Is the Christian walk costly?
- Thread starter Caleb
- Start date
URACorpse
Member
I've found that the more I give to God, the more I'm blessed by Him. He has always taken care of me, even though I don't desearve it. There is a saying that I've heard over the years that may be very familiar to most, but it is also very true; "You can't out give God".
It's not free, but it doesn't cost everything you have either.
If you *were* to sell all your possessions for the poor, as Jesus suggested to the one young rich man, God would provide you with other things to live on-- God knows you need food and shelter, etc.
I think the point Jesus was trying to make in that verse is that, even if you keep the law-- the 10 commandments-- you aren't perfect. You still don't have love for your fellow man. Jesus was saying that if the man loved his neighbor like God wanted him to, he would be selling all his possessions for the poor. Of course, none of us will ever meet that standard. It's not a matter of reaching it, it's a matter of getting a little closer every day.
If you *were* to sell all your possessions for the poor, as Jesus suggested to the one young rich man, God would provide you with other things to live on-- God knows you need food and shelter, etc.
I think the point Jesus was trying to make in that verse is that, even if you keep the law-- the 10 commandments-- you aren't perfect. You still don't have love for your fellow man. Jesus was saying that if the man loved his neighbor like God wanted him to, he would be selling all his possessions for the poor. Of course, none of us will ever meet that standard. It's not a matter of reaching it, it's a matter of getting a little closer every day.
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:3 & 4
I think it may feel costly at times, more especially when we are in the midst of a trial. Romans 8:28 is one of my favorite verses and I try to cling onto it in the eye of a storm when my faith seems to grow weak, and I am weary. It strengthens my faith in the very worst of times knowing that He promises that it will all work out for my good.
As for giving it all, I do not think God will require each of us to sell all we have. The question is will I put Him first and love Him most. It is a question of heart attitude.
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. I Samuel 16:7
Moses had a heart after God. In Exodus 33: 2 & 3 God is giving the people the Promised Land, but He is not going with them. In verse 15, Moses has the wisdom and love in his heart towards God to know, that gaining the whole earth, without God, is nothing. He will not accept the Promised Land, but opts for the desert, if that is were he will have fellowship with the Saviour.
And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. Exodus 33: 15
The true cost of the Christian life was more costly than we can ever imagine. Nevertheless, it has already been paid in full, on the Cross of Calvary, when He bore all our sin and shame.
I think it may feel costly at times, more especially when we are in the midst of a trial. Romans 8:28 is one of my favorite verses and I try to cling onto it in the eye of a storm when my faith seems to grow weak, and I am weary. It strengthens my faith in the very worst of times knowing that He promises that it will all work out for my good.
As for giving it all, I do not think God will require each of us to sell all we have. The question is will I put Him first and love Him most. It is a question of heart attitude.
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. I Samuel 16:7
Moses had a heart after God. In Exodus 33: 2 & 3 God is giving the people the Promised Land, but He is not going with them. In verse 15, Moses has the wisdom and love in his heart towards God to know, that gaining the whole earth, without God, is nothing. He will not accept the Promised Land, but opts for the desert, if that is were he will have fellowship with the Saviour.
And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. Exodus 33: 15
The true cost of the Christian life was more costly than we can ever imagine. Nevertheless, it has already been paid in full, on the Cross of Calvary, when He bore all our sin and shame.
Caleb, I want to thank you for starting this thread yesterday. It was a very good, but simple question that spoke volumes to me. The Holy Spirit used it on my heart all throughout the day, not only your question but the things said in response.
I thought about what Hescomin said. Two long years of beseeching God...to the point of suicide. Now he has a precious wife to serve the LORD with hand in hand. Not all marriages are made in Heaven. Therefore, I personally believe the ones that are happen to be a miracle! It makes me wonder Hecomin, if you got to the point that you sold all you had in your heart. In your distress did you say: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Job 13:5? Your testimony was very encouraging and it reminds me of the following Scripture that I think pertains to more than money.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 8:38
That is what URAC was saying next!! Then kraniac mentions that it isn't free. We give Him our hearts and He gives back so much more. He is so very good.
It is so true, we cannot out give God. The more I give, the more I get. Yes, it costs, but I think if we were called to sell all...if we were to have none of the worlds goods and live on the street for the rest of our lives...He still has given more, so much more. We have the glories of Heaven to look forward to.
As I started this post, the song Count Your Blessings came to my heart, then shortly after, it came on the radio! The simple pleasures of God always amaze me! I just wanted to thank everyone who posted here, what God requires and what He has given continues to work on my heart today...He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/g/hgmgrace.htm
He takes everything I give Him and turns it into something beautiful:
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3
Life seems a puzzle at times...but it all fits!
Todays daily devotion fits with what Hescomin was saying and anyone who has diligently prayed goes through.
Wrestling Before God
I thought about what Hescomin said. Two long years of beseeching God...to the point of suicide. Now he has a precious wife to serve the LORD with hand in hand. Not all marriages are made in Heaven. Therefore, I personally believe the ones that are happen to be a miracle! It makes me wonder Hecomin, if you got to the point that you sold all you had in your heart. In your distress did you say: Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Job 13:5? Your testimony was very encouraging and it reminds me of the following Scripture that I think pertains to more than money.
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 8:38
That is what URAC was saying next!! Then kraniac mentions that it isn't free. We give Him our hearts and He gives back so much more. He is so very good.
It is so true, we cannot out give God. The more I give, the more I get. Yes, it costs, but I think if we were called to sell all...if we were to have none of the worlds goods and live on the street for the rest of our lives...He still has given more, so much more. We have the glories of Heaven to look forward to.
As I started this post, the song Count Your Blessings came to my heart, then shortly after, it came on the radio! The simple pleasures of God always amaze me! I just wanted to thank everyone who posted here, what God requires and what He has given continues to work on my heart today...He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/g/hgmgrace.htm
He takes everything I give Him and turns it into something beautiful:
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3
Life seems a puzzle at times...but it all fits!
Wrestling Before God
All that it does cost is something that you most likely should not have. It cost me drugs, drinking, profanity, and other horrible habits that come with conforming to this world of sin.
I have gained so much, including a wonderful church family, beautiful friends, an absolutely amazing christian girlfriend who does nothing but support me in my desires and walk in the Light, a better relationship with my family(who at one point I just about got disowned from.) and it just has helped me find happiness in all that my selfishness once hid from me.
I have gained so much, including a wonderful church family, beautiful friends, an absolutely amazing christian girlfriend who does nothing but support me in my desires and walk in the Light, a better relationship with my family(who at one point I just about got disowned from.) and it just has helped me find happiness in all that my selfishness once hid from me.
SLNT_FIR
New Member
think of it this way. If you had a son / daughter, you want them to be happy right? you want to give them things. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean you want them to do drugs and other things that make them "feel" happy. same thing w/ god. he wants to take away those BAD things and replace them with EVEN BETTER things.
Avesther
New Member
It cost me everything I had and enjoyed and held dear to take the first step. But since then, I have come to the realization that to continue in the old sinful ways, was costing more the lump some payment I made in becoming a Christian.
Since I've started walking with Christ, I've become richer, financially, emotionally, spiritually, physically. There is not one thing I have now in my possession that I could have attained with out Christ. Not one, not a single thing. I am a hundredfold richer, if not a thousand or million times richer then I could ever have been without Jesus. Without Jesus, I know I would have given up trying to walk the paths I have followed with Jesus. And if it were not for the higher paths I have taken over the last numurous years of my life...I wouldn't be where I am today and I wouldn't be on the path that will get me to where I will be tomorrow.
Oh, I may well be somewhere tomorrow had I not choosen to allow God to make my paths striaght, I'm sure also that I would that I would be thinking I was on top of the world while in reality being clouded in the valleys.
No, in the end, it hasn't cost me anything I didn't have or shouldn't have had to begin with. Its been a wonderful, adventurous, challanging and reward walk.
Since I've started walking with Christ, I've become richer, financially, emotionally, spiritually, physically. There is not one thing I have now in my possession that I could have attained with out Christ. Not one, not a single thing. I am a hundredfold richer, if not a thousand or million times richer then I could ever have been without Jesus. Without Jesus, I know I would have given up trying to walk the paths I have followed with Jesus. And if it were not for the higher paths I have taken over the last numurous years of my life...I wouldn't be where I am today and I wouldn't be on the path that will get me to where I will be tomorrow.
Oh, I may well be somewhere tomorrow had I not choosen to allow God to make my paths striaght, I'm sure also that I would that I would be thinking I was on top of the world while in reality being clouded in the valleys.
No, in the end, it hasn't cost me anything I didn't have or shouldn't have had to begin with. Its been a wonderful, adventurous, challanging and reward walk.