"HAVE FAITH FOR THE PRESERVING OF OUR LIVES" - Conclusion

 While they waited for the signal to flee, the Hebrew Christians also needed to keep a simple life, rejecting "the love of money." (Read Hebrews 13:5.) Some of them had been through times of famine and poverty. (Hebrews 10:32-34) Even though they were once willing to endure hardship for the sake of the good news, some might even have begun to see wealthy as indispensable for their protection. But no amount of money would protect them the coming destruction. (James 5:3) In fact, any who loved material things would likely find it more difficult to flee, leaving behind their hopes and possessions.

We will be motivated to reject materialism if we have strong faith that the end of the present system of things is imminent. People will, in effect, "throw their silver into the streets" because they will realize that neither their silver or their gold will be able to save them in the day of Jehovah's fury." (Ezekiel 7:19) Rather than focus on accumulating as money as we can, we need to make decisions that help us to live simple yet balanced lives. That includes resisting temptation to take on unnecessary debt or to get bogged down caring for many material things. We will also carefully avoid becoming overly attached to the possessions we already have. (Matthew 6:19, 24) Our faith may be tested with regard to material things and other matters as we wait for the end of this system of things to come. 

Next time: "YOU NEED ENDURANCE"

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