Happy Sunday!!! Topic - "REMOVING THE VEIL".
In order to be admired, some people flaut their designer wears, or other fancy belongings. Of course, there is nothing wrong with enjoying the fruitage of one's labour. The bible says: " every man should eat and indeed drink and see the good for all his work. It is the gift of God" (Ecclesiastes 3:13).
Is it wise to flaunt, or parade our possessions? When the rich or those who pretend to be rich flaunt their riches, what kind of friends might they attract? The bible gives as a clue in this wise saying bout human nature: "no one likes the poor, not even their neighbours, but the rich may have many friends" (Proverbs 14:20). The implication is this; the "many friends" of the rich are friends, not so much of the people themselves, but of their wealth. Their so called friendship is rooted in self interest, as is their flattering speech. The bible calls such speech "a false front for covetousness",or greed - 1 Tessalonians 2:5.
So ask yourself, "what kind of friends do i want? Friends who love me for what i have or true friends who love me for what i am?" The bible shows that our behaviour can contribute to the kind of friends we attract. People who flaunt their wealth may risk loosing it, or at least some of it. "Ostentatious display of wealth is magnet to thieves". Slipping into a pair of designers geans or designer anything can raise the insecure from the doldrums of nothingness to the fantasy level of 'I am somebody, if you doubt me, just look at my label.
Instead of having an egoistic 'look-at-me' atitude, a modest and humble person delights in the good qualities and strenghts of others. Philippians 2:3 states: " there must be no room for rivalry and personal vanity among you, but you must humbly reckon others better than yourselves". Galatians 5:26, says "let us not become egoistical, stirring up competition with one another, envying one another".
Similarly, people with godly wisdom know that unselfishness and mutual respect are the pillars of true friendship and that such friendship does not fail when wealth fails, instead it grows stronger with time. "A true companion loves all the time". Proverbs 17:17 says: "above all, a wise person strives to please God, he knows that God is not impressed by with outward appearance but looks at the secret in a person's heart."
In summary, let us be humble and not seek or emulate the lives of musicians. Or a life of "do you know who i am?". This will not only keep fake and dangerous friends away from us, but also gurantee us an eternal rest in the promise land. Thanks for reading...