God will not give us trinkets. God will not give us stuff that rusts, that moths eat and thieves steal (Matthew 6:19-20).

The world of flesh chases money, possessions, power over others, personal gain and fame, promotion to ever more salary and authority. So when a Christian buys into a prosperity thinking to get a better car, a bigger house, more money, the root is flesh and not spirit. Remember, the issue here is what our focus is, where we spend our energy and with what we occupy our thoughts, not wealth itself.

So how does the world distinguish us from the spiritual rebels, the material-seeking, self-promoting “hunter-gatherers” of our economy?

They can’t, if what we search for bigger, better, more and personal attention.

Jesus taught that what distinguishes us is that we DO NOT act in such a way. Instead, when in a spirit of camaraderie and promotion of the welfare of our community we love each other, then the world will know we belong to the Saviour (John 13:35)!

If all we can muster is a campaign to be as human as possible, without regard to the goodness of God, we show ourselves to be one of those whom Jesus never knew as a friend and ally (Matthew 25:12).

However, if we rise to the challenge of spiritual service, to seek justice, love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8), we live as a light to the world (Matthew 5:14).

This has eternal value, a tribute to the God Who loves the whole world (John 3:16).