Many are looking for favor and rewards from the creator. Even the bible says hope for nothing in return. Perhaps this is where many stumble when the financial or material rewards do not come. The prosperity gospel has been preached for years and the only one that prospers is the preacher. I remember being in evangelical meeting and the singing would go as follows- "Give as you give unto the Lord and the Lord will give it back to you." emotions raised and folks would empty their pockets as the evangelist would go to the next town with the same song. This is not the gospel - expect nothing in return says Luke.
Now, there are many benefits to living a spiritual life. My friend was a heavy smoker over 2 packs a day , his wife also smoked 2 packs a day. The daily spend was over 24 dollars a day to smoke paper and tobacco product. The health benefits from giving up this habit were tremendous and the financial benefit was 720.00USD a month. That was enough for a new car in the garage and a vacation for the entire family to the San Diego Zoo. The next year they went on an Alaskan cruise all with the money saved from breaking the smoking habit. Sure the government and tobacco companies will miss that money as they were benefitting.
Yes - the other major habit of controlling drinking is a benefit. The health benefit of giving up strong drink has been proven. Not to mention the safety concerns with lack of judgement. The financial benefit could average another couple hundred a month. So here we are at over 1k a month just by clean living.
Another benefit is the medical savings from living under less stress. The practical gospel teaches how to relieve stress which is the major cause of heart failure and digestive problems. The bible teaches how to eat properly and not to be gluttons. Eat a healthy diet with less fats , the passover lamb was only eaten once a year. There is a great book , " What would Jesus eat" on the biblical diet.
Peace of mind - learning to forgive others and yourself and having Christ there to assist is a great benefit. There is no price tag for inner peace - it is priceless. Many famous and rich persons have broken lives with no inner peace. Wealth does not guarantee inner peace it only adds to the desires because they are never satisfied by objects. Object wealth is not the same as contented wealth. Having contentment without keeping up with the Jones is real gain.
So - what is the message here rewards or benefits. We will find in the long run it is benefits. Learn to build your faith and your life, make good life choices. I do not teach the gospel of sin, because it was what Jesus did away with. We should encourage others for the benefit to live clean lives and not use judgement as a tool. judge not lest you be judged. Enjoy the benefits - you deserve that cruise.
peace.
Earl.
Now, there are many benefits to living a spiritual life. My friend was a heavy smoker over 2 packs a day , his wife also smoked 2 packs a day. The daily spend was over 24 dollars a day to smoke paper and tobacco product. The health benefits from giving up this habit were tremendous and the financial benefit was 720.00USD a month. That was enough for a new car in the garage and a vacation for the entire family to the San Diego Zoo. The next year they went on an Alaskan cruise all with the money saved from breaking the smoking habit. Sure the government and tobacco companies will miss that money as they were benefitting.
Yes - the other major habit of controlling drinking is a benefit. The health benefit of giving up strong drink has been proven. Not to mention the safety concerns with lack of judgement. The financial benefit could average another couple hundred a month. So here we are at over 1k a month just by clean living.
Another benefit is the medical savings from living under less stress. The practical gospel teaches how to relieve stress which is the major cause of heart failure and digestive problems. The bible teaches how to eat properly and not to be gluttons. Eat a healthy diet with less fats , the passover lamb was only eaten once a year. There is a great book , " What would Jesus eat" on the biblical diet.
Peace of mind - learning to forgive others and yourself and having Christ there to assist is a great benefit. There is no price tag for inner peace - it is priceless. Many famous and rich persons have broken lives with no inner peace. Wealth does not guarantee inner peace it only adds to the desires because they are never satisfied by objects. Object wealth is not the same as contented wealth. Having contentment without keeping up with the Jones is real gain.
So - what is the message here rewards or benefits. We will find in the long run it is benefits. Learn to build your faith and your life, make good life choices. I do not teach the gospel of sin, because it was what Jesus did away with. We should encourage others for the benefit to live clean lives and not use judgement as a tool. judge not lest you be judged. Enjoy the benefits - you deserve that cruise.
peace.
Earl.
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