God – Bible About Money

God's Golden Rule: Love! — Mt 22 #1

One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

Jesus replied,

“
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[c] ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment.

³⁹And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[d]

⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:38-40

^{^[c]} ^{mt 22:37}This is the first and greatest commandment.

⁵Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5

^{^[d]} ^{mt 22:39}And the second is like it:

¹⁸“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
Leviticus 19:18

References & reflection

[1] https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/9-gold-silver-and-iron-three-rules-of-human-conduct
[2] https://steemit.com/steemchurch/@estheromoyiwola/the-golden-rule
[3] https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Golden_Rule
[4] https://www.goldenruleproject.org/formulations
[5] https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Golden_Rule

Unemployment — Parable of the Vineyard Workers Mt 20 #2

Matthew 20 New Living Translation (NLT)

Parable of the Vineyard Workers

1 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard.
Matthew 20:1

²He agreed to pay the normal daily wage^[a] and sent them out to work. ³“At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. ⁴So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. ⁵So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.

⁶“At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’

⁷“They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’

“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’

⁸“That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. ⁹When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. ¹⁰When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. ¹¹When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, ¹²‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’

¹³“He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? ¹⁴Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. ¹⁵Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

Matthew 20:2-15

¹⁶“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
Matthew 20:16

References & reflections

[1] https://www.jesusfilm.org/blog-and-stories/parable-vineyard-workers.html
[2] https://www.gotquestions.org/parable-laborers-vineyard.html
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Workers_in_the_Vineyard
[4] Vineyard costs, where are the lessons? Where is wisdom? https://vineyardandwinerysales.com/newsletter/napa-and-sonoma-county-real-estate-market-elements-vineyard-values-and-wine-grape-prices/

God’s Free Gift! — 2nd Corinthians 9:15

2 Corinthians 9:15 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
2nd Corinthians 9:15

references & reflections

[1] https://poetrybydeborahann.wordpress.com/tag/2-corinthians-915/
[2] https://bibleaboutmoney.finance.blog/2020/02/28/eschatological-escape-peters-precious-promise-you-have-all-you-need-francis-chan-crazy-love-ministry/

O Lord, Lead and Teach Us Truth! — Psalm 25 #1

Psalm 25 New Living Translation (NLT)

A psalm of David.

¹O Lord, I give my life to you.
²    I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced,
    or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
³No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
    but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

⁴Show me the right path, O Lord;
    point out the road for me to follow.
⁵Lead me by your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God who saves me.
    All day long I put my hope in you.
⁶Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,
    which you have shown from long ages past.
⁷Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.
    Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,
    for you are merciful, O Lord.

⁸The Lord is good and does what is right;
    he shows the proper path to those who go astray.
⁹He leads the humble in doing right,
    teaching them his way.
¹⁰The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness
    all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
Psalm 25:8-10

¹¹For the honor of your name, O Lord,
    forgive my many, many sins.
¹²Who are those who fear the Lord?
    He will show them the path they should choose.
¹³They will live in prosperity,
    and their children will inherit the land.
¹⁴The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.
    He teaches them his covenant.
¹⁵My eyes are always on the Lord,
    for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.

References & Reflections

[1] https://sarasmusings.wordpress.com/2017/07/24/psalm-25/

Receive Renewed Rewards, Returns (100x Times ROI!) in God’s Kingdom of Heaven — Matthew 19 #3

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

²⁵When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁶Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

²⁷Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

²⁸Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

²⁹And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife^[e] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
Promise of Eternal Life, Returns and Rewards Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:28-30

³⁰But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

References & reflections

[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/camel-eye-needle.html
[2] https://www.thejoshlink.com/article290.htm
[3] https://parablesreception.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-eye-of-needle-is-not-gate.html
[4] https://johndavies.typepad.com/blog/love-comes-blinking-through-the-needles-eye.html
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_7:13
[6] https://www.gotquestions.org/first-last-last-first.html
[7] https://bibleaboutmoney.finance.blog/2020/02/21/eye-of-a-needle-narrow-path-kingdom-of-god-matthew-19-1/

Gifts of the Magi #4: Baby Boy Born in a Manger — Nativity & Humility

The Birth of Jesus — Immanuel, Immaculate Conception

⁶And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. ⁷She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

The Shepherds and Angels

⁸That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. ⁹Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, ¹⁰but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. ¹¹The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! ¹²And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

¹³Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

¹⁴“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

¹⁵When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.

References & Reflections

[1] https://biblehub.com/matthew/2-11.htm
[2] https://aleteia.org/2018/01/07/what-do-the-3-gifts-of-the-magi-symbolize/
[3] https://aleteia.org/2018/01/07/why-did-the-magi-bring-gifts-of-gold-frankincense-and-myrrh/
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magi
[5] https://reasonsforhopejesus.com/significance-of-the-three-kings-gifts/
[6] https://www.gotquestions.org/gold-frankincense-myrrh.html
[7] https://www.gotquestions.org/three-wise-men.html
[8] John 19:39 https://biblehub.com/commentaries/john/19-39.htm
[9] Psalm 72:11
[10] https://www.amazon.com/Holy-Gifts-Meaning-Frankincense-Myrrh/dp/1462116442
[11] https://www.guidedspace.com/single-post/2017/10/07/The-Miracle-Prayer
[12] http://dustoffthebible.com/Blog-archive/2016/12/19/daily-bible-reading-devotional-isaiah-92-7-december-19-2106/
[13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_We_Have_Heard_on_High
[14] https://www.reformedworship.org/article/september-1992/canticles-christmas-singing-songs-zechariah-mary-angels-and-simeon
[15] https://shop.spreadshirt.com/274423/baby+jesus+manger+scene-A5d89cf186bbdbb2e6a4883bb?productType=992

Isaiah 9:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁶For a child is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,^[a] Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

**Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.**

Gifts of the Magi #3: Christ the King as a Baby Boy

The Birth of Jesus — Immanuel, Immaculate Conception

The Shepherds and Angels

¹³Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

¹⁴“Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

¹⁵When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.

References & Reflections

Isaiah 9:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁶For a child is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,^[a] Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6