| > | | | | people by the Holy One of Israel Himself!The |
| | | | acquisition and expenditure of kingdom wealth by the |
| Ecclesiastes 9(KJV)verse 11 " I returned, and saw | | | | Christian,and the Church is by divine wisdom based to |
| under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the | | | | godly fear;and demonstrated by good works. The |
| battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor | | | | Christian should not trust in his riches,but in the Lord |
| yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to | | | | who gives him power to get wealth(Deut 8:18).The |
| men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them | | | | Christian is called to be a servant of God,not |
| all."Romans 9(KJV)verse 16 "So then it is not of him | | | | mammon,or both! |
| that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that | | | | Proverbs 23(KJV)verse 4 "Labour not to be rich: |
| sheweth mercy." | | | | cease from thine own wisdom."verse 5"Wilt thou set |
| Underneath the megacity,millions of rats young and | | | | thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly |
| old,male and female hurried through the varoius | | | | make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle |
| passageways in search for food. Whenever food got | | | | toward heaven."Matthew 6(KJV)verse 24 "No man |
| scarce, the sick,weak,injured,disabled,elderly and | | | | can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, |
| newborn often got neglected,since the natural instinct | | | | and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and |
| of hunger had been transformed into lethal greed in a | | | | despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and |
| battle that favours the fittest and wittest.For every | | | | mammon."Matthew 6(KJV)verse 33 " But seek ye first |
| rat,this gruelsome race starts from birth and continues | | | | the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all |
| until death!The modern world is lost in such a race as | | | | these things shall be added unto you."1 Timothy |
| people run after the pleasures,possessions and | | | | 6(KJV)verse 17 "Charge them that are rich in this |
| positions that life offers! Even though this way of lfe | | | | world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in |
| seems popular does not mean that it is the authentic | | | | uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us |
| way of life especially for those who are followers of | | | | richly all things to enjoy;"verse18 "That they do good, |
| Christ Jesus the Lord!This way of lfe engages | | | | that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, |
| motives,methods,and means that are diabolically | | | | willing to communicate;"verse 19 "Laying up in store for |
| opposed to the ways of our Lord! And everyone is | | | | themselves a good foundation against the time to |
| naturally born into 'this rat race'. | | | | come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." |
| Matthew 7(KJV)verse 13 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: | | | | The world system presents several obstacles which |
| for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth | | | | are designed to hinder every Christian from having and |
| to destruction, and many there be which go in | | | | spending kingdom wealth but we overcome this |
| thereat:"verse 14 " Because strait is the gate, and | | | | wicked system through our faith in the Lord as our |
| narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few | | | | provider. |
| there be that find it." | | | | 1 John 5(KJV) verse 4 "For whatsoever is born of |
| The rat race takes place on the broad and glamorous | | | | God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that |
| way that leads to destruction of the individual,the | | | | overcometh the world, even our faith." |
| home,the community,the nation,and the world!The | | | | In this Christian race,for anyone who is |
| Christian race is however different to the rat race | | | | feeling......weak,the LORD is our strength(Psalm 18:2)...sick |
| which is the order of the worldly system.The Christian | | | | and injured,the LORD is our healer(Exodus |
| race is run on the narrow way.The Christian race is | | | | 15:26)...confused and troubled,the LORD is our |
| the pursuit of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and | | | | peace(Judges 6:24)...lonely,the Lord is ever with us(Matt |
| Saviour.Throughout the Christian race,Christ alone is to | | | | 28:20)...under attack,the Lord is our defence(Psalm |
| be glorified from start to finish!It is therefore a race that | | | | 18:2)...lost,the Lord is our guide(Psalm 48:14)...guilty,the |
| is for Christ,with Christ,and through Christ!To leave 'the | | | | Lord forgives and cleanses us(1 John 1:9) |
| rat race' of the world system and start the Christian | | | | Hebrews 12(KJV)verse 1 "Wherefore seeing we also |
| race,everyone has to have a personal encounter with | | | | are compassed about with so great a cloud of |
| Jesus Christ during which the individual wholeheartedly | | | | witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin |
| repents of his/her sins and humbly accepts Jesus | | | | which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with |
| Christ as his/her personal Lord and Saviour into his/her | | | | patience the race that is set before us,"verse 2 |
| heart. The word of God clearly advocates divine | | | | "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; |
| prosperity but shuns worldly prosperity! And the people | | | | who for the joy that was set before him endured the |
| of God have to boldly take and keep a stand against | | | | cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the |
| all signs and shades of unrighteousness even in all | | | | right hand of the throne of God. |
| financial matters since they are called to be a holy | | | | |