Tickling Ears for Money

O. T. #2184 "Tickling Ears for Money"

May 4, 2021

Micah 3-Part 3

LET IT GLOW

What a week! I was trimming my holly bush, the dead stems, and did not see any poison ivy in it. It sure made it's presence known, though. Steroids are keeping my brain in a fog, so I am sorry for being late today with the post.

1 John 5:6 says, this is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is Truth.

What are the three witnesses about Jesus?

1. The Spirit validates on the inside what God does on the outside.
2. The water refers to Christ's baptism when the Father Himself praised His Son and the Holy Spirit descended on Him.
3. The blood refers to Christ's sacrificial death on the cross when darkness covered the land, the earth quaked, and the Temple veil split in two. (See Matthew 3:16-17 and 27:45,51)

Have you believed in Jesus as Savior? He loves us so much that He died for us so we don't have to pay for our sins. Such love!

Are we living selflessly like Jesus?

 

LET IT GROW

Micah told it like it was. In verses 9-12, he condemns all three level of spiritual leadership- rulers, priests, and false prophets. They exercised their roles in exchange for cash. (verse 11) The sins of the leaders in Jerusalem were these:

• They had done this for the public good, but went about it in the wrong way. They made the citizens miserable as the result of the nation was filled with sin instead of righteousness.
• The heads performed their duties for personal gain and bribery.
• The priests taught for financial gain, which was forbidden. (Exodus 23:8; Deut. 16:19)
• The prophets performed their function for financial gain, so it was evident they were false prophets. (verse 11)
• The problem was that they divined, which meant soothsayer, use of divination.
• They boasted that Lord was with them, so nothing bad could come upon them, and had a peculiar national relationship with Him.
• Their fatal mistake was to mistake God's favor for favoritism. (Romans 3:17-24) They had no fear of God, did not admit that all are sinners, and did not proclaim the law.
• Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 BC. All of those sins were idolatry, putting themselves and money, greed and covetousness before God.

Judgment is impartial and falls on all wrongdoers, no matter what position they hold. Jerusalem's disaster was coming later when Babylon conquered them. They couldn't be more misguided, for Jerusalem was heading for ruins. (verse 12)

Folks, we must be careful because the love of money is the root of all evil. (1 Timothy 6:10) 

Be ye holy for I am holy. (Leviticus 11:44)

We must be careful to choose all our leaders who do not tickle the people's ears and tell them what they want to hear. Do sermons proclaim the Truth or do they give us what we want? Are our church leaders careful not to rock the boat? Are our teachers denying God's ways while professing they know Him?

It is always good to evaluate ourselves and others when we are doing duties and work for the Lord Jesus.

Remember, we are Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24)

LET IT GO

Love Jesus more than money, things, and position.

Grow more in faith, trusting Him to meet our needs.