Philippians 2:5-8 (NRSVUE)
5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, assuming human likeness. And being found in the appearance as a human, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-even death on a cross.
Here I use the NRSVUE instead of the King James, as many false teachers have taken verse 6 out of context. In the KJV is says “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:” These false teachers tell others that it is not robbery to consider yourself equal to God when you are a Christian! This is not what the scriptures say, and those of the time of the KJV writing understood what was being said. The word “robbery” is as below.
Αρπαγμοω :: harpagmos :: Strong’s 725 – to seize, to carry off by force.
In other words, being the Son of God DID NOT make Jesus grasp at being God on earth. In fact, in every situation at the time of His life, he gave all glory to God the Father, and as this passage states, He took “the form of a slave”. He did speak of Himself as part of God in the future, after He was exalted by the Father, and would return as King and Ruler, but not while He walked this earth to save the lost.
Another definition of harpagmos is “plunder”; this is significant, as many Christians of the time, and of today, seek to plunder the world of its riches because they are the Children of God.
Paul, in writing to the Church at Philippi, made this statement to ensure that those who were in the church did not fall into Satan’s trap of being puffed up with pride and believing that everything in the world was theirs as it was their Father’s.
Jesus was destitute while on this earth; a slave of the Almighty, doing only the Will of the Father. Paul saw himself the same way, for he said in the opening of Romans 1:
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle…”
Paul understood the definition of a “Christian” and what our relationship is with God the Father. At no time did Paul stand up and proclaim himself to be lord of anything, nor did he demand riches as his Heavenly Father was the owner of all things. One of Satan’s most successful campaigns against Christianity is the lie that Christians should have the things of the world because their Father owns all things. Yes, God owns the earth and all that is in it (Psalm 24:1), and He provides for His children (Matthew 6:25-34), but nowhere does the Bible tell us that we are to seek after the things of the world. In fact, we are told that those who seek after worldly things cannot seek God at the same time. Matthew 6:24 says:
“No one can serve two masters. For a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
There are two points that I would like to make on seeking riches. First, as is stated in Matthew, you cannot live a life seeking riches and seeking God.
You will find that if you seek riches, you will slowly begin to go against, and resent, the Word of God, as it holds you back from making money in many ways that you can see profit. Eventually you will begin to turn from the Word as you make money in ways that God does not approve of.
Or you will seek to serve God, and you will begin to see the riches and the work of getting rich as something you hate because it takes away from your work for God.
You cannot serve God and wealth.
Secondly, times grow short, I fear. Here is a news article:
Our government, and one can assume other governments as well, is preparing for a time when all your money is digital and under their control. The government will know everything you spend money on and can use AI to control your purchases. Algorithms will determine if the religious organization that you donate to is government approved or a “hate entity”. If your church stands up for Biblical doctrines, and calls out sin, then your church will belabeled as spreading “hate speech” and your donations will be disallowed.
Limits can be placed on anything. After that donation to the Church is disallowed, you go to buy a gun and find out that the AI disallows it because of that connection to the Church. You decide to have some friends over and want to smoke some ribs; can’t buy that many ribs because the AI looked at what you are buying and determined that you were hosting a group get-together, and sinceyou just tried to donate to a flagged “hate speech” organization, and then tried to buy a gun, you should not have this get-together of friends as you may all be up to no good. The AI then notifies the police that you may be seeking to have a meeting of like-minded people who are involved in hate groups and buying guns.
After a couple of these things are flagged, you are listed as a danger to society, and find that you are only able to buy the amount of fuel it takes you to get to work, and just enough food for your family.
You are reading this, and you think it is far-fetched; nothing like this will happen!
Yet, this is exactly what is prophesied to happen during the Great Tribulation and is being put in place in preparation for that time! How else will they totally control the buying and selling during that time? Only if they have complete control of the monetary system.While this is important, it is not the main point of this writing.
Each Christian must come to the place where they are a slave of God and give up on wealth. Those who are tied too tightly to wealth and the things of the world will go down this road of seeking wealth regardless of the cost, until it is too late.
Pastors, you will be faced with a choice: reduce your budgets at your churches to nothing or follow the government’s rules on what you can preach to keep the doors open. You will need to have services in hidden places. Why? Speaking the truth about sin will cause you to be labeled a hater, and your speech will not be allowed in public places.
Christians, you have put off for too long the choice of being a slave to God or a slave to wealth, and the time is quickly approaching
where continuing to chase wealth will mean you must forsake the things of God!
Prepare yourselves now! Many are going to follow the wealth until it is too late.
Will you be like Peter and deny your Lord for comfort? Or will you stand with Him regardless the cost?