THE LOVE OF MONEY
CONT., page 7
USING THE MAMMON OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
TO GAIN THE TRUE RICHES
Adding one more salient evidence to this list regarding Yahshua's clear teachings about riches and the GREAT relevance of this message for today, let us now read another account found exclusively in second Remnant Luke 16:9-15. But one should note that as much as we are seeing here, which is a clear preponderance of compelling testimony, in no wise is this all the evidence. Most incredibly, in all the studies of this writer, this subject of the covering of the Remnant by holding all things in common, is more thoroughly addressed and supported in the Scriptures than any other single subject, evidencing its great importance!
This overwhelming abundance of evidence first became clear when the three writings on this same subject were written in 2000. These are One Thing You Still Lack, Tabernacles and Devoted Things, and Prepare the Way!, all three of which were successively written immediately preceding and during Tabernacles, 2000. And here we are now at Tabernacles, 2002, and once again the Spirit of Yahweh is stirring this writer on this same vital subject, the content thereof seemingly inexhaustible! And let me say that this coordination with Tabernacles is not something I have planned or thought out, but it is clearly Yahweh's timely design.
The entire text of Luke 16:9-15 will be provided here, and comments on various portions will follow.
"And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteousness also in much. If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things, and they were scoffing at Him. And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God."
Let us now comment on some of these revealing statements.
"And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings."
This is precisely what we have been seeing and talking about all along. Quite frankly, this instruction of Yahshua recorded here exclusively in second Remnant Luke is written specifically for today, to be fulfilled now at the end of the breach period. How much clearer a statement does one need to read regarding what we have seen and compellingly concluded than what is said in these words? The day was and is now present when Yahshua means what He says, and says what He means! If you want to enter into the eternal dwellings, Yahshua has one simple plan. And it's not "Just believe in Christ," or "Let Christ be your savior," as Christianity offers; but it is just what Yahshua said, plain and simple - "make friends for yourselves by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that when it fails, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings." This is His stated plan.
When will mammon fail? The world does not know in advance. The fact is, one has to make this choice while mammon is still king. The choice is simple - either hold onto your wealth and keep your earthly dwelling state, or use your mammon to gain entrance into the eternal dwellings. The first Remnant made that choice, and according to Revelation 6:9, they're in! Now it remains our choice. What will we do today?
"If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?"
To whom does unrighteous mammon belong? The word "mammon" actually means "riches;" and here we see Yahshua even identifying it as "unrighteous." Clearly, the mammon of this world belongs to Satan, the god and prince of this world. Satan correctly told Yahshua that the entire world and all its glory has been given to him (Luke 4:6); and this which is the "root of all evil" is Satan's. And what a strange yet wonderful thing it is that Yahweh gives us the opportunity to give up that which is of this world, in order to gain that which is above. It is by using that which actually belongs to Satan, that man can receive that which Satan has no part; but it requires giving up this world's riches.
"No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
What clearer statement can be made regarding the choice that we have? Not since the time of the first Remnant has this statement by Yahshua been more relevant or decisive. What can be added to this? Again, He means what He says, and He says what He means! "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Now, what will be your choice? All you have to lose is the eternal dwellings.
"Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things, and they were scoffing at Him. And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men."
This is something that really chaps this writer, as it must have Yahshua. I am so very appalled and put out at the way present day Pharisees, or religious Christians, so confidently justify themselves on various issues. They are so very self-righteous and pious, using scriptures to justify their false ideas and actions, believing that their size and longevity and seeming security and choice as the church will uphold them. But like the Jews in Yahshua's time who had been around for 1,500 years, and Yahweh rejected them, the impenetrable forest of Christianity will likewise come down.
"for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God."
This again is one of those agonizingly frank statements that many would rather not face. What one thing is of greatest concern to Yahweh? Does He labor over the world right now? No, for it is His kingdom for which He has great concern. But one thing is certain - all this that you see in the church that is this mix of Spirit and flesh and world IS NOT esteemed by Yahweh, though it be highly esteemed by man! And do not be deceived, the body of Christ is the body of Christ, and when the body is judged, it is judged as ONE BODY, even ALL 2,000 YEARS OF IT! So if you don't like what you see in the Baptists or the Methodists or the Catholics (all 2,000 years of it) or the Mormons or even in church history, guess what? In Yahweh's eyes, your all sitting in the same pew (or to Yahweh is it pu?)!
Thus, Yahshua's statement here bears clear commentary or enlightenment concerning the state of the church that, since Constantine, has been and is today highly esteemed among men. Like Yahweh's estimation of the religious order of Yahshua's day, it too is detestable in His sight! Each has been weighed in the balance and come up short!
Yahshua equally asked - "What will a man give in exchange for his soul?" This question was asked just before He made that amazing promise, delayed by the breach of the last 2,000 years, that there were those who would never taste death. Here in Luke 16 we see what a man will exchange for his soul - riches! (These are the same riches the rich man exchanged for his soul when he built bigger barns to store his increase - "You fool! This very night your soul is required of you" [Luke 12:13-21].) And this exchange of one's soul specifically for riches is confirmed in the context of this question Yahshua posed. Furthermore, the immense relevance of this issue to today is once again confirmed insomuch that this question is raised relative to Yahshua's promise that some would not die, as well as regarding His return. This account is recorded in Matthew 16:24-28 and Mark 8:36-9:1, the latter being quoted here.
"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." And He was saying to them, "Truly I say to you, there are some of those standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."
In this day in which we have the hope and promise of not tasting death, and witnessing the coming of Yahshua in the glory of His Father to recompense every man according to his deeds, let Yahshua's words once again clearly speak; let their clarion truth be revived and recognized for what they say, and not by what we see; and let them judge all men regarding this matter of riches and eternal dwellings.
With this matter of selling all once again front and center in what is necessary in order to obtain the kingdom of God, that which Yahshua said here becomes completely clear and entirely relevant. Just before the return of Yahshua, men once again have the call and the decision as to whether they will follow His words and divest themselves of their riches, or be ashamed of Him and His words and hold onto them. For those who will not obey His clear words concerning this, your outcome is stated very clearly - when He returns, He will be ashamed of you. Again, He meant what He said here, and He said what He meant.
Yahshua likewise said -"How hard is it for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom." Again, Yahshua meant what He said, and He said exactly what He meant.
All along people have thought that this scripture about how hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God, simply had to do with a rich man's general lack of need for God. But, there have been many, many rich men who have entered into Christianity, and they have kept their riches. So, it would seem quite evident that this statement and Christianity are not related, not relevant. When we look here at the teachings of Yahshua and seek to apply them for precisely what He said, only then does what He say here about the camel have any relevance or application (both of which have been missing in Christianity). Yahshua clearly taught the necessity to give up everything in order to inherit the kingdom of God, and only in that application does this statement have any meaning. AND, this is exactly where we are right now; for once again we find the immense relevance of Yahshua's words that in order to receive that which is above, one must give up all that is below, all that is of this materialistic world.
Thus, once again as the message of the second Remnant goes out, we will find great relevance to Yahshua's words - "For it is easier for a camel to go thorough the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." In order for one to enter the kingdom, to enter into immortality, you must do exactly what Yahshua said - use your unrighteous mammon to obtain eternal dwellings; give everything to the poor, which the first Remnant demonstrated to be the poor Remnant who hold all things in common.
Will men, even rich men, be able to do this in these last days? This was the question the disciples equally asked - "Then who can be saved?" But Yahshua added - "The things impossible with men are possible with God." So by the grace of God, I assume that today even the rich will be able to give up everything to receive the kingdom of God.
Having now seen the preponderance of testimony in the preceding sections regarding the teachings of Yahshua about how one is to receive the kingdom of God, as well as numerous other corroborative accounts and testimonies, what we find then is nothing less that a mandate from Yahshua on how one is to obtain the kingdom - sell all and follow Him, making purses for ourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven. This mandate, given to and followed by the first Remnant, is being given once again to the second Remnant in order to complete that which He began, and to prepare the way for His return! The question is - Will we obey?
Continue to page 8 of The Love of Money for THE ROOT OF ALL EVILS