The following is a scriptural list designed to
benefit you when reflecting upon the witness of your possessions. May the Lord use it to bless your home!
And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an
altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.
Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the sytrange
gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: And let us arise, and
go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of
my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.. And they gave unto Jacob all the
strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and
Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem. Genesis 35:1-4
Jacob knew idols were unacceptable to God, yet continued to preserve them. He hid them instead of destroying them. In this passage, the
putting away of the earrings was putting away self-glory in one's beauty. When we approach God, we need to come humbly and not seek
self-exaltation. We can hide the idols, but God knows. After all, it made it in the official record. We can also choose to destroy them. I'm sure you
know what God calls for.
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside: it
shall not cleave to me. Psalms 101:3
What we posses are things we set before our eyes.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the
froward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 8:13
Do the things we posses declare any evil way?
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
Our possessions testify what we believe in and approve of. Do our possessions speak well of the God we serve or, as a representative for
Christ, does the possession say He approves of something disreputable?
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Matthew 5:43,44
Do our possessions declare love or hate, or an interest in things of love or hate? (Example: Nazi war momento collections, rock group skulls -
death stuff)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but
he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:21
As the expression goes, "Not talking the talk, but walking the walk".
Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe
to that man by whom the offence cometh! Matthew 18:7
Does that liquor cabinet cause some to think, "He thinks he's so good, but he's no different than I". Does some possession (or possessions)
cause others to think that Christ doesn't mean that much to you?
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup
and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee,
cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean
also. Matthew 23:25,26
Remember, don't just clean the outside (your possessions), but also your heart, your motives. Proper internal order will bring proper external
testimony.
And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares
of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke
the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Mark 4:18,19
This issue of possessions can reach the heart of a persons life. For many, their possessions are the most important things in their life. Can you
discern your own possessions and destroy if necessary, or do they have the stronger hold?
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them,
Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake
and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
Mark 8:34,35
Is it befitting of the Gospel? If this question alone offends you, then you already have your answer.
And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord
our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And
the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other
commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said
the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the
heart and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to
love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when
Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom
of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
Mark 12:29-34
Loving with all the soul will reflect in its desires, reactions and cravings.
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are
choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. Luke
8:14
The riches of this life, our possessions, are one of the nerve centers that truly tests the sacrifice of our heart to the Almighty.
And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also
which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and
they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew
the word of God and prevailed. Acts 19:18-20
Consecrating our lives to God necessarily calls for a response in our possessions. It's a separation of the heart's affections, but also a public
testimony.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 9 Let love be without
dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Romans 12:1,2,9
This passage is clear, but notice it calls for proving what's good. To examine and evaluate all that's in our lives is to prove a thing. Is it right
before God, or not? If not, repent and get rid of it, if so retain and perfect it.
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts
thereof.
Romans 13:14
This calls for decisive action, not accidental correction.
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom,
declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you,
save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I Corinthians 2:1,2
Some people have an obsessive interest in cults and the occult, so keep all their literature at hand. Some cry of the need to know all about them
to confront them, but Paul says that's not necessary. What's in the Bible is sufficient to meet attacks and needs.
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaventh the whole lump? I
Corinthians 5:6
In this discussion glorying is not the issue, but the leaven is. Any little thing left, is not to be considered minor. That little left undealt with, will
permeate all of one's life and destroy it.
Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol
unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is
defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither,
if we eat not, are we the worse.
I Corinthians 8:7,8
But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to
God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of
the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table
of devils. 25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience
sake: For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. I Corinthians 10:20,21,25,26
What do our belongings declare of our associations? There's a hard element presented in these verses. We need to examine the basis of what
we're involved with. Some things may seem wrong when looked at superficially, such as when the Jews condemned Jesus for healing on the
Sabbath. Jesus said not to judge according to the appearance (John 7:21- 24). Evaluate to a greater depth. When someone does something or
posseses something and they're fervent in their endeavors to glorify God in all they do, then examine twice, nay three times before you condemn
what they approve of biblically.
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even
as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that
they may be saved.
I Corinthians 10:32,33
If we posses something that's a grief to another as being a testimony against God, we need to consider whether it furthers or hinders the
Gospel. If it hinders, it needs to go or change.
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. I Corinthians 15:33
This hits the obviously evil. We know the thing is wrong, but kid ourselves saying, "it won't effect us". This verse tells us that's plain wrong.
Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving
ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by
knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word
of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the
left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As
unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet
possessing all things. II Corinthians 6:3-10
As Christians we're all ministers of the Gospel. Our possessions are not to bring offence upon the Gospel.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness
with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath
Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement
hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath
said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch
not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall
be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly
beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
in the fear of God. II Corinthians 6:14-7:1
As temples of God, what would be acceptible in the environment we choose to surround ourselves with? It would have an absence of the
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, no New Age pictures, no statues of some bust of Zeus, no girlie calendars.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified
the flesh with the affections and lusts. Galatians 5:22-24
The nature of the Spirit and the nature of things the Spirit-filled Christian would delight having around.
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the
Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship
with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which
are done of them in secret. Ephesians 5:8-12
Walk in goodness, righteousness and truth. Prove acceptability of all things and cut fellowship with evil things. In fact, reproach the shameful
things. With these things in mind, how could one choose to possess anti-Christian things?
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of
good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8
For those questionable things, here is a good checklist. Does the item violate any of these principals or contradict them?
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on
the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye
are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as
to the Lord, and not unto men; Colossians 3:1-3,23
Such sweet and clear direction. Never let such a call become obscure through the lures of this world.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate
affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the
wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some
time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Colossians 3:4-8
Another hearalding like the previous verse calling for a distinct separation.
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them
that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 22 Flee
also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the
Lord out of a pure heart.
II Timothy 2:19,22
The marching orders: DEPART iniquity, FLEE youthful lusts, but not just don'ts, also dos - FOLLOW righteousness, faith, charity, and peace
with other purified Christians.
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them,
in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds); II Peter 2:7,8
The way of the wicked vexes those who love God. Why, if we love God, would we fill our houses with things that vex us? It would be a mark of
insanity . If it doesn't grieve us, we can't say we're just and righteous. If we can't say that, we can't say we're Christians.
Love not the world, neither
the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For
all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not
of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth
the will of God abideth for ever.
I John 2:15-17
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