Graves of Greediness: Devotion for Wednesday August 12, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday August 12, 2020

Topic: Graves of Greediness                  

Text: Numbers 11:31 – 34                        

In our devotion of yesterday, we saw how God handled the complaint of Moses by putting His spirit into 70 men who were made his assessors in the government.

Today, we read how God answered to the complaint of the people by giving them meat to eat. As they were eating the meat, the anger of God aroused against them. He sent plagues on them which killed many of them. God may in wrath give men what they desire, to show them and others the wickedness and folly of wishing to have their own way, and refusing to be guided and governed by Him. The death of many there as a result of the plague made Moses to call the place Kibroth Hattaavah, meaning “the graves of greediness.”

Brethren, it is often better for us when we accept ‘NO’ from God as we make our requests. A young Christian sister was looking for job. She heard of job opportunity somewhere and she fasted and prayed for that particular job because she was very much interested in it due to juicy allowances attached to it. God refused to grant her request. She kept persisting and God finally let her have her way. The job denied this lady time for God again. At last she backslid and one day on her way to keep appointment for the company she died on road accident within 2 years of getting that job.

This is similar in marriage, fruit of the womb, etc. God knows the best for us. We should always allow Him to have His way or we should better learn to obey and be submissive to Him.      

Food for Thought: Romans 1:24, 26

Memory verse: Numbers 11:34

Prayer: Lord, grant me the grace to accept your verdict about my life in Jesus name.

Consequences of Greed: Devotion for Saturday June 12, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday June 12, 2020

Topic: Consequences of Greed                             

Text: 2 Kings 5:20 – 27                                      

Naaman didn’t make the mistake of going back to Syria after his miraculous healing. He went back to Elisha as a mark of gratitude for what God of Israel had done for him. He came to offer Elisha his gifts instead of offering them to God. That was his understanding. Elisha refused because it will amount to taking the glory of God. Most Pastors of our age would gladly hijack such offers and corner them for our personal use. Such men will easily quote 1 Timothy 5:18.

While Elisha was rejecting those offers from Naaman, Gehazi, his servant out of greed was lusting after those gifts. Thus he went after Naaman to ask for some of those gifts his master rejected. He even went ahead to tell lies in the name of his master. That made it double offence (2 Kings 5:22). Naaman gave him more than he requested for (2 Kings 5:23).

Gehazi never knew that his sins will find him out. Most times when we commit sin and tell lies about them, we easily forget that the Holy Spirit is there with us and can reveal anything we do because He sees us and all we do. Elisha opened his mouth release the word of God and Gehazi became leprous as was Naaman. Compare this to Acts 5:1 – 5.

Greed has grievous consequences. This story is a warning for those who are greedy; priests, their servants, politicians and their aids, civil and public servants, etc. Don’t have an eye on what God has rejected. Be contented with what God has given to you to avoid had I known at the end. What do you think would have been the reaction of Naaman if he heard what happened to Gehazi? Your guess is as good as mine. Have a great day.            

Food for Thought: “Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction” – Erich Fromm. 

Memory verse: 2 Kings 5:27  

Prayer: God, deliver me from any form of greed in my life in Jesus name.

One Secret Of Abundance

Devotion for Friday October 27, 2017

Topic: One Secret Of Abundance

Text: James 4:1 – 3

Yesterday’s food for thought was James 4:1- 3, which speaks that we ask amiss and don’t get from God. James mentioned the reason for this in that verse as avarice. Charles Caleb Colton said that, “Avarice has ruined more souls that extravagance.” A greedy person is like a bottomless pit which never gets filled.  Such a fellow will exhaust all efforts to get satisfaction but can never be satisfied. The story of Ahab and Naboth’s vineyard is an example. Lust and greed are inseparable twins. It leads to covetousness and murder as James made us to understand. He reprehends them who are not ashamed to make God the minister and helper of their lust and pleasures, in asking for their wicked motives and uses.

We pray amiss and don’t have when our aims and ends are not right with God. In prayer, we must consider three things; 1) the object, 2) the manner and 3) the end. We must not only guard our affections, but secure our intentions; for prayers that want a good aim, do also want a good issue. What is you aim for the 7 days, 21 days or 40 days fasting and prayers? Is it aimed at expanding the kingdom of God or for worldly satisfactions in cars, husband, job, money, children, etc? If any of these or many others not mentioned here is your reason for the fasting and prayer, you are not getting it right or you may be asking for what God will give you that you will regret at the end. Remember the case of manna the Israelites had with God in the wilderness. Have you ever considered why God don’t answer all the prayers we say?

If we intend to pray and have what we ask for in abundance, then we should always consider our object, manner and end before praying. Certainly, God will answer you, and your joy will be full (John 16:24).

Food for Thought: “If your desires be endless, your cares and fears will be so too” – Thomas Fuller

Memory verse: James 4:2

Prayer: Re-order my motives in prayer O Lord, so I will not do things wrongly and end up without a reward in Jesus name. Amen.

Are You Hoarding God’s Blessings?

Devotion for Thursday August 3, 2017

Topic: Are You Hoarding God’s Blessings?

Text: Luke 12:13 – 14

Jesus while teaching on greed gave a parable about this man. The Greek word for greed literally means the thirst for having more. Working to provide for you family’s need is not covetousness. However, while we work for our needs, we must be rich towards God by seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Little did the poor fool (though materially rich) in our text, so wise in matters of earthly business, suspect that the awful doom was close to him. He forgot what Solomon said, “Do not boast about tomorrow” (Proverbs 27:1).

Jesus used this parable to teach the dangers in greed and covetousness. This farmer saw his wealth as an opportunity to please himself. He had no thought of others or of God. There’s certainly nothing wrong in following good business principles, or even with saving for the future (1 Timothy 5:8). This man had a false perception or view of life and death. He thought that life comes from accumulating things and death was far away.

On March 11, 1856, Henry David Thoreau wrote in his journal, “That man is the richest whose pleasures are cheapest.” He also said, “A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.” Being wealthy is not sin rather making wealth your god (Colossians 3:5). The man lived without God and died without God and his wealth was but incident in his life. What about you? How do treat God’s blessings upon your life; Are you hoarding it for you and your posterity  or you are using it to please yourself or to please God? Beware!

Food for Thought: Wealth and pride are enemies of salvation

Memory verse: Luke 12:19

Prayer: O God, make me rich towards you by seeking seeking first your kingdom and His righteous in Jesus name. 

CONSEQUENCES OF GREED: Devotion for Friday June 3, 2016

CONSEQUENCES OF GREED: Devotion for Friday June 3, 2016

Text: 2 Kings 5:20 – 27                  Memory verse: v 27

Naaman didn’t make the mistake of going back to Syria after his miraculous healing. He went back to Elisha as a mark of gratitude for what God of Israel had done for him. He came to offer Elisha his gifts instead of offering them to God. Elisha refused because it will amount to taking the glory of God. Most pastors would gladly hijack such offers and corner them for their personal use. They will easily quote 1 Tim 5:18. While Elisha was rejecting those offers from Naaman, Gehazi, his servant, out of greed, was lusting after those gifts. Thus he went after Naaman to ask for some of those gifts his master rejected. He even went ahead to tell lies in the name of his master. This made it double offence (5:22). Naaman gave him more than he requested for (5:23).

Gehazi never knew that his sins will find him out. Most times when we commit sin and tell lies about them, we easily forget that the Holy Spirit is here with us and can reveal anything we do because He sees us and all we do. Elisha opened his mouth; spoke the word of God and Gehazi became leprous as was Naaman. Compare this to Acts 5:1–5. Greed has grievous consequences. This story is a warning for those who are greedy, priests and their servants. Don’t have an eye on what God has rejected. Be contented with what God has given to you to avoid had I known at the end. What do you think would have been the reaction of Naaman if he hears this story? Your guess is as good as mine. Have a great day.             

Food for Thought: Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction” – Erich Fromm. 

Prayer: God, deliver me from any form of greed in my life in Jesus name.