Financial Discipleship – the Bible on Idolatryනියැදිය

Jesus said: to follow Him means to hate everyone. Even your own mother and father (Luke 14:26).

Now, that doesn’t mean to treat them badly or to have a lack of compassion. After all, Jesus came to serve (Matthew 20:28).

We know He commanded us to love the Lord, our God, with all our heart, mind, soul and strength (Joshua 22:5), and to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39).

"To hate everyone” means we must put God first. Above anyone or anything is where God should be in our lives (Exodus 20:3).

God is perfect in His love. His example of love toward us is the best example we can follow.

• If you have children, you may become a better parent if you start your day by spending quality time with the Lord.
• If you’re married, you may become a better spouse if you wake up and immediately talk with the Lord and love Him.
• If you work, you may become a better employee if you let His will be done through you each day.
• If you spend time with others, you may become a better friend if you first learn to listen to God’s voice.

God is love. We can’t love the people in our lives the way they need to be loved if we don’t first understand what it means to love our Father… and what it means for Him to love us (John 3:16).

Our lives aren’t measured by how well-dressed we are, how big of a house we retire in, how high we climbed up the career ladder, or even how much we know about the royal family. We’re all royal in the Kingdom. And we have access to the Kingdom if we live our lives for Him.

(excerpt taken from The Bible on Money, Compass-finances God's way, 2022)