C.R.E.A.M.

Proverbs 23:4 NIV, Luke 12:15 NIV, Luke 16:19-31 NIV, 1 Timothy 6:8-10 NIV and 1 Timothy 6:17-19 NIV

The world tells us, get rich or die trying, ball out, stunt, stack chips, chase paper, it's all about the benjamins, C.R.E.A.M.(Cash rules everything around me). This mentality tempts people until they feel like, 'I wanna be a millionaire so freakin' bad' and 'If you ain't doin' it big, you ain't doin' nothin'.

This worldly philosophy also inflates the egos of the haughty so that their speech is ALWAYS about money and how to get more, and some elect even become deceived, simply worshiping God because of the material wealth that they think is associated, which is why they always boast of what they have and how much they spend. But, what does God say on the matter of wealth?

Pv.23:4-"Do not weary yourself to gain wealth,
Cease from your consideration of it."

That seems point blank enough, but there's more...

1Tim.6:8-"If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content."

That's a hard one for us Americans; we consider that to be unbearable poverty!

1Tim.6:9-10: "9But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

People, erred by prosperity teachings and fueled by the continual boasts of the haughty, become disillusioned and began to seek alternative ways to get their true hearts' desire: money instead of God.

Lk.12:15-"Then He said to them, 'Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.'"

It doesn't matter how much money you amass in this life. Greed is a craving that's only filled temporarily and is not everlasting as salvation. And wealth has NO BEARING or relation to the status of your salvation.

1Tim.6:17-19- "17Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed."

As Christians, wealth is NOT a sin to possess, but our TRUE wealth is in salvation through Christ, not money. We shouldn't rely on wealth as our saviour or even insinuate that money is some sort of saviour by constantly promoting the chase of it. We shouldn't find our ultimate comfort nor boast and brag of wealth, which belittles those with less than us, lest we be like the rich man in Luke who ignored Scripture and lavished himself in earthly riches instead.

Lk.16:19-31- "19 Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. 20 And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21 and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. 22 Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.' 25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' 27 And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father's house- 28 for I have five brothers-in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' 29 But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' 30 But he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!' 31 But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Christians, store up heavenly treasures for yourself by obeying God's Word, because wealth on earth is good for nothing but the time spent on earth, but we are destined to spend eternity somewhere else and that will be determined by who we really have faith in and serve: God or the idol of money.