Hard Working Christians - Slaves to Mammon

Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Proverbs 23:4

You may ask,"Is it OK to overwork to give?"

Who is the Giver? And what do you give that has any lasting spiritual value for the Kingdom? Are you giving according to tradition and doctrine or because God is working through you? There are many questions that could be asked in response to that inquiry. The answer will depend on the situation and your gift of discernment. Sometimes it is best to refrain from giving, for it may actually be a hindrance. For example, giving a drunkard money is not always wise. You are enabling his condition. Buying him a meal and offering him something of greater value in the process, ie; the Gospel, might be just the thing to turn him around. However many drunkards prey on Christians for their generosity, merely tolerating their preaching so they can use them to continue in their sin. In most cases I avoid giving to people like this, however, there are times where God leads me to give anyway. I suspect that is because it is for their own good. Maybe this is the act of kindness they need to turn around. Maybe it will be the catalyst for them to hit rock bottom so they can find the Rock they need to stand on.

If God is telling you to give, then give. Giving is a Spirit-led activity, like all things. There really is no blanket rule and Scriptures have different passages dealing with different situations. Now, to address the original question: Working hard in order to give as your top priority is a rare thing. Are you giving a high percentage of your money to the poor? Your church? (BTW I'm not advocating legalistic tithing. God loves a cheerful giver.) Or do you find yourself in such debt that you couldn't if you wanted to?

There are exceptions to the rule of covetousness in the heart of man but I would be skeptical even then wondering just what the motives of these people are. Many wealthy CEOs and bankers give generously to charity yet their motives are clearly impure or self-serving once you start digging below the surface to see their true colors. Christians who believe the Prosperity Doctrine are another prime example. I know many who seek fiercely after their own financial gain and justify it for the sake of their own families.

For she said, 'I will go after my lovers, who will give me my bread and my water, my wool and my linen, my oil and my drink.'
Hosea 2:5

Their deeds will not allow them to return to their God. For a spirit of harlotry is within them, and they do not know the LORD.
Hosea 5:4

Scriptures say over and over that seeking wealth is a distraction from God. The mystery of the Gospel message that many seem to not understand is that this world is passing away. All investments in our physical comfort while we are here are fleeting. It is better to sow to our spirit (by the leading of THE Spirit) so that we may be formed into the image of Christ and be preserved body, soul and spirit in the Day. Only those whose bodies and souls are purified and reconciled will enter the Most Holy Place. It takes walking through the refiner's fire to get there. That isn't comfortable.

I don't see Christ, the prophets, nor any of the apostles seeking financial security in the Bible. Few, if any of them started businesses and went into massive debt buying large houses to provide for their large families. Sounds like building your own kingdom to me. Just look at righteous Lot, who brought his family into Sodom and Gomorrah. His loss was great indeed. His wife looked back, not at the debauchery but the financial security and comforts. His corrupted daughters laid with him when he was passed out drunk. Yet Noah, Moses, Paul... their focus was on seeking first the kingdom of God. That's the consistent message of the New Testament. What most Christians today think are blessings are spiritual stumbling stones. The vast majority have bought lock, stock and barrel into the Prosperity Doctrine, and God has given them over to reprobate minds because of their stubbornness.

How many truly are working hard to build the Kingdom, like Paul, who walked over 40,000 miles in his life to establish the churches, wrote 14 epistles, preached to the pagan Greeks as well as the Roman elite, was stoned, jailed and ultimately gave his life as a drink offering for the Kingdom? THAT was giving (Romans 12:1-2). How many are alive today in the comfortable churches of America who follow this example? Can we do that while participating as citizens in a system created to enslave us and distract us away from our higher spiritual calling?

I find most people are out for some sort of personal gain, whether it be for themselves or for their families. What you give yourself to is what you are a slave to. I personally have worked hard to detach myself from dependence on this broken, dying, beast system and trust more on God to provide my daily bread. He of course uses this broken system to provide for me however I am not yoked to it. I have liberty in Christ because I have come out of Babylon and separated myself unto Him. This is what He has asked of me, so this is what I have done. I don't expect everyone to do as I have but I share my testimony in hopes that someone will find value in it. Perhaps someone whom the Father is calling will draw closer to Him because they have heard and understand.

It takes everything to understand what He is doing right now in these end times and to discern what I should be doing (the signs of the times). If I were to shack up with the status quo and rub shoulders with the world in the money-changing "outer court" as the church is doing I would not be ready when God does call. When the pillar of smoke begins to move will my eyes be on the Most Holy Place or turned towards the gate?

And the Levites who went far from Me, when Israel went astray, who strayed away from Me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.   Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, as gatekeepers of the house and ministers of the house; they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister to them.   Because they ministered to them before their idols and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity, therefore I have raised My hand in an oath against them,” says the Lord God, “that they shall bear their iniquity. And they shall not come near Me to minister to Me as priest, nor come near any of My holy things, nor into the Most Holy Place; but they shall bear their shame and their abominations which they have committed.   Nevertheless I will make them keep charge of the temple, for all its work, and for all that has to be done in it.
“But the priests, the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer to Me the fat and the blood,” says the Lord God.   “They shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall come near My table to minister to Me, and they shall keep My charge.
Ezekiel 44:10-15

In these times God has told us not to build the outer court (Revelation 11:2). There is no room for rubbing shoulders with the world. You are either in the temple or out. God's work right now is focused on His Remnant Bride made from the "rib" of the second Adam (who is Christ). The Body is being built by those who are truly in service to Him, but the church is in such disarray that they wouldn't recognize Him if He were standing right in front of them. This is why the Remnant Priesthood must be caught up to Him at the Millennial Reign, the firstfruits barley harvest, to separate the wheat from the tares, thresh the good grain on the threshing floor and blow the chaff away with the breath of the Spirit (ruach). Then the firstfruit priests must present a wave offering to the Lord. If you really know your Bible you will get the gist of what I'm saying here. If you have studied just enough to reinforce what is acceptable to society and your peers then you are most likely missing the mark.

The return of Christ is at hand my friend. Have you trimmed your wick and oiled your lamp? Are you awake? Have you heard the sound of the trumpet? It has been about two prophetic days since Yahshua's sacrifice. The Bridegroom approaches and the great and terrible Day of the Lord is nigh.

Hosea 6 says:
"He will revive us after two days; (the second coming for the Remnant Bride who will rule and reign with Him as a rod of iron)
He will raise us up on the third day. (the final judgment)

But be warned...
Will not the day of the LORD be darkness instead of light, Even gloom with no brightness in it? "I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps."
Amos 5

This is a reflection of how God feels about the church at this time. It is why I have come out of it into the wilderness to be tested, refined and given a purpose.

Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. These are the true words of God.
Revelation 19:9

Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:6

He who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Revelation 3:22