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Why is Boasting Evil?
James 4:13-17 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased} 13 {Get real}, you that say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain". 14 Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For that you ought to say, "If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that". 16 But now you rejoice in your boastings. All such rejoicing is evil. 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.
People who read this will say, "Just making plans is evil"? It's evil because to make plans without enquiring of the Lord, puts you above God. It is evil to place self above the Lord. This is what Satan does (Isa. 14:12-15).
To make plans the right way, we must do as God's people did and enquire of the Lord. Let the Lord tell you to do this or that. Amen. For clarity, it is evil to boast without enquiring of the Lord because it does not give God His deserved preeminence as the Lord. Keep God first (Mt. 6)
Boast in the Lord
Enquire of the Lord
Judges 20:26-28 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased} 26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came to the House of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 27 And the children of Israel enquired of the Lord, (for the Ark of the Covenant of God was there in those days, 28 and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, "Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease"? And the Lord said, "Go up. For tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand".
1 Samuel 10:21-23 Authorized (King James) Version 21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken. And when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they enquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come here. And the Lord answered, "Behold, he has hidden himself among the stuff". 23 And they ran and fetched him, and when {Saul} stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.
1 Samuel 22:9-11 Authorized (King James) Version 9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, "I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub". 10 And he enquired of the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine. 11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
1 Samuel 23:1-5 Authorized (King James) Version 23 Then they told David, saying, "Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshing floors". 2 Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go and smite these Philistines"? And the Lord said to David, "Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah". 3 And David’s men said to him, "Behold, we are afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines"? 4 Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, "Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand". 5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So, David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
2 Samuel 2:1-3 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased} 1 And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah"? And the Lord said to him, "Go up". And David said, "Where shall I go up"? And He said, "To Hebron". 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite. 3 And his men that were with him did David bring up. Every man with his household, and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
Archangel Michael says to us now,
"Keep God First Over Money"
"Don't Put Money or Your Plans to Make Money Before God"
"If God is First In Your Heart, You Will Enquire of the Lord"
"Not Boast"
"The Lord doesn't want you to depend on yourself. He is the one who supplies all your needs, as the Apostle Paul wrote. Write that one for this message from your stories inside your head or mind, whichever way you want to write it".
Yes, and Amen
Philippians 4:4-20 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased}
4 Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, "Rejoice". 5 Let your moderation {humility} be known to all men. "The Lord {Jesus} is at hand" {about to return - witness Mt. 28:18-20}. 6 Be careful {worry} for nothing. But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall {guard} your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, {Christian brotherhood}, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report. If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last your care of me has flourished again. Wherein you were also careful, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ {whom} strengthens me. 14 Notwithstanding you have well done, that you did communicate with my affliction. 15 Now you Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving {Gen. 8:22}, but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my necessity. 17 Not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account {Lk. 6:37, 38}. 18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
It appears that the opening passage of James 4:13-17 is talking about making money. So, Michael's response about this message is on how to make money God's way. It is in Phil. 4:15-19. The Apostle Paul wrote in verses 15-17 about giving and receiving saying that he wants fruit to abound to their account for giving to his needs. The Lord Jesus said in Lk. 6:37, 38 that when we give to meet the needs of His people, that God will use people to give back to us whatever we gave in good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
So, to make money God's way, what Jesus calls the righteousness of God's Kingdom in Mt. 6:33, use His giving and receiving system. Give and it shall be given to you. It's called seed time and harvest, the sowing and reaping principle of God's economics, as Gen. 8:22 reveals.
This is talking about giving tithes and offerings to God at your local pastor (Mal. 3:8-12/ 2 Cor. 9:6-8). Keep God first in your heart and in priority over your money (Mt. 6). Enquire of the Lord in your plan making and make money God's way by giving to the needs of His people (Phil. 4:15-19). Amen.
The Holy Spirit now confirms this message with scripture passages
(Jn. 14:26)
Proverbs 3:5-7 Authorized (King James) Version 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not to your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
Psalm 34:1-3 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased}
Psalm 34
A Psalm of David
When he changed his behavior before Abimelech.
Who drove him away, and he departed.
(1 Sam. 21).
1 I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth! 2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord. The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His Name together!
In this world, among people who don't know God, this is their motto about money:
"Get all you can.
Can all you get.
Then sit on the can".
But in God's economy, God says to give your money to meet the needs of His people, and God will repay you in abundance through His people. You give to God to meet the needs of His people. But it is God, not His people, who will repay you.
God is the source of your money. People and circumstances are His channels to get it to you. This is what the God Jesus means when He said,
Luke 6:37-38 Authorized (King James) Version 37 {And Jesus says} Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. 38 Give, and it shall be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Go to work and make money. Then give 10% (the tithe) to God at your pastor. Then give offerings in whatever amount you want. Never give grudgingly to God. He wants a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:6-8).
My point is that when you give money to meet the needs of God's people, you will get money back from God. That's how to make money God's way.
Proverbs 19:17 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased}
17 He that has pity upon the poor lends to the Lord. And that which he hath given will {the Lord} pay him again.
See this in the Living Bible Version,
Proverbs 19:17 Living Bible
{Paraphrased} 17 When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord—and He pays wonderful interest on your loan!
The Holy Spirit confirms His message here about biblical economics,
Matthew 6:24-34 Authorized (King James) Version
{Paraphrased}
24 {And Jesus says} No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 25 Therefore I say to you, "Take no thought {worry} for your life. What you shall eat, or what you shall drink. Nor yet for your body, what you shall put on". Is not the life more {valuable} than {food}, and the body than {clothes}? 26 {Look at} the {birds} of the air. For they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns {birds do not work to take care of themselves}. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they {are}? 27 Which of you by taking thought {worrying about these things} can add one cubit to his stature? 28 And why take thought for {clothes}? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin {flowers do not work to take care of themselves}, 29 and yet I say to you, "That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these". 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is {here}, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought {do not worry}, saying, "What shall we eat"? Or, "What shall we drink"? Or, "Wherewithal shall we be clothed"? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles {unbelievers} seek:) For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. 33 But seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness {apply the giving and receiving principle of God's Kingdom}. And all these things shall be added to you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow. For the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient {for} the day is the evil thereof.
Years ago, there was a man on TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) with a show called "Principles of Biblical Economics". This man is John Avanzini. I haven't seen this show on TBN for years. He had a ministry called "The Debt Free Army" which he gave to his protege, Harold Herring and his wife, Bev.
However, Mr. Avanzini is still around teaching about the economy of God's Kingdom and the sowing and reaping principle of giving. To learn more about the principles of biblical economics, go here,
World without end. Amen.