The Invisible Wall of the Mind

The Sapphire Review Vol. 1 | No. 54 • November 29, 2024

Nov 29, 2024

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1 Timothy 6:17, KJV

A CONTRAST

All of us who live in highly developed countries are considered rich in the world when compared with underdeveloped countries. So, there is a principle that we can draw from this verse, even if we are not among the elite of the developed world.

A contrast is made. A choice is placed before the reader. Trust in riches… or… trust in the living God. The issue is not a matter of having some level of wealth, but it is a matter of where trust is placed.

There can be wisdom in having a storehouse of some kind, but the reality is that the more one has, the more earnest they must be in ensuring that that their hearts are fully surrendered to God regarding their finances and possessions. If earnest and prayerful efforts are not made to leave everything surrendered and devoted to God, trust will be placed upon dollars and goods, rather than being placed upon the God who has provided them and cares even for the birds.1

Through Christ, we must learn to have the attitude of Paul, who knew both how to live with very little and how to manage an excess beyond his needs.

“I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:12–13)

DAILY BREAD

The faithful man who has little more than his daily bread is daily dependent upon His Father who provides that bread. Such a man is fully aware of what (or Who) the source of his supply really is. As naturally as his breath moves out of his lungs all throughout the day, so move prayers out of his heart, lifting his needs before his Father in heaven. Not with strain, struggle, or stress go these prayers, but with peace, confidence, and surrender. He develops a level of trust and reliance upon God that, though possible,2 is much harder for one with a large storehouse to obtain. This is why James encourages such a brother to rejoice:

“Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:” (James 1:9)

The Father ALWAYS provides bread to those who will ask and trust Him for it. Always.3

QUESTIONS

The First Question

For those that have something in a storehouse, whether small or large, the first important question that we must ask ourselves is:

“whose money is it?”

If the honest answer is “our own,” we find ourselves in a dangerous position. We are merely pilgrims upon this earth,4 looking forward to a heavenly city that we will one day call our home.5 We know that the love of money is the root of all evil, 6 and that where a person’s treasure is, there will their heart be also.7 One cannot serve both God and mammon (wealth).8

The issue with seeing and treating that which we have as our own really boils down to not being as fully surrendered as God would desire us to be. It is He that works within us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.9 We are to present ourselves as living sacrifices10 and to be willing to suffer the loss of all things if that is what is required to win Christ, obtain greater knowledge of Him, and to be found in Him at His return.11

The Second Question

If, on the other hand, we say that our money and our possessions indeed belong to God, we must then ask:

“Are our lives, our thoughts, and our plans a reflection of this?”

Reflecting Further:

What is our money spent on?
Are we truly content with having food and clothing (our very basic necessities)?12 Or, do we regularly (without prayer) satisfy our wants?
Are we excited when we get more money and upset when we lose it or when surprise expenses come our way? Or, do we offer praise unto God, rejoicing in all our circumstances while giving glory to Him who gives and takes away?13
Do we give joyfully and liberally as opportunities are presented before us?14 Or, out of fear of the unknown, are we careful to ensure that our bank balances don’t get too low… just in case? “Just in case,” is really nothing more than doubt in God’s ability to provide.

It is good that we evaluate ourselves on these matters, lest we allow ourselves to be deceived by our own hearts.15 Even worse still, we certainly do not want to be counted amongst those who honor God with our lips only while having hearts that are far from Him.16

This is no easy thing, nor something to be taken lightly. One must be led by God and Biblical principles, not presumption, in being delivered from a wrong attitude toward money. The first step is full surrender and having an open palm before God - to use us, and all that we have, for His glory and His purposes.

The Third Question

If, after evaluating ourselves in this way, we find that we are lacking in this area, we must then view the love of money as a cancer in our hearts. It matters not how small or how large the cancer is, but simply that it is there. Now comes the question that we must be willing to ask God, if we desire to be fully surrendered in this way:

“Strip us of this cancer, by every means necessary, so that no trace of it may remain. And shape us into the image and character of thy Son, Jesus Christ, in the matter of managing our money and our possessions.”

Many are not willing to take things this far out of fear for what God may actually do or ask of them. He will remove the cancer, that much is certain, at least in the hearts that are willing and desire Him above all else upon the earth.17

What if He takes everything, one might ask. He might, for He does require that we surrender all to Him.18 Then again, He might not, for the cancer treatment is different for each person. However, for the fully surrendered, they leave that decision up to God and not to themselves. True riches are not found in our bank accounts nor in our possessions.19

The God, who is love,20 is not looking to make us suffer for no reason. Those who have gone through great trials to draw near to God21 have no regrets regarding the path that brought them there.

EXAMPLES

A Useful Servant and a Full Surrender

Consider Peter who spoke of himself and on behalf of the other disciples when he said:

“Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” (Matthew 19:27)

These men had forsaken everything to follow Jesus.22 This choice, of full surrender, had literally cost them everything. However, in the end, God was able to use them in a mighty way. So great was their love for Jesus that they even joyfully gave up their physical lives for His cause and glory.23

Peter’s comment came after Jesus had stated that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven,24 which brings us to our second example.

A Form of Religion and a Partial Surrender

The rich young ruler was a very pious man. When Jesus questioned him regarding the keeping of the commandments of God, he exclaimed that he had kept them since his youth.25 Though the outward form of this man’s religion was impeccable, Jesus saw into his heart and lovingly sought to remove the cancer that resided there in regards to the man’s money and possessions.

Jesus challenged this man in the following way:

“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)

Rather than responding with joy in a full surrender to follow the world’s Messiah, he turned, hung his head, and left with great sorrow. This man was unwilling to go through the necessary treatment to remove the cancer from his heart. He was unwilling to take the necessary steps to reach a place of true conversion. We was content to keep the commandments of God and to perform his religious duties. He was content to have a mere form of religion, but he was unwilling to sacrifice if God asked him to get rid of it all.

THE INVISIBLE WALL

The rich young ruler was unable to follow Jesus, because he was too afraid of leaving the comfort of his walled city. Though he kept the commandments of God, he neglected the proverb which warns against the vanity of the protective wall that a rich man builds through his money:

“The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And as an high wall in his own conceit.” (Proverbs 18:11)

This wall offers no true protection at all. It is only in the mind of the man, who possesses the riches, that the fortifications of the wall can even be found. They are not real. Given the right circumstances and sequence of events, this man would find that his wall was merely invisible, and no true wall at all. When that day comes, fear and distress will overcome him, and the strong city of his mind will be nothing more than a pile of rubble.

THE STRONG TOWER

The above verse in Proverbs is contrasted with the verse directly preceding it:

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)

True safety can only be found in God, through His Son Jesus Christ. The righteous, those who are fully surrendered and have the righteousness of Christ being manifested in their lives,26 find refuge within the impenetrable walls of the Most High.

CONCLUSION

Times of difficulty are coming sometime in the future. Times where our money and our possessions will offer no help at all. Times where such things may be taken from us without a moment’s notice. Let us not be found living behind the invisible wall when that time comes.

One can only enter the strong tower of the LORD by leaving behind the strong city of the mind and its invisible wall. One cannot abide in both places simultaneously.

God gives to each of us according to our abilities and as He sees fit.27 To the whole-hearted and fully surrendered, it matters not to them what their financial position is or what their worldly goods consist of. They desire not these things, but simply to be useful vessels unto the glory of God.28

Money and possessions can be a snare if they are not surrendered. The love of money is often not unearthed in one’s heart, at least until earnest self-evaluation occurs as one seeks to be more like Jesus.

For some, like Peter and the rich young ruler, God may require all to be lost that spiritual riches may abound. Though He forces no man to take the necessary steps, those who are willing to travel this road will find that the gains far outweigh the losses. For others, like Zacchaeus, all (of finances and goods) will not be required for salvation to come.29

The choices regarding our money and possessions should be left up to God. If we are willing to trust Him in this way, He will never forsake us30 and we will have no need to fear the unknown.31

PRAYER

May God help us all to be fully surrendered to Him in the matter of our finances and possessions. May our love for Him grow, and may He give us opportunities to trust Him more and to see His faithfulness, so that we may bear witness of His goodness to those around us.