[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by CC1

I might also add that it is foolish to judge a person's standing with God based on his wealth since some of the most evil people on this planet are blessed with material goods.

I recently watched a documentary on Lottery winners and the two biggest winners profiled lived profane lives. One couple was a male gay couple from CA who have been "partners" for over 20 years.

The other was a man who at the time he won the lottery had divorced his wife and was living and sleeping with two sisters, one of whom had his child.
However he had a substance abuse problem that caused those relationships to end (not to mention trying to live with two sisters and keep both happy I imagine!!!) and he ended up destitute and asking his exwife to let him live in the basement of the home they had once shared. It was during that time he won the lottery and then actually did something decent by remarrying his wife!! It also showed where he had givne a lot of money to a ministry and he talked about God a lot so maybe he did straighten out at least some.

Anyway many very successful and wealthy people. Those seemingly "blessed" are some of the most sinful human beings on earth. That doesn't make money or wealth evil in itself but it shows that it is not a measure by which to judge whether someone has God's favor in their life.

God looks at things very differently than man does. Does being the biggest, richest church mean it is the most spiritual, in-tune church?

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see