Preface
This week I have been Fasting from the teachings of man, trying to get the levan out of my life. This is what I feel like the Father has laid on my heart.
Do you own or are you owned?
In my day to day driving I have noticed a tremendous amount of storage rental places. Places that offer to store the stuff you don’t have room for until you get a bigger house.
I too have had to use one when I was school teacher and didn’t want to bring all my school stuff home when I was transitioning between schools. It was a perfect fit for me, 2 months and I was out. But for most people it’s a place to store crap that you don’t use, don’t need but you just can’t throw it away. Stuff that you will only access when you move into your next bigger place, only adding more to it and upgrading your storage space or you build a storage building in your backyard.
Meanwhile the people that own these spaces build a 5,000 sq feet space for lets say 100,000 then they divide it into 50 sections and rent each section out at 100 per month. Within three years they have tripled their money and after 20 years they are looking at a cool 1.2 million dollars. All by storing junk you don’t need. Sounds like I should quit my job and build some buildings to store people’s junk, note to self. Don’t tell anyone my great idea.
Since I was a kid I have often questioned money and the proper biblical view of it. I have struggled with it for years. On one hand the bible is clear that we should be prepared, which I interpret is having money, but I also read how we should give it away?
I have always felt we live in a Modern Day Egypt. One in whence we all have voluntary enslaved ourselves. We have chosen to be in debt, to have new cars, nice houses, gated communities… We also create lots of work for ourselves and others in the painting, mowing, repairing of all these items we must have.
Look at the Tiny House Movement, aren’t we all a bit jealous of what they are doing? Anyone that has had a house of property to maintain has thought about it at some point. The simplicity of living, not having to worry about all the maintenance and work that either you do or you pay someone else to do for you. But don’t you wonder what the real story is on most of the Tiny Home people? I bet they have short runs at the lifestyle and then fall back into being just like the rest of us, and I bet they have something in storage somewhere.
Entire shows have been dedicated to people who live free and aren’t bound by stuff and how it rules your life. We all seem to have a yearning for being in Nature, enjoying time with friends and family, growing our own food, hearing the birds, the stream…
The Father put this desire to be connected to the Earth in us. After all we are made from dirt and will be dirt once more. We were commanded to “subdue the earth”. Sometimes I wonder, “Do we subdue it, or does it subdue us?” It’s really mankind subduing us and making us think that we have to live a certain way. See the following verses below about money, study, pray, see what the Father puts on you.
Below is an actual conversation had with one’s self, yes I do talk to myself and answer myself.
Why do I work?
To earn money
Why do I need money?
Food, Clothing, and Shelter, as well as Taxes, Health Insurance, transportation, insurance, travel, kids….
Who told me I needed all that?
Society, corporations, the people I share a house with, the government, the TV…
Kinda sounds like what a certain snake said in the garden?
What does the Bible say about Money?
“If you lend money to my people—to any poor person among you—never act like a moneylender. Charge no interest.
Never charge another Israelite any interest on money, food, or anything else that is borrowed.
“Whoever accepts money to kill an innocent person will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
What has the Father Provided?
Lambs will provide you with clothing, and the money from the male goats will buy a field.
Why do you spend money on what cannot nourish you and your wages on what does not satisfy you? Listen carefully to me: Eat what is good, and enjoy the best foods.
Amos 8:11 Names of God Bible (NOG)
11 The days are going to come, declares Adonay Yahweh,
when I will send a famine throughout the land.
It won’t be an ordinary famine or drought.
Instead, there will be a famine of hearing the words of Yahweh.
Luke 12:13-34 Names of God Bible (NOG)
A Story about Material Possessions
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to give me my share of the inheritance that our father left us.”
14 Yeshua said to him, “Who appointed me to be your judge or to divide your inheritance?”
15 He told the people, “Be careful to guard yourselves from every kind of greed. Life is not about having a lot of material possessions.”
16 Then he used this illustration. He said, “A rich man had land that produced good crops. 17 He thought, ‘What should I do? I don’t have enough room to store my crops.’ 18 He said, ‘I know what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones so that I can store all my grain and goods in them. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, “You’ve stored up a lot of good things for years to come. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you’ve accumulated?’ 21 That’s how it is when a person has material riches but is not rich in his relationship with God.”
Stop Worrying
22 Then Yeshua said to his disciples, “So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat or wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. 24 Consider the crows. They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even have a storeroom or a barn. Yet, God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds.
25 “Can any of you add an hour to your life by worrying? 26 If you can’t do a small thing like that, why worry about other things? 27 Consider how the flowers grow. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. 28 That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith?
29 “Don’t concern yourself about what you will eat or drink, and quit worrying about these things. 30 Everyone in the world is concerned about these things, but your Father knows you need them. 31 Rather, be concerned about his kingdom. Then these things will be provided for you. 32 Don’t be afraid, little flock. Your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
33 “Sell your material possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don’t wear out! Make a treasure for yourselves in heaven that never loses its value! In heaven thieves and moths can’t get close enough to destroy your treasure. 34 Your heart will be where your treasure is.
Sometimes I wonder, I am I more like the man that builds barns to store his loot? And less like the poor beggar at the gate that makes into heaven?
What about you?
Sabbath Lounge 
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