FIRST LOVE RECOVERY MINISTRIES

THE RAT RACE

Ecclesiastes 9(KJV)
verse 11 " I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding,
nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all."
Romans 9(KJV)
verse 16 "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."

Underneath the megacity,millions of rats young and old,male and female hurried through the varoius passageways in search for food. Whenever food got scarce, the sick,weak,injured,
disabled,elderly and newborn often got neglected,since the natural instinct of hunger had been transformed into lethal greed in a battle that favours the fittest and wittest.For every rat,this gruelsome race starts from birth and continues until death!
The modern world is lost in such a race as people run after the pleasures,possessions and positions that life offers! Even though this way of lfe seems popular does not mean that it is the authentic way of life especially for those who are followers of Christ Jesus the Lord!This way of lfe engages motives,methods,and means that are diabolically opposed to the ways of our Lord! And everyone is naturally born into 'this rat race'.

Matthew 7(KJV)
verse 13 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:"
verse 14 " Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

The rat race takes place on the broad and glamorous way that leads to destruction of the individual,the home,the community,the nation,and the world!
The Christian race is however different to the rat race which is the order of the worldly system.The Christian race is run on the narrow way.The Christian race is the pursuit of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.Throughout the Christian race,Christ alone is to be glorified from start to finish!It is therefore a race that is for Christ,with Christ,and through Christ!
To leave 'the rat race' of the world system and start the Christian race,everyone has to have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ during which the individual wholeheartedly repents of his/her sins and humbly accepts Jesus Christ as his/her personal Lord and Saviour into his/her heart.
The word of God clearly advocates divine prosperity but shuns worldly prosperity! And the people of God have to boldly take and keep a stand against all signs and shades of unrighteousness even in all financial matters since they are called to be a holy people by the Holy One of Israel Himself!The acquisition and expenditure of kingdom wealth by the Christian,and the Church is by divine wisdom based to godly fear;and demonstrated by good works. The Christian should not trust in his riches,but in the Lord who gives him power to get wealth(Deut 8:18).The Christian is called to be a servant of God,not mammon,or both!

Proverbs 23(KJV)
verse 4 "Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom."
verse 5"Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven."
Matthew 6(KJV)
verse 24 "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
Matthew 6(KJV)
verse 33 " But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
1 Timothy 6(KJV)
verse 17 "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;"
verse18 "That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;"
verse 19 "Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."

The world system presents several obstacles which are designed to hinder every Christian from having and spending kingdom wealth but we overcome this wicked system through our faith in the Lord as our provider.

1 John 5(KJV)
verse 4 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

In this Christian race,for anyone who is feeling...
...weak,the LORD is our strength(Psalm 18:2)
...sick and injured,the LORD is our healer(Exodus 15:26)
...confused and troubled,the LORD is our peace(Judges 6:24)
...lonely,the Lord is ever with us(Matt 28:20)
...under attack,the Lord is our defence(Psalm 18:2)
...lost,the Lord is our guide(Psalm 48:14)
...guilty,the Lord forgives and cleanses us(1 John 1:9)

Hebrews 12(KJV)
verse 1 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"
verse 2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

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