died – Page 3 – Praying Pint

33. And the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven.

Numbers 25:1 While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them in the sun before the Lord, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.” And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.”

And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting. When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.

Exodus 34:14  (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice, and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods.

Numbers 15:39     And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after.

Deuteronomy 31:16    And the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers. Then this people will rise and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them.

Judges 2:17    Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the LORD, and they did not do so.

Jeremiah 3:9    Because she took her whoredom lightly

Deuteronomy 29:19-21     one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike.  The LORD will not be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and the curses written in this book will settle upon him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven.

The path away from God’s love, grace, and mercy – and straight into His anger and wrath is one of choice. Choosing to not only to do what seems right in their own heart and their own eyes and pleasing to them, but they do so thinking they are ok enough to be outside the disciplining hand of God. It does not take long for the weeds of deception to overtake the mind and soul of man. Neglect and complacent attitude with God’s word will give fertile soil for weeds of lies, deception, and false belief.

Matthew Henry commentary: The national covenant made with Israel, not only typified the covenant of grace made with true believers but also represented the outward dispensation of the gospel. Those who have been enabled to consent to the Lord’s new covenant of mercy and grace in Jesus Christ, and to give up themselves to be his people, should embrace every opportunity of renewing their open profession of relation to him, and their obligation to him, as the God of salvation, walking accordingly. The sinner is described as one whose heart turns away from his God; there the mischief begins, in the evil heart of unbelief, which inclines men to depart from the living God to dead idols. Even to this sin men are now tempted, when drawn aside by their own lusts and fancies. Such men are roots that bear gall and wormwood. They are weeds which, if let alone, overspread the whole field. Satan may for a time disguise this bitter morsel, so that thou shalt not have the natural taste of it, but at the last day, if not before, the true taste shall be discerned. Notice the sinner’s security in sin. Though he hears the words of the curse, yet even then he thinks himself safe from the wrath of God. There is scarcely a threatening in all the book of God more dreadful than this. Oh that presumptuous sinners would read it, and tremble! for it is a real declaration of the wrath of God, against ungodliness and unrighteousness of man.

23. “The Lord is with us; do not fear them.”

Numbers 14:1 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.

The cry of the people while in Egypt was heard by God and he delivered them out of the hand of slavery with many mighty wonders and miraculous deeds. These powerful acts of God were witnessed by the Israelites time and time again. Each of these acts also demonstrated God’s love for His chosen. Each of these acts should have resulted in a rock-solid firm foundation of faith in the limitless power, might, strength, and sovereignty of God. Again in the wilderness, God demonstrated His love, justice and awesome deeds supplying food, water, and leading them. His judgment was carried out against grumbling, stiff-necked responses to His love and leading, and disobedience.

So why did they so easily turn away from his leading time and time again? Trust, Reliance, Faith, Hope, and Remaining True were lacking and no matter what God had shown them and no matter how many times they were delivered and no matter how many times they repented. Their lack of belief did not allow them to experience the love and power of God deep in their heart, soul, and mind. Without a trusting in, relying on, and steadfast belief in God there is no satisfaction, purpose, or hope. This belief/faith must be based on truth and is forged in trials we face. “Now faith is the substance/assurance of things hoped for, the conviction/evidence of things not seen.”

Belief eliminates the grumbling heart and places a thankful trusting satisfaction within the soul. We find more and more understanding and knowledge of God when we spend more and more time in His word with a heart of belief.

Ask God to open up His word to your soul. Ask Him for wisdom and understanding in it’s application to your life. Ask Him to open your eyes to His wonders and your ears to His leading. Believe and remain steadfast in your total reliance on Him.

10. They turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers

Exodus 32:7 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.

Genesis 6:11-12  Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.  And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

Judges 2:19  But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.

Hosea 9:9  They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah: he will remember their iniquity; he will punish their sins.

Isaiah 24:5  The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.

Isaiah 31:6  Turn to him from whom people have deeply revolted

Psalms 78:8  and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

The natural intent of our heart is rebellion, stubborn, unfaithful, corrupt, easily turned aside, stiff-necked, and not steadfast in serving God. How are we to recognize the intent of the heart when the society/culture has put its stamp of approval on the very things that oppose God? This makes it very hard to see it for what it is when there is nothing to counter their truth.

Think about it. Mainstream media is calling bi-sexual, homosexual, transgender lifestyles as being “Progressive”. They call pornography “Adult Entertainment”. They call abortion “Choice”. They call God-fearing people as “Weak and Uninformed”. They call creation “The Big Bang”. They call faith “Wishing Upon A Star”. They call God a “Myth”. They call Jesus Christ a “Good Man”. They call God, if He exists, “Unloving”. They call hell a “Stick to get followers”. They deny a “Final Judgement”. They say the Bible is “Man Made Stories”. They say, because God does not exist, “Sin is not real”. They say, if a god exists, “All Religions Point to Him”.

It is very hard to recognize our sinful behavior if we do not believe, desire, seek, serve, follow, and obey God. It is hard to obey God when there is no input of His word into our lives. It is hard to confess sin when neglect and complacency replace daily time in His word.

Do you want to please God? Commit to humbly serving Him. Be intentional in daily time in His word. Seek thoughts, words, and actions that which honors and glorifies Him.

5. Weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you

Luke 16:19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Malachi 3:18     Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

2 Thessalonians 1:8   in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,  when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

James 1:11-12    For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.  Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

James 5:1-7     Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.  Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.  Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire.

Psalms 50:22    “Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver!

I wonder if we see the significance of intentionally desiring, following, honoring, and obeying God. I wonder if we think our commitment is close to giving our whole heart, mind, and soul to Him. Reading these verses give me concern with what I see in our culture of what it means to live for God. When the culture waters down this commitment, people live more for self and less for God. Pleasing themselves with what is satisfying to their eyes, yielding to the desires of the flesh, and giving God not more than a glance most days.

It is sad but so true, that we find every reason and excuse to live for self rather than seeking what is pleasing to God. Prosperity seems to always lead people away from God and adversity, for the most part, brings them toward Him. I heard a radio preacher this week say “if you are always walking in the sunshine, more than likely you are walking in a desert void of living water and food. Prosperity can have a “desert” effect on our lives. It doesn’t have to be that way. We can choose to live for God, seek after God, desire to humbly serve God, worship God, honor God, follow God, listen to God, obey God. This choice has to be heart, mind, and soul deep.

.Hell is real. Separation from God is real. Torment is real. There is no second chance once you die. How many people went about their day today not thinking it would be their last? How many people think they have time to spare before they will fully commit to God? If they knew the day and the hour(no one does) certainly they would be ready but they never are. We don’t choose God to avoid hell. We choose God because of who He is. We choose God because of the great mercy, grace, and love He has given to us in and through Jesus Christ. We choose God because He first chose us.

God is not mocked and our lives should not mock the great grace, mercy, and love given to us by which we may be saved. Search your heart and you will know the level of commitment you are living to God. Don’t make the mistake of using what the culture says is commitment. Use His word and see where He leads you into this commitment. Do not delay another day.

Do all things without grumbling

Exodus 16:1 They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

Psalms 106:7     Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.

Psalms 106:13     But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.

Psalms 106:25    They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD.

1Corinthians 10:9  We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

Numbers 14:27-30     “How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me.  Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the LORD, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you:  your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me,  not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.

Philippians 2:14     Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

I don’t know what is worse, to not believe there is a God, or to know there is a Powerful, Mighty, Limitless, Creator – “God” and grumble about His care, purpose, plan, and love for those who are called by His name. One denies God exists and the other denies His omniscient and omnipresence in and through His creation. One gives no thought and the other denies His faithfulness and steadfast love.

For those who deny God exists there is not much hope outside of God softening their heart to Him and giving them one more chance to receive Him. For those who believe that God exists and they grumble through life, blaming God, and discounting God, this is very sad state of mind to be in.

We all have moments in our life where we question “why” are the trials that hit us not stopped by God. Scripture tells us that God allows some trials and troubles to come our way to test our heart. It is not as though God does not already know but rather to show us the state of our heart, our faith, our trust and our reliance in the awesome hands of God.

We do well to learn from those in the past and not repeat the same humanistic views. We do well to lean not onto our own understanding but through prayer and thanksgiving let our requests be known to God. Relying on Him, trusting in Him, clinging to Him – this is where hope and faith grow and mature.

Whatever it is you are facing – place it in God’s hands and allow Him to work His perfect plan through it all.

Blessed who remained steadfast

Exodus 2:21 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

Isaiah 19:20    It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them.

Psalms 18:6     In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

Psalms 107:19-20    Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.  He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.

James 5:7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

In times of trouble, confusion, distress, anxiousness and hurt waiting seems almost impossible. Yet it is in the impossible we see the hand of God. We experience peace above all understanding. We grow more in our expectant deliverance at the hand of God. We find firm hope.

Will we always see the end of all Gods intervention? Sometimes yes and other times – no. Does this mean He does not or will not act in our behalf – no. It does mean that His plans and purposes are far above our understanding. Can we trust that He will always do His best for us – Yes. In our trial is where trust, faith, and reliance are grown and are one of our ways of glorifying and honoring God.

Note Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Note what Jesus said in Luke 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

In all things we must leave room for God’s will, purpose, and plans. His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts.

God is sovereign, all powerful, and steadfast in His love for us. We can trust that He will work all things together for the good of them called by His name.

Before the foundation of the world

“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”

John 8:48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Proverbs 8:22 “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,

Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Scripture is very clear in stating Jesus was with God from before the foundations of the world. I don’t think much about this but probably should. Some of the people were looking for the “Anointed One” to come. And when He arrived in the flesh some believed He had come and others who should have been able to see did not. Jesus looked at them and called them liars and told them they did not know God. Today we see the same where some people see and others don’t. Some believe and some don’t. We are not blindly following a myth. This is the Son of God who came to redeem the world and wishing none would perish but would come to everlasting life. We have been given free will to believe or not. We are give free choice to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him. Our life this side of eternity is very short. Make the most of it living for Him alone and finding heart, mind and soul desire serving Him and His purpose.

Bread and Water

Joh 6:48 I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

John 4:10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

Bread of life and Living water. Two like teachings that were both received differently. Both people at the time of these teachings asked questions but only one said “Sir give me this water”. Eating and drinking would indicate that these are essential for life, eternal life. The willingness to say yes intrigues me. I wonder what my response would have been on either example. I don’t have to wonder much because without the drawing and leading from God, it would have been the same doubtful response. Never underestimate the impact God will have in your life if you are wanting and willing and desiring Him. He is the true One where we can find hope for eternal life.

Mocked, flogged, nailed to the cross

“And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”

John 3:13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Proverbs 30:4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know!

Numbers 21:4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

How do we feel when we are mistreated or treated unfairly? We want to retaliate or have it made right. Yet Christ knew what was waiting for him and willing went. He had done nothing wrong worthy of any form of punishment. What He did do was heal the sick, bring dead back to life, feed five thousand, open the eyes of blind and the ears of deaf, He gave hope, joy, love. He cast demons out of those possessed and taught the word of God with authority. And for this He willing went to be mocked, flogged and nailed to a cross to die. Why???? Because He was sent from heaven to redeem man from sin, to be the sacrifice once and for all making a way for man to be right with God. What manner of lives ought we live knowing the price that was paid for our personal sin?

This night your soul is required of you

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

“or we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.”

Psalms 49:16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself— his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light. Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

Job 27:19 He goes to bed rich, but will do so no more; he opens his eyes, and his wealth is gone.

Ecclesiastes 5:15 As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.

Luke 12:20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

Isaiah 5:14 Therefore Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure

Isaiah 10:3 What will you do on the day of punishment, in the ruin that will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth?

Luke 16:19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

“To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth?” It is a great question isn’t it. Everything we see around us will have an end. All we collect, all we save, all the things we strive for come to an end. If it all comes to end and none of it comes with us why do we work so hard to have and own it like it does? Oh the our eyes and hearts would be ever open to understand that our purpose this short side of eternity is to humbly serve, honor, glory, follow, and obey God. All other is distraction and must be seen in light of this sole purpose. We are nothing more than stewards of what God has given us. As faithful followers we need to be mindful of the responsibility that comes humbly serving Him. Give more, take less, be thankful more, content more, and rest in God’s sovereign plan. Know we will be judged for this.