The Love Of Money Is Idol Worshipping

[Amos Ministries]

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The love of money is idol worshipping in its most relevant and practical form. Money can replace God. Money can mimic God and give us (false) illusions of security, safety, love and happiness. We can begin to trust in money to the point of confusing it with God and loving it more than God.

Exodus 20:23 ? Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.

This commandment is telling us not to make money our Go; This is idol worshipping.

Matthew 6:24-34 ?No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

We make money into our God when we follow worldly principles and philosophies instead of biblical ones. Principles from the bible would actually cause us to give our money away and not to amass it. 

We make money into our God when we seek after it instead of God. We spend our time and energy seeking this money because we lack faith that God will provide for us. We diligently look to money for security and not to God.

Matthew 6 continued?.25 ?Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

In this verse, Jesus is explaining that life is about more than physical food and clothing. Our focus should be feeding on the word of God and clothing our spiritual body with righteousness (which is the words and teachings of Jesus). We should be caring about our spiritual life.

Our concern should not be on our physical lives here in the world which is short and will pass away. Why are we investing in something so temporary? If we put seeking and keeping the Holy Spirit in our lives our first and only priority, God will add all the things we need to us. He will provide for us as He promised.

#loveofmoney #havefaith #Godwillprovide #giveupall

[eik]

We should be caring about our spiritual life.

I agree.

Our concern should not be on our physical lives here in the world which is short and will pass away. Why are we investing in something so temporary?

To keep ourselves from serfdom. It's imperative to advocate investment in spiritual things, but this shouldn't detract from the need for relative financial independence. Living in a sink housing estate is not everyone's cup of tee and could lead to mental breakdown.

[Amos Ministries]

To keep ourselves from serfdom. It's imperative to advocate investment in spiritual things, but this shouldn't detract from the need for relative financial independence. Living in a sink housing estate is not everyone's cup of tee and could lead to mental breakdown.
[/quote]

These types of thoughts are what is standing in your way from doing what the word of God is stating. If the will of God is that you?re happy with what you have and you don?t have much, then that is what we must do. We must not be our own God and figure out for ourselves what is good for us.

[eik]

These types of thoughts are what is standing in your way from doing what the word of God is stating. If the will of God is that you're happy with what you have and you don't have much, then that is what we must do. We must not be our own God and figure out for ourselves what is good for us.

I think the issue is this: we must put God first. When I was young, I was told to surrender my day job and go and do some church work. I would have had no trade, no occupation. If I had not continued with my profession,  I would have become a serf. I rejected that command and I had no regrets: it was ludicrous, and came from one living in a large house at the church's expense. It's all very well if you join some organization and get well provided for. But that isn't always the case. Many who give up their jobs are reduced to penury as a result.

I know another man who did have a good job but surrendered his job to become a full time church worker, and spent the rest of his life sponging off others, ordering his hearers to give a tithe because it was what God commanded Did He really in the age of the Spirit? Wasn't it the case that he'd just made bad decision to give up his job? I know what poverty is like, living from hand to mouth, being in debt, having to pay rent to enrich others, having to pay high rates of interest that the poor have to pay, rather than buy your own home at a low rate mortage: almost a life of slavery.

Paul says to slaves: 1 Cor 17:1 "Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you? but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity."

So many today are hardly living a life above slavery in the ancient world. Many slaves were well provided for. Everyone should be mindful of the advantage of not being reduced to penury: Prov 10:15 "Poverty is the ruin of the poor."

[jaybird]

love of money and idol worship are two different things. love of money is like greed, material wealth. idol worship is worshiping other gods.

[Amos Ministries]

I am not entirely sure how to break up your quotes as you did with mine, so I am just putting my replies in bold

I think the issue is this: we must put God first. When I was young, I was told to surrender my day job and go and do some church work. I would have had no trade, no occupation. If I had not continued with my profession,  I would have become a serf.

Herein lies your issue. You have an aversion to the poor. But Jesus states 'blessed are the poor' - this is a difference in thought/attitude between you and Jesus.

I rejected that command and I had no regrets: it was ludicrous, and came from one living in a large house at the church's expense.

Living in a large house at the church's expense is not at all what I mean. That is not a biblical example at all. What I am saying is that our needs will be met by God, not by what we call a 'church' today but God will add the things you need.

It's all very well if you join some organization and get well provided for. But that isn't always the case. Many who give up their jobs are reduced to penury as a result.

Your fear of poverty on this earth is what is hindering you, but a few short years of poverty here in exchange for an eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven is worth it.

I know another man who did have a good job but surrendered his job to become a full time church worker, and spent the rest of his life sponging off others, ordering his hearers to give a tithe because it was what God commanded Did He really in the age of the Spirit?

The idea is not to ask people to tithe/provide for you. The scriptures state that God will add these things to you. You lack faith in this statement because you cannot imagine how God will actually provide, but the very definition of faith is the absence of seeing.

Wasn't it the case that he'd just made bad decision to give up his job? I know what poverty is like, living from hand to mouth, being in debt, having to pay rent to enrich others, having to pay high rates of interest that the poor have to pay, rather than buy your own home at a low rate mortage: almost a life of slavery.

Herein lies your problem. Everyone knows a life of poverty is no picnic, yet, this is the suffering we are all called for; to live a life based solely on God's provision - not to seek after money.

Psalm 37:25-29 - I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
    or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;
    their children will be a blessing.[a]

27 Turn from evil and do good;
    then you will dwell in the land forever.
28 For the Lord loves the just
    and will not forsake his faithful ones.

Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;
    the offspring of the wicked will perish.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
    and dwell in it forever.

Psalm 94:14 - For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.

Psalm 9:10 - The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Paul says to slaves: 1 Cor 17:1 "Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you? but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity."

You have taken this scripture out of context here, based on your assumption that poverty is slavery rather than you can only follow one master; God or money.

Matthew 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Meaning that you are a slave to money by thinking this way. Poverty (meaning no longer following money) actually sets you free.

Jesus makes it clear in Luke 14:33 - So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.



So many today are hardly living a life above slavery in the ancient world. Many slaves were well provided for. Everyone should be mindful of the advantage of not being reduced to penury: Prov 10:15 "Poverty is the ruin of the poor."

Micah 6:12 - Your rich people are violent; your inhabitants are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully.

Proverbs 10:3 - The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

Philippians 4:19 - And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 111:5 - He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.

Psalm 10:3 - The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Psalm 49:6 - those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?

Deuteronomy 31:6-8 - ?Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.?  7 Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ?Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. 8?The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

[Amos Ministries]

love of money and idol worship are two different things. love of money is like greed, material wealth. idol worship is worshiping other gods.

Exodus 20:23 - Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.

Matthew 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Colossians 3:5 NKJV - Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Colossians 3:5 CEV - Don't be controlled by your body. Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex. Don't be immoral or indecent or have evil thoughts. Don't be greedy,

Ephesians 5:5 - For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a person is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9 - Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men

Ephesians 5:3 NIV - "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people."

Ephesians 5:3-5 NLT - Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people.

1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 3:3 - not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

[eik]

I am not entirely sure how to break up your quotes as you did with mine, so I am just putting my replies in bold

Micah 6:12 - Your rich people are violent; your inhabitants are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully.

Proverbs 10:3 - The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

Philippians 4:19 - And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 111:5 - He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.

Psalm 10:3 - The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Psalm 49:6 - those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?

Deuteronomy 31:6-8 - ?Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.?  7 Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ?Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. 8?The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

I think you've rather proved my point how easy it is to deceive Christians by waffling on about the love of money into either giving their money away or consigning their lives to penury. They are prey to every charlatan imposing on their charity. The love of money is not oberved in working for one's living. As Paul said:

2 Thess 3:10 "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat."

Many Christians live on the bread line. Idleness leads to impositions on others and / or penury. There is a very famous quote from the Talmud, "He who does not teach his son a trade teaches him to steal."

It is relatively self-evident, that a person without a vocation or education of any sort will have no choice but to resort to thievery or deception in order to feed him or herself. Unless you have a clear calling to do some work in the church or charity that has a clear revenue stream attached, or can be self-financed, it's rather foolish to embark on it, whatever the propaganda fed about the "love of money" which doesn't obviously apply to most to any great extent except the rich and / or the vain.