Worldly Wisdom vs. Holiness and Sincerity
…by God’s grace
Consecrating the firstborn male to God… this could be an expensive prospect, especially if you have a propensity for progeny of the male gender. Being of meager means could bring one to pray fervently and often to be granted only female offspring. But God understood all that. He was already ready to pay the great price. The price of His ONLY Son. That’s why He gave the Israelite father the words to say to his son, when he too might be questioning the wisdom…
“I do this because of what the Lord did for me…” Exodus 13:8
As Americans, for a lot of us anyway, our basic instinct is to build wealth and hold on to it, or at least to earn to make our own lives better. Perhaps innocent of the fact that this could be to the detriment of others. It’s very revolutionary to go against this basic tenet of American culture. But God is somewhat of a revolutionary…
“You cannot serve both God and Money.” Luke 16:13
“What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.”
Luke 16:15
Love of wealth = idolatry
“If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’
if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained…
then these also would be sins to be judged
for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.”
Job 31:24-25, 28
Lord, convict us where we need convicting. Let Your word sting in sensitive areas if need be. That we would be made trustworthy with worldly wealth in order to be trusted with forever real riches. Teach us recognize the Source of all that we have, and how to use it to benefit Your work on earth. That with Paul, we would be able to wholeheartedly and unreservedly say.. “Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world… in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have not done so according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace.” By Your grace, help us be brutally generous in order to extend YOUR kingdom as we long for Your appearing, when You will take us to be with YOU…
You are more valuable than any words could ever express. We love You.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”
Luke 16:10-11
Sixty-six books in a year 
“Lord, convict us where we need convicting. Let Your word sting in sensitive areas if need be. ” ABSOLUTELY!!!! And I agree that Jesus was quite the revolutionary!!!! Loved your post Amy – thanks. Would say more but I gotta go!!!