2-26-16 Seeking Riches

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

1 Timothy 6:9 KJV

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Too much can not be said about the sin

Of seeking to be rich above all else,

For when the lust for gold within begin,

The love of God and Christ most surely melts.

A strong foundation builds a sturdy house,

So let the Rock of Ages cleft for you,

But if you build on greed you then espouse

The love for worldly things you should eschew.

A foolish man will do some hurtful things

In order to obtain abundant wealth.

It’s hard to stem the selfishness this brings

And easy to forget supernal health.

           Put all your faith in Heaven’s Kingdom now

           Don’t let the love of riches strike your brow.

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REMEMBER: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 KJV)

8-1-15 The Root of All Evil

For the love of money is the root of all evil:

which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith,

and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1 Timothy 6:10 KJV

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The love of wealth begins with just a kiss,

A secret rendezvous, a warm desire.

The more you have the more you want for bliss;

The more you want the more that you require.

You think of all the things that it can bring,

How easy life would be if you were rich.

You need it more than God, this precious thing;

The love of money turns your life to kitsch.

Idolatry begat all evilness:

Desire of the fruit to have it all.

As long as this is what you must possess,

You are a slave to sin and sure to fall.

If you love God as much as you need air,

Then money’s not an issue nor a snare.

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sonnet #423

7-23-15 O Lord of Lords!

To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

Psalm 8:1 KJV

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O Lord of Lords, Your glory shines above,

Illuminating Heaven and the earth!

Your power, truth and mercy rich with love

Was evident upon Your mortal birth!

How wonderful the grace you grant to man!

Unworthy though he is, You love him so!

You sacrificed Your life as was the plan

To bring salvation to the lost and low!

Jehovah, O how excellent Your name!

The universe in all its splendor fails

To demonstrate the grandeur that You claim

Upon a crown of thorns, a cross and nails.

Your glory is above the heavens heights,

But still Your spirit soothes our darkest nights.

~~~~~~~~~~~

 

sonnet #414

4-12-15 True Friend

If you would dare to want to know your friends,

Lose everything you own; be destitute.

The clique you used to know will show their ends.

Good luck if you don’t have a parachute.

A poor man’s house is not well visited,

For there is nothing there to want or claim,

And if his house burns down then God forbid

The crowd that knew him rich would douse the flame.

It matters not the things you own or owe;

With Jesus as your Friend you need no more.

With Him it doesn’t matter what you show,

If you have dirt or marble on the floor.

The Savior looks straight to your inner heart.

He knows just who you are but will not part.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Wealth maketh many friends;

but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

Proverbs 19:4 KJV

3-22-15 Straining at Gnats

Now pray you don’t remain a hypocrite!

The blind that lead the blind into a ditch,

Who tells the world you surely will commit

But won’t begin until you strike it rich.

Don’t be the one who points your finger out

To judge the man that breaks the smallest rule,

But when no one is looking goes about

To disregard them all and think you’re cool.

Please don’t continue turning up your nose

As if your toilet smells like baby’s breath.

The stench that comes from you is not a rose;

You think you are alive but reek of death.

I ought to know a hypocrite by now:

I am the first in line to disavow.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat,

and swallow a camel.

Matthew 23:24 KJV

11-16-14 For Richer or Poorer

Before complaining of your lot in life,

Consider this and take it to your heart:

The Lord knows all about your pain and strife;

He authors your estate from stop to start.

You may think you know better where to live

Upon the ladder of success and health,

But chances are you’d take more than you give

And spend all of your time with fame and wealth.

Just ask old Lot who gave him all he had

Both on his worst day and upon his best,

And he will look to heaven sad or glad

Then tell you that the Lord gave and supressed.

Before you gloat, before you bitch and moan,

Regardless of your lot, it’s all on loan.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich:

he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

1 Samuel 2:7 KJV

10-1-14 Walking in Uprightness

Tis better to be poor in worldly sense,

Not worried for his earthly furnishings.

Though poor, he is not sitting on the fence

Obsessed about the status that wealth brings.

A poor man tries to keep a simple vow,

And sometimes failing, works to make it right.

A money hungry man will scarce allow

His word to be his bond and live forthright.

The poor have conscience void of hidden plan,

And keeps a simple life with love for God.

The rich wants more than when they first began,

And keeps it complicated as a fraud.

A poor man lets the Saviour rule his life

Instead of mortal things and all its strife.

~~~~~

Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness,

than he that is perverse in his ways,

though he be rich.

Proverbs 28:6 KJV