelation are not just concurrent but are also chronological. The first represents those of the early church. While the last letter, the letter to Laodicea is how those that professing to being “Christian” at this very moment act and behave. Therefore, let us hear this letter.

Revelation 3:15-19 NKJV – “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—“

To be zealous and repent is to downsize quickly and seek no profit from you living in sin. For to profit from sin is to seek damnation in the lake of fire. Instead of storing up treasures in heaven. Get rid of your mammon and do not seek to profit from it for it is evil and a sin.

God Bless