Money, Sex & Power

What are the things that trip you up in life? If you took the time to list them, what would they be? Would you be honest and list the really deep issues or would you just skip off the surface and take a casual approach? The reality of it is that even with the best intentioned approach we can find ourselves being tripped up, caught by an unseen enemy.

When the happens to me I ask myself, “where did that come from?” “Man that thought was random, that urge was totally wrong!” I begin to create my list and often fall short of getting the answers. I am so thankful that the ½ brother of Jesus figured it out.

(James 4:1-3) “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

Desires that come from within me, well that means that the majority of things that trip me up are my fault not others! So what is yours? Money, sex, power, addiction….

“The surest symbol of a heart not yet fully subdued to God and His will is going to be found in the areas of money, sex and power: in wanting these things for ourselves. The surest symbol of spiritual earnestness will be in the checkbook, the affections and the ego-drive surrendered to Him. A disciple must have discipline. He must not be afraid of being asked by God for some of the time, the money and the pleasure he has been in the habit of a calling his “own.” This does not mean that there will not be time for the family and time for some healthy diversion. But it does mean that we are never---on vacation, or wherever we may be—exempt form our primary commitment to Him.” Samuel Shoemaker

Many people mistakenly think that by going to church it will help them with their desires within. The problem is that church is only the mechanism brings out and enhances the Christian. It does not change the Christian, only Jesus changes the sinner to a saint. And only He can perform the spiritual surgery you need in order to overcome and be called one of His disciples.

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)