Spotlight 02/2019: Watch out for thieves!
Wealth not only obligates, it also forces people to take special precautions. District Apostle Jürg Zbinden (Switzerland) mentions some precautions that should be taken.
“Rich in Christ” is the motto that will guide us through the year. The activity of the Holy Spirit makes us more and more aware just how rich we are as children of the Most High and whom we owe all this to!
The Lord does not come and tell us: “You are rich enough, you won’t get any more!” No, He wants those who follow Him to be even richer. Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15: 13). He lets the believers in Philippi know that he is praying for them that their love may overflow more and more with knowledge and discernment (Philippians 1: 9). He sent a similar message to the church in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 3: 12).
Whereas Christ wants to make us richer, the designs of the devil are quite different. We know from experience that where there is wealth thieves are not far. Many rich people have suddenly found themselves poor again practically overnight because they were careless. One day Jesus asked the question, “How can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house” (Matthew 12: 29).
With Christ we are strong. Let us be careful that the devil cannot tie us up! If he succeeds in tying our hands, our prayers will suffer and so will our involvement in the congregation. If he succeeds in tying up our feet, our progress and perseverance will suffer. This is how the late Chief Apostle Fehr expressed it once. Only if the evil one succeeds in tying us up, can he rob us of our wealth. He is after our childhood in God and the inheritance promised to us, the reward of the faithful, and the garments of salvation. And he wants to undermine our confidence in God’s guidance.
Let’s be vigilant! If we stay close to Jesus, our divine wealth is safe. For us that means: we must follow as closely as possible.
Photo: NAK Schweiz
