07/02/2024
Too often, you hear people use other people’s life circumstances to assess their relationship with God. I’m sure most, if not all, have heard it.
“Well, he’s got a lot of money but the Bible says it’s hard for a rich man to go heaven.”
“Well, he’s having a hard time paying bills and maybe God just isn’t blessing him because of…”
“Well, he’s worked hard to get in that position but I wouldn’t want my treasure lying in that…”
“Well, he’s never amounted to much and God doesn’t help people who won’t…”
“He’s had a whole slew of troubles for a long time and I think God may just be showing him…”
“He’s had it easy his whole life and that may be evidence that his heart is of this world and not God.”
I could go on and on and you probably could too. When in all actuality, a relationship with God doesn’t predict life’s circumstances at all. God rewarded Abraham with wealth while Lazarus was a poor man and literally carried by angels to Abraham upon his death (Luke 16:22). Jesus had disciples that were fishermen and physicians which we’d call blue collar and white collar today.
And of course the biggest one is judgement when we see people going through struggles. Imagine the judgement today amongst family and friends for someone who was locked away in prison accused of heinous crimes, yet that’s what happened to Joseph.
Let’s face it…there are wealthy people who know god and wealthy people who don’t. There are poor people who know Him, and poor people who don’t. There are people accused of awful things who know him, and people accused who don’t. There are prominent members of society who know him, and prominent members who don’t.
And unfortunately, the world typically judges these people before we get to know them individually which puts us (as Christians) in a very dangerous spot. Be careful of your preconceived thoughts. Thoughts become words, actions, and even habits putting your entire character in jeopardy and final judgement.
