Bible Discussion Thread

I need your encouragement please . I am tempted to become angry and greedy and to allow worldly desires and vain things to get to me . I need to be reminded that this world is nothing to do with me . Some years ago my dad died and his brother swindled my siblings and I out of our inheritance from our dad . My dad's brother was wealthy and owned his own business , he died recently and left his wealth to his fourth wife and her family , nothing to his own kids or any of his biological family . So my dad's money went to his brothers step children by his fourth wife . I got over that pretty quickly . Now it seems that my millionaire cousin has swindled my siblings and I out of our moms money / property . I just don't get it . Why would she do that when she's already a millionaire ? She seemed quite nice . I'm not too upset for myself but I feel I've let my family down , I think they were hoping I would be able to help them out a bit after my mom died . I'm tempted to get angry and bitter about all this . Please help me to keep my heart with Jesus .

Dear Sammi,

I'm sorry to hear this has happened. I think you are handling it better than I would, and I think everyone would struggle with this.

2 verses come to mind:

Romans 12:19 - To me this means that there are 24/7 injustices in this world, because there is sin. People assume they are "getting ahead" in the short term and yes, they probably feel good about themselves for the moment, but the reality is this life is extremely short and it could all end today. And all our moral choices will be judged fairly. While it seems like people are getting away with doing wrong, they aren't. No one is getting away with anything. 100% will be fully disclosed before God and He will judge accordingly.

Matthew 6:19 - While we need money to live- for food shelter, etc, we don't need more than what we need. Anything in excess is a risk that we will begin to have wrong motives. It's harder for a rich man to enter heaven. And the love of money is evil. Greed is sin. It's like playing with fire. Nothing wrong with being financially successful and secure, but temptations will be great. We must be on guard.

May God bless you and have peace in your heart knowing that God is watching and knows all. He knows exactly what your family has done. But your family probably doesn't know that God is watching them and noticing their motives. Pray for them because they will be judged for this.

Thanks very much Adam for your spot on reply . I am just about over it now as we had some bad news today which has put everything into proper perspective . My son in law has Berretts esophagus , he's in his late twenties and he's been told that he won't reach the age of fifty . Eight months ago he and my daughter were making so many plans and were so happy together . Now he's lost so much weight and can hardly speak . Our hearts are broken . Money and possessions really are nothing compared to your loved ones , love being the key word . I can't be bitter towards anyone now , let them have it if it makes them happy , if you don't know the Truth then money seems to be the most important thing , it won't do them any good in the long run and they may as well try to catch the wind . We have so much more to look forward to , let's focus on that and on being as kind to each other as possible until our change comes . God bless you .

Hi Sammi,

It seems we are living in a nightmare when perceiving horrible injustices around every turn, causing difficulty in maintaining a peaceful state, due to our "justified" anger. Keep in mind, anger cannot occur unless you believe you have been attacked, and that your attack is justified in return, AND that you are in no way responsible for your own state of mind.

I'm convinced forgiveness is one key to a happy dream here, instead of nightmares. Yet, I admit, true forgiveness is not easily mastered. When perceiving those who are harmful, I find it helpful to consider this as a brother's or sister's cry for help, due to a lack of the awareness of Love. When I'm harmful to others, due to not being loving, I need not attack and anger in return, but instead help, prayer, forgiveness, and healing; caused by Love.

Pray truly for your perceived enemies, that they would become your friends. Lincoln said, "Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?" Forgiveness is the one gift we should give, because it is the one gift we should want. And everything we give, we give to our self. I continue to seek and pray, for Jesus, our Guide, to teach us from the Holy Spirit, how to forgive in harmony with the vision of Christ. Perhaps we should think of forgiveness as a selective remembering, based not on our selection, but that of the Holy Spirit's, remembering only the loving thoughts we gave in the past AND those that were given us.

Sammi, truth is, you are the work of God, wholly lovable and wholly loving. This is how you must think of yourself in your heart, because this is what you are; how you were created. By Love. You cannot make yourself (and others) unworthy, because you are the treasure of God, and what He values IS valuable. How's that for encouragement?

Peace

GOD IS

Perfect ! Thankyou so much . I've read your reply to me four times over and each time it gets better . You have helped me massively and everything you have said has been spot on , just the kick up my backside that I needed ! Much appreciated .