C.A.C LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL FOR AUGUST 29, 2023 : TOPIC – THE WORSHIP OF MAMMON
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CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
THE LIVING WATER (January- December, 2023)
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE: Tuesday, August 29, 2023
TOPIC: THE WORSHIP OF MAMMON
MEMORISE
No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (Luke 16:13).
READ: Luke 16:1, 2
[1]. He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.
[2]. So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’
EXPOSITION
Microsoft Encarta dictionary defines “mammon” as “wealth and riches considered as an evil and corrupt influence.” In furtherance, it is “in the Bible, the personification of wealth portrayed as a false god.” In its original Bible context, it is ‘greed and hunger for gold or money, and the worship of wealth.’ QToday, the media world engages people with daily barrage of adverts that tempt us to spend, trade and buy more than we can afford, thus seducing humanity to serve mammon. Consumerism has become a way of life for the modern man. However, Jesus says, No servant can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and mammon (the false god of riches and avarice).
Dr. Ron Jones wrote, “As dangerous as consumerism is, to our spiritual and marital health, the government encourages people to chase after what Morley calls the beautiful, wrinkle-free life, upon which every nation’s robust economy depends. Interestingly, the government tracks our purchasing habits and tells us that life is good when consumer’s spending is up, and bad, when it is down. And to feed the economy, the federal government periodically sends out tax rebates hoping that people will spend that money and stimulate the market. So, make no mistake about it, mammon relentlessly demands worship.” While the Scripture doesn’t support laziness, we are never encouraged to substitute the worship of God with mammon. True prosperity doesn’t consist in shiny cars and jewellery, beautiful houses, exquisite dining, and exotic vacations, but in godliness and contentment, the deepest secret lessons leading to the true worship of God. Don’t be deceived worshipping mammon, unawares.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY: CAC GHB 705
1. More love to Thee, O Christ,
More love to Thee
Hear Thou the pray’r I make
On bended knee
This is my earnest plea
More love, O Christ To Thee
More love to Thee!
More love to Thee!
2. Once earthly joy I crave,
Sought peace and rest
Now Thee alone I seek,
Give what is best
This all my pray’r shall be
More love O Christ, to Thee,
More love to Thee!
More love to Thee!
3. Let sorrow do its work,
Send grief and pain;
Sweet are Thy messengers,
Sweet their refrain,
When they can sing with me
More love, O Christ, to Thee,
More love to Thee!
More love to Thee.
4. Then shall my latest breath
Whisper Thy praise;
This be my parting cry
My heart shall raise
This still its pray’r shall be
More love, O Christ, to Thee,
More love to Thee!
More love to Thee!
Amen
PRAYER POINTS
1. In Jesus’ name, I receive the spirit of godly contentment.
2. In Jesus’ name, I declare my freedom from the games of serving mammon in this corrupt society.
3. Lord, deliver Your Church from the worship of mammon in any form.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Jeremiah 25-27