17/05/2021 - WHEN RICHES INCREASE

• 
• 
• 
• 

Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. Psalm 62:10

To follow the Lord Jesus is completely different from following a religion. The Gospel is the Good News of what Christ did on our behalf; but we have been treating Him as if He were one more kind of religion, in which we must strive to please Him or to receive some kind of grace. No! A thousand times no! God is true, He didn’t lie; so no more sacrifices! Let’s believe!

Jesus came to make things easier and to give us abundant life (John 10:10). Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40). The Savior said this when there was nothing else left to do, humanly speaking. Lazarus had died and had been buried four days ago; therefore, his body was already decomposing. Martha, his sister, didn’t understand the Master’s order to remove the stone from the grave. However, Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out and he did!

Sometimes, it seems like saved ones believe in the devil more than they believe in the Lord. When some virus spreads in the region they live, they don’t seek prevention in the Word of God. They start taking medication first, for example, instead of declaring that no evil shall befall them, nor shall any plague come near their dwelling (Psalm 91:10). There are even “Christians” who seek help from a pastor, who tells them to beware because evil is coming against them!

The verse we’re studying makes it clear: Do not trust in oppression. Do we truly believe in the Lord or are we following the gospel of bad news? Elijah, the prophet, warned the people: And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. (1 Kings 18:21). Those who are poorly instructed suffer!

Prosperity should be something normal to those who accept the Lord’s blessing, the Gospel. We are taught in the Holy Scriptures that the blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22). But when good things arise, we close the door to God and start valuing material things. We stop going to church whenever we have something else to do. The devil takes advantage of it and attacks with his fury.

In any situation, surrender your heart to the Father and rest in Him. Don’t act like the king’s officer, who insisted for Jesus to heal his son who was about to die (John 4:46-53). Imagine that man trying to teach the Son of God how to proceed! The Master sent him home, because his son was alive. The soldier believed and when he was arriving home, his servants ran to tell him that the boy had been healed.

Maybe some will disagree with me, saying: “Jacob had to fight the entire night to receive his blessing.” True, but Jesus hadn’t come to the world yet and destroyed the power of the devil. Today, the crippled just need to have faith to be healed; then they will get up and walk. That’s what the Master taught us. Why think or act different? Obey and be happy. Believe!

In Christ, with love,

Dr. Soares