 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Tuesday, November 30, 2010   Listen to this message on your audio player."Fighting Greed" "For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God" (Ephesians 5:5). "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" (Philippians 4:11). "Tis the season to be … greedy, la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la" (whoops, I don't think that's quite the way the song plays out in the stores this season, does it)! Perhaps the word, "greed" is not in the heart of a Christmas song but yet the world's system turns up the volume on greed this time of year. Colorful Ad fliers comprise more than half the newspaper, and that's not including the ads that fill the regular pages. Many of us who make purchases online and use our email address find an increasing amount of email in our inboxes with "can't miss" sales. The season we consider the most giving act in history (that God gave His only begotten Son) has become an excuse for greed, although many of you may be irritated that I would use such a word. After all we (well most of us) deal with some form of greediness and we would really rather not be reminded in an "encouragement" email! I certainly fight greed in my life and the above Scripture portion has long challenged me. I like things and there's always something new to like and want. It's an ongoing battle. The ads look so appealing and promise so much. For many years now I've had a hankering for one of those "Bose" wave radio/CD players. They just sound so good in the stores. But I really don't need one and the set I have now has been working for several years. I'm sure more than a few of you can identify with what I call the tyranny of the new, whether it's a Blu-ray, HDTV, SUV or scores of other "must have" products. The daily text is blunt: "For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." "Pleonektes", the underlying Greek word for "greed" means to "desire more". What stuns me about the verse is the statement that follows, "such a man is an idolater." In another place Paul writes of "greed, which is idolatry." Materialistic greed is the major form of idolatry in our time that we have to contend with just as the ancient people of God dealt with the various images we now identify as idols. From the beginning Satan has tormented the human race with this resounding lie, "What God has provided is not enough." At the very heart of Satan's first lie and temptation to Adam and Eve was that the outstanding beauty and bountiful provision in the Garden of Eden was not enough. They fell for it and our fallen race has been living under the echo and effects of this lie ever since. All believers do well to take to heart the Apostle Paul's confident assurance expressed in our second daily verse. "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." He wrote this from prison and yet he exudes a deep abiding peace and assurance so lacking in our world today, even among many professed believers who have more than enough. Today I want the contentment Paul had. What about you? Through Christ we can have it! "Enough for me that Jesus saves, this ends my fear and doubt." (Lidie H. Edmunds) As I said, it's a battle I continue to fight and will as long as we live in this time of prosperity. I just want to take God's Word seriously. I want to embrace the attitude of Jacob when he said, "God has been gracious to me and I have all I need" (Genesis 33:11). Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, You are a gracious and generous Father who bestows on us bountiful gifts and sufficient supplies to meet our every need. When we get our eyes off that which we have and set our heart's affections on material things that we don't have we can easily struggle with envy, discontentment, and jealousy which leads to an ungrateful attitude. Thank you for the extras that we enjoy in life, but we especially thank You for the essentials that we experience such as salvation, eternal life and endless hope through Jesus Christ our Lord. Keep our focus on the hallowed manger scene instead of the hollow mall setting as we celebrate another Christmas this year. It is in the name of Jesus that we pray. Amen. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27) Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources Click on the link to open and play. (In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song.) Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 10/21/10)  Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks! See here for details.2010 YTD financial offerings as of 11/29/10 $12,969.00 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed or as an email subscription through feedburner.Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If you no longer desire to receive these messages you can remove your address from the list by merely using the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Weekly Version: The weekly version is intended for those who may not check their email regularly or who may desire less frequent mailings. It is Friday's message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. Reader Survey: Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this online reader survey. To take the survey click here. Please feel free to pass these messages on! "A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message! "A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (Note: This material is satire!) "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!) "Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. All of these songs are also available for download on the site.  Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!Personal Mission Statement "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."  How to become a child of God Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. © Copyright 2010 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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