October 11
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ON FALSE TEACHINGS AND TRUE RICHES
A poem by ILMA
Let’s encourage everyone to obey all truth and God’s teachings
Some people may oppose these teachings, but these truths are from Christ
These teachings endorse peace, love and a godly life
Anyone who teaches otherwise is haughty and lacks understanding
Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the words’ definitions
This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions
These people always cause trouble, corruptions for they have turned against truth
To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become well-off
Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth
After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world
So, we can’t take anything with us when we leave it
If we have enough food and clothing, let us be content
People who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by cravings
It is their foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil
And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith.
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MEMORY VERSE
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. – 1 Timothy 6:9
Read: 1 Timothy 6:2-10
Once a person becomes a true believer of Jesus Christ, he or she will familiarize themselves with the truth that only comes from God’s word. They are able to detect lies from truth and thus they learn what true riches are in God’s economy. In this letter of Paul to Timothy, he stressed the source of our ruin and destruction, our cravings and human desires.
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REFLECTION
• What makes people plunge into ruin and destruction?
• Why do you think “love of money” and not money in itself is the root of all evil?
Tag Archives: money
TREACHEROUS ACTS Poem Devotional
October 26
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Wealth is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. -Habakkuk 2:5(NLT)
TREACHEROUS ACTS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Are you seeking to gain more wealth?
Do you find yourself loosing rest?
Obsessing on wealth is dangerous
It is tricky and can be treacherous.
When you are constantly busy and restless
The devil may be leading you towards blindness
Behind that compulsion to be busy is arrogance
Watch that you don’t give in to the tricks of Satan.
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John 10:10 clearly says that the enemy’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy us while the Lord gives us an abundant life. There are many tricks the enemy throws at us. The sad thing is that we don’t even see them. He does it subtly and hides it cleverly like an undercover agent, making sure that he penetrates into the weaknesses of their subjects.
The book of Habakkuk was written by a prophet who was concerned about social justice. He asks the question “If God exists, why do the wicked so often prosper? Habakkuk preached before Babylon’s fall in 586 B.C. God answers Habakkuk in this book, asserting him that he will judge all people and righteousness will ultimately prevail.
In this verse, we are warned against the treacherousness of wealth and that restlessness can be a form of arrogance. Isn’t it so true that when we obsess about possession, we are relentless at getting it?
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PRAYER
Lord, deliver me from the love of money and arrogance.
REFLECTION
How can busy-ness be a manifestation of arrogance?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
ON MONEY AND WISDOM Poem Devotional
April 4________________________________________
Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life.
-Ecclesiastes 7:12(NLT)
ON MONEY AND WISDOM
A poem and essay by ILMA
Money is a tool to get you something done
Only God’s spirit can offer you wisdom
Money can get you almost anything
Wisdom helps you do the right thing.
If you rely only on wealth to be alive
You are missing the truth that’s in Christ
Love of money blinds you to see
Wisdom tells you how to be set free.
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There are many things we can buy with money. Some people become attached to it that lead them to distance themselves from others. They fear that everyone is out to get their wealth. They isolate themselves and live very lonely lives because they chose money as their priority. I know of someone who stayed single because she thinks that men were only after her money. She is now almost in her sixties. It is sad to watch her cling to her assets and not let anyone in her life just because she is guarding her wealth. She wants to have a family since she was in her twenties but what she doesn’t realize is that her love for money keeps her from trusting others and getting them close to her.
The bible tells us that money and wisdom can get us anything, but only wisdom can save our lives.
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PRAYER
Lord, free those who are lovers of money from their idolatry.
REFLECTION
Why do we need to exercise God’s wisdom over handling money?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
POSSESSIONS ARE WORTHLESS Poem Devotional
July 16
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Watch, for the day of the Lord is coming when your possessions will be plundered right in front of you. – Zechariah 14:1(NLT)
POSSESSIONS ARE WORTHLESS
A poem and essay by ILMA
What do you own that makes you feel superior over others?
Is it your wealth that makes you discriminate your brothers?
Why do you cling to your belongings in this world?
Possess nothing that competes with the Lord.
Worldly things do not last long and are temporary
Pursue God and his word and you will be extraordinary
Possession are worthless especially on judgment day
Don’t hoard for it will be plundered in every way.
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Hoarding is defined as “to accumulate for preservation, future use, etc., in a hidden or carefully guarded place.” Hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. A person with hoarding disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s not clear what causes hoarding disorder. Genetics, brain chemistry and stressful life events are being studied as possible causes. Doctors point to a number of potential causes for hoarding. These include difficulty processing information, beliefs about possessions, and the emotional distress associated with discarding items or possessions. To the compulsive hoarder, each and every item is of value – often an exaggerated value. We are warned in the bible that possessions are worthless especially on judgement day.
PRAYER
Lord, teach me to let go of things that have no value in your kingdom.
REFLECTION
What worldly things are you clinging to?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com