{"id":5618,"date":"2020-12-29T08:30:02","date_gmt":"2020-12-29T06:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/four12global.com\/lust-of-the-eyes"},"modified":"2022-06-20T12:08:47","modified_gmt":"2022-06-20T10:08:47","slug":"lust-of-the-eyes","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/four12global.com\/articles\/lust-of-the-eyes\/","title":{"rendered":"Lust of the Eyes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scripture warns us about three primary areas that will rob us of our joy and damage our relationship with God and people. That is, \u201c\u2026 the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life \u2026<\/em>\u201d (1 John 2:16, NIV). These three I call \u2018Pennies, Petticoats and Power\u2019<\/strong>, addressing the idol of money, sexual purity, and godly, Christian leadership, respectively.<\/p>\n

The Idol of Money<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Through the ages, the love of money has been the downfall of many. Men steal for it, lie for it, sell their souls for it, and some even die for it. All because of the short-lived pleasure it promises, or the false sense of security it offers through investments, savings and hidden offshore bonds. As important as money is, it was always meant to be a means to an end and never the end in itself.<\/p>\n

Scrooge or Sower?<\/h4>\n

In the Charles Dickens\u2019 novella \u2018A Christmas Story\u2019, a man named Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by his past, present and future self. We read how horrified Scrooge is when he sees the selfish, narcissistic, \u2018money-hoarding life\u2019 he\u2019d left as his legacy. Most significantly, realising how he could have blessed God\u2019s Kingdom and the many desperately poor families that had been brought across his path.<\/p>\n

Paul the Apostle addresses this very sad truth in Galatians 6:7-8 when he says, \u201cDo not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.\u201d (NKJV)<\/em><\/p>\n

Debt-Free Peace<\/h4>\n

Although Pam and I have purposed to live our life \u2018debt-free\u2019, it has had its challenges. But on the flip side of the coin, there has always been the joy and benefit of knowing God\u2019s peace in life and being able to sleep well at night. This has always far outweighed any financial challenges that confronted us. From the outset of our marriage, we tithed faithfully into the life of the local church and also purposed to give \u2018offerings\u2019 to help missions or widows when we could. We did this not out of legalism or compulsion, but because we saw it practiced in the early Church and as a New Testament principle blessed by God, which brought a return to the giver in so many different ways.<\/p>\n

As important as money is, it was always meant to be a means to an end and never the end in itself.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The \u2018Test\u2019 of the Tithe<\/h2>\n

One of the New Testament teachings on this truth was recorded in Hebrews 7:8, where one reads of the men (deacons) who received and administered the tithes on behalf of the church on earth. When they did, Christ received them personally in heaven, making a declaration that \u201cHe lives\u201d. But I was also amazed when I saw that with the tithe being a tenth, it became one of the many \u2018tests\u2019 given by God in Scripture involving the figure ten:<\/p>\n