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ILL GOTTEN WEALTH
Better a little with fear of the Lord, than a great fortune with anxiety. Proverb 15:16
Rejoice not at a proud man's success, remember he'll not reach death unpunished. Envy not a sinner's fame, for you do not know what disaster awaits him.
God's words never fails, generations to the next.
What is ill gotten wealth ?
Some will say wealth gotten dubiously.
How?
Some will give examples like the politicians that embezzles public fund, the ritualist, robbers, the civil servants involved in contract inflations and so on. These may be true, but not the whole truth.
Ill gotten wealth is wealth gotten when one sacrifice ones values to get wealth. Infact, what drives one to commit such act is the drive of the love of money. The scriptures states, "Those who want to be rich are FALLING into temptation and into a trap and into MANY foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into RUIN AND DESTRUCTION. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their DESIRE for it have strayed from the faith and have caused themselves so many pains." 1Timothy 6:9-10.
Many will say I don't like money, but watch their actions and you'll notice their hypocrisy.
When we sacrifice on the alter of making money, our values, we make ourselves slave to money, a thing created by man, and inadvertently or intentionally make money god. For we cannot serve God and money see Luke 16:13. Don't you know that the love of money is greed and greed is a form of idolatry, that is idol worshipping. See Colossians 3:5-6
There is the 'man of God', who sacrifices the truth/gospel on the alter of money. He acknowledges, receive gifts and even bless men n women of dubious means. Another will spread false gospel in order to be rich, and people will notice the pastor/CEO has suddenly become very rich, even richer than most members of his 'church'. Who told you that religion makes one rich! See 1Timothy 6:5
Another strange one I see in our land are ladies asking men (or vice versa) for unmerited favour (usually men or women they know little or nothing of), like recharge cards, monies, etc, turning themselves into beggers, because of greed sacrificing their dignity, prestige. Where is your patience and perseverance needed to overcome your lack, see James 5:7-11, don't you know that such unmerited favour don't last and surely brings sorrow at the end.
There are the prostitutes (male and female) willing to sacrifice their bodies because of money. They are on the same level with ritualist, that do same for money.
Some will sacrifice love, children, spouse, friends, truth, and other values on the alter of money, and all these will claim they are sharp, fast people, and some will even brag of their astuteness.
Shame! You all are just like beautiful tombs inside is dead, decayed bodies, you're just fattening yourself like the cow, being fattened for slaughter, on that day God will not spare you, you'll have enough meat to cut!
"The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never will I forget a thing you have done!" see Amos 8:7
Repent! Make amends! Turn a new leaf! And be saved!
To all others who toil day and night, and not wanting to sacrifice their values and be slave of money. Those who choose to serve God, and not money
The Lord says
"He raises the needy from the dust, lifts the poor from the ash heap, to set them among princes, the princes of His people." see psalm 113:7-8
And these are your portion as God lives.
Amen!

CHRISTIAN FAITH SHOWN THROUGH LOVE AND CHARITY
Love and charity are usually taught in all the religions of the world. From judaism, islam, confucianism, buddhism, african religion, even cult groups and sects, all profess in one way or the other that it's good to show love to your neighbor, that is to do unto others as you want others to do to you. Even the devil do good to it's like, or followers.
Yes the command to love has been there in human since creation, no wonder the scriptures states, "For this command which I enjoined on you today is not mysterious and remote for you...... No, it is something very near to you ALREADY in your mouths and in your hearts, you have only to carry it out." see Deuteronomy 30:11-14. God is love, He created man in love, with love and for love, that is why man will always have that tendency to show love, even the most wicked of men. The major problem with us, is not knowing it, but it's in the expression of love which is charity. Now charity here is not limited to money or what it can buy, as most think, but it includes time and talent.
A scholar of the law asked Jesus this question to justify himself, 'Who is my neighbor?' Jesus answered with the Parable of the Good Samaritan (see luke 10:25-37). It states of a jewish man robbed and beaten to near death, a priest and a levit (seemingly model of the jewish faith to this man) ignored him and took the opposite road, though legally these 2 men may be right, cos a priest is not allowed to touch a dead body, because they don't want to be ritually unclean, see Leviticus 21:11. Perhaps if they had gone near, they would have realised that this jew was still alive. Ironically, a Samaritan, an enemy to this jew, took that same road, moved by love and compassion, helped this jew to recovery, to the extent of suspending his journey till he is sure this jew is in the right hands. Jesus now told the scholar to replicate this. While Jesus was on earth, His teachings were majored on love, knowing lack of love is the foundation of all evil in this world. He brought us a complete understanding of this law and command that is inscribed in all humans heart and mouth. Other religions teach love, but limits the perspective or view of who our neighbor is, and who should get our love, but Jesus insists that all humankind is a big neighborhood, and our love and charity should cut across all barriers of culture, tongues and religions, and to even those that don't deserve them, and will readily pay us back with evil. No wonder He told His disciples on the night he was to be arrested "I give you a NEW COMMANDMENT, LOVE ONE ANOTHER, AS I HAVE LOVED YOU." see John 13:34. And we all know Jesus love was not selfish but rather a SACRIFICIAL and COMPASSIONATE one. This is the Christian love and charity. In expressing love to others through charity, we should not be moved by compulsion but rather moved by compassion, bearing in mind that it is more blessed to give than to receive (see acts 20:35) and don't be deceived he who gives is always ontop.
Finally, he who abides by love is merciful and compassionate, but he that abides by the law can never be merciful nor compassionate. Love does no evil to a neighbor and hence it is the fulfillment of the law (romans 13:8-10), whether jewish law or anyother cultural law.
Glory be to Jesus.