Excessive lifestyle

Excessive is "You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter." James 5:5 Excessive is "Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:23 Excessive is "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor." James 5:5-6 I will be very wealthy the day I enter eternal life. 2 Peter 1:11 "You will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." How much more should an average Christian have a clear understanding about the doctrine of prosperity? God is asking Christians to surrender their own selfish little kingdom and interests of their excessive lifestyle. People are so used to seeing everyone serving their own interests that no other kind of spiritual conduct is expected. "And anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whosoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:38-39). Throughout the Bible, God have warned people to be careful of idolatry because we could slip into it almost without noticing it. Idolatry is an excessive devotion or reverence to an object or objects (i.e. prosperity, self-motivation). Idolatry is being used as an instrument of worship which is a false notion that causes spiritual errors in thinking or reasoning. Idolatry is what God is saying something like this for today's Christians, "You have committed adultery by worshiping idols instead of worshiping Me. Your hearts have been unfaithful to me because you are loving yourselves more than you love Me. Your hearts longs for something from Me and that is idolatry. Excessive longing for wealth, gaining money to live in luxury rather using the gifts that God gave you for His Glory is considered excessive. We all need to understand that when a Christian (especially a TV preacher), wealth is no longer ours but God. God's Word gives us the balance called "contentment". Jesus told some soldiers to "be content with your wages." Paul told Timothy, "having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." He also said that, "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content." And the writer of Hebrews lets us know that God will supply our needs, not our greeds: "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" Poor people who makes less money than I do won't view my live as excessive living because I am among those who are considered "middle class" citizen. Poor people and even middle class people would consider preachers who makes more money than the "average" preacher who typically live in a "middle class" are very excessive. I know people who are very very wealthy, but they live like middle class people. They may be very wealthy but they are not living in a excessive lifestyle. Excessive is the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. James 1:9-10 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. We all can prosper greatly with a great attitude and I know some wealthy Christian people who are very prospered that don't boast but rather, SERVE. Pride meets covetousness, and compliments it as wise, thrifty, and prudent. Unknown We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God. (D.L. Moody)