The second bowl of wrath is released, and the ENTIRE sea will become blood, and ALL sea life will die. Imagine the stench and the diseases which will come from this. Plus, people need the seas in order to survive. It is a great food source and a means for income. That will all be taken away...
(Revelation 16:3) The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died.
Today's takeaway: interesting that the Antichrist and the false prophet will set up an exclusive economic system, thinking that they will be in complete control and at the same time hurt God's children. But God's economics rise above anything mankind can set up! God blesses a believer's efforts when they honor Him.
First way to honor God is by tithing - giving (a minimum of) ten percent - the first fruits of what God has given us in the first place. Even though it was tempting to not tithe in the days while we merely eked by, we had faith in God that He would provide, and He never let us down! There are so many testimonies from people who finally trusted God and began tithing - and couldn't believe how God blessed them through this - - - either the money that they made stretched further, or they began to make more money, or suddenly more resources were made available to them...
(Malachi 3:8-10) “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."
Second way to honor God is by being content and thankful in all things! Money is not evil, but the love of money becomes our idol. Love God and put Him first. I have been both "well-taken-of" as well as living at poverty level - there are hardships as well as blessings in any financial state. One may as well stop the fretting and choose God's peace and joy. Success is not being rich and powerful - success is living with peace and contentment in God's will...
(Hebrews 13:5-6) Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”
(Proverbs 16:8) Better is a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.
Third, work with integrity...
(Proverbs 14:23) In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
(1 Timothy 5:8) ...if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
(Colossians 3:22-24) Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
Fourth, we are to wisely plan for the future...
(Luke 14:28-30) For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
(Proverbs 16:3) Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.
(Proverbs 31:16) She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
(Proverbs 13:22) A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
(Proverbs 28:8) He who increases his wealth by interest and usury gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.
Fifth, don't feel guilty for having money - if it is a gift from God and God chose to bless you in that way! Rather, appreciate and enjoy these provisions and use this to help build God's kingdom...
(1 Timothy 6:17-19) Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
Sixth, and most importantly - recognize the priority in life. Giving gifts, helping our neighbor/s, and sharing with generosity is more of a sacrificial act, and these deeds are to be over and above our tithing...
(Luke 12:15-21) Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” 16 And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. 17 And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ 21 So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
(Luke 12:33-34) “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also..."
(Acts 20:35) “...In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
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