19
Dec '24

December 20, 2024

Posted on 19Dec CATEGORIES: General

19
Dec '24
In Southeast Asia many years ago someone developed an ingenious method to catch monkeys alive and unharmed. The “Monkey Trap” which was developed was very simple, the hunter would take a pot with a wide bottom and narrow opening and bury the pot in the ground to where the opening of the pot was just above the ground. In the pot the hunter would place pieces of fruit or nuts. Curiosity and hunger attract the monkey. The monkey reaches down into the narrow opening of the pot to grab hold of the treat, as the monkey attempts to extract the treat from the pot, he finds that his fist full of food will not fit through the narrow opening. The monkey excited and frustrated will scream as he continues to hold on to his food. This is a sign for the hunter to walk over to the monkey and throw a net over it to capture it. The monkey sees the hunter approaching but instead of letting go of the food the monkey holds on tighter and tries harder to dislodge its arm and fist of food from the pot. Just as this is called the Monkey Trap there is also the Wealth Trap that I learned about years ago. 

There are those who carry with them a scarcity mindset in which they believe there are not enough resources for everyone. Only the strong survive or gather as much as you can and hold onto it before someone else takes it. The problem with this mindset is that as we close our fist tighter around the things we have, it does not allow the things we are lacking to come into our lives. A closed fist cannot receive anything more but only retain what it is gripping. Paul reminds us of changing our mindset from scarcity to prosperity in Christ. He writes the following to the young pastor Timothy.

1 Timothy 6:17–21 (NIV): 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. 

Grace be with you all.

Paul reminds us that God is our provider. He also reminds us that wealth is fleeting. Even though we might have the same amount in our bank, it can erode away when there is inflation or markets crash. The struggle to hang onto things in this world is a fool’s errand. None of it lasts forever. The apostle John writes in, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” 

There are some things that are eternal. Life is short, people are precious, and the words of God are eternal. May you have an open hand to receive from God the things He wishes to give to you. As you change your mindset from scarcity to prosperity, you will begin to realize that the loss of some items will be replaced by other items from a God who loves you. And you might just be surprised by the new that He places into your open hand.

Pastor Aaron

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