There once was a rich man who had a lot of money. He had fancy homes and beautiful cars. He traveled the world and saw everything. One day he died. When the lawyer met with the family to discuss the estate one man asked, “How much money did he leave?” The lawyer replied, “He left it all!

This man while living, lived it up and threw thousands of dollars away on partying! He never gave a single dime to the poor or the church! He never considered giving to further the kingdom of God!

God holds men responsible for the way they make their money and for the way they spend it! The all mighty dollar can be a curse or a blessingFacebookTwitterLinkedInEmailShare

In our day there are three groups of people, the rich, the middle class, and the poor! There’s nothing wrong with being rich unless you’re consumed with making another dollar or hoarding it.

You see, the problem is not in the coin, the problem is in the hearts of men and women who have it!

There’s nothing wrong with being in the middle class group either, unless you’re not satisfied with where God has you! At one time in my life all I thought about was how I could make more money and not be considered middle class. I’ve come to the conclusion that’s where I am and that’s OK!

Last but not least. There’s nothing wrong with being poor unless you’re poor because of laziness! My family didn’t have much money growing up, but I can honestly say it wasn’t because we were lazy! We were a hard working people!

Proverbs 30:8 says, “Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me.” I am thankful that I am neither rich nor poor, because if I were rich, I would forget God, and if I were poor, I might steal.

When you sin, do you feel sorry for your sin? Sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t! Sin is never to be treated lightly. The Bible says we are to mourn over our sins.

The problem today in our society is that Christians are not mourning over their sins. We need to realize when we sin it saddens our Lord, and this should break our hearts!

James 4:9 says, “Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness!”

I turned 56 on December 21st. It seems like yesterday that I was at home in Georgia picking tobacco or putting on a football uniform to play on Friday night! It seems like yesterday that I was playing with my boys down by the creek! Now, they’re grown and gone!

That’s the way life is, here today and gone tomorrow. As I look back on my life I do have some regrets. My biggest regret is not walking with the Lord the way I should!

The older I get I realize that my life apart from God is out of joint, it’s dislocated, it’s a colossal failure! Let me encourage you today, grab hold of God and hang on. Live for Him today, for tomorrow you may be gone!

James 4:14 says, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.”

This morning I’m sitting in my recliner at home in Cypress, Texas near the fire with a blanket over my bod! Believe it or not, it’s been chilly here the last few days!

Today we’re going to compare the tongue with fire. You do know that when fire is under control it can be a great friend. It warms the body and is used to cook our food, however, if it’s out of control it can be very dangerous and deadly!

Not long ago I read about a lady from my home down in Georgia who had died because her trailer caught fire. Even in today’s modern society we cannot control fires!

The tongue is like a fire, and when it’s under control it is a blessing, but when it’s out of control it can be a very dangerous and deadly thing. Like a fire the tongue can burn through a family, business, school, or church. Your tongue can be a curse or a cure! The Bible says the tongue of the wise is health!

Leading up to the Super Bowl I listened to many commentators. One of those commentators was Steve Young. Steve had won the Super Bowl and had been voted the most valuable player. He said winning the Super Bowl and being voted the most valuable player changed his life forever.

I remember the day my life changed forever. I was at Bristol Baptist Church in Bristol, Georgia during a revival meeting. Sitting there in the pew I realized I was a sinner and I needed Jesus. That day I realized I was a VIP in the eyes of the Lord.

I realized that I was a Very Important Person because of what Christ had done for me. It’s true, winning Super Bowls and being voted the Most Valuable Player will change a persons life here on earth, but realizing you’re a VIP in the eyes of the Lord and allowing Him to save you will change your life now and forever more!

We’ve been talking about the boneless tongue. That little thing in our mouths that can get us into a lot of trouble. Today, I’m going to share with you two things that your tongue and my tongue reveals about us!

Our tongue is like a badge which you and I wear, it identifies us. It tells others what’s in the well of our hearts. Beware, what’s in your heart will eventually come out through your mouth!

Our tongue can be like a run away horse. A run away horse can cause death and destruction, and so can the tongue. Someone said of another person, “His mind starts his tongue to wagging, and then goes off and leaves it.”

God hates it when a tongue is out of control. Proverbs 6:16-17 says, “These six things doth the Lord hate: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.”

Last night we had our once a year board meeting at Brother Jeff’s house. The bar ba chew was good and the fellowship was down right excellent. While there I was reminded by some about a message I placed on Brother Jeff’s facebook while he was in Atlanta, Georgia.

The message said, “Hey Brother Jeff, Where are you? Did you die and go to heaven? Do you have your armor on this fine day? Have you called your friend Pastor Gene back as of yet?” Boy, did I take some ribbing because of this, but it was worth it!

Brother Jeff told me one  reason he didn’t call was the reception there in Atlanta was bad, and that if he did call he’d have to stand by a window so that he could hear me when I talked. Let me say this, I’ve never gotten upset with Brother Jeff about not returning my phone call.  I’d simply forgot  he was in Atlanta at market and he’d be insanely busy.

I did start thinking about this and how I could tie it into a daily devotional. Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know! It comforts me to know that  when I call on the name of the Lord He’ll always hear and He’ll always answer. He’s never be to busy for me! He doesn’t have to be standing by the pearly gates in heaven to get good reception. He hears me plain and clear whenever I call! If this doesn’t light your shucks, then your wood is all wet! Let’s praise God today for always being available!

I’m reading from the 3rd chapter in the Book of James which deals with the tongue. It amazes me how much destruction the tongue can bring to peoples lives!

There was a man who was fishing from a pier. He was frustrated because he hadn’t caught anything all day. Suddenly, his bobber disappears in the water and he yanks his fishing pole with excitment.

On the end of the line was a very tiny fish. Two women were walking buy and one of them said, “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself for catching such a small fish.” Without looking up he said, “If he’d kept his mouth shut he wouldn’t have been caught.”

David said in Ps. 39:1, “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue…”

I own a basset hound and his name is George. George has a sad looking face and long ears. Robin, my  wife doesn’t like him because he sheds. George isn’t a fierce dog but he sure does sound like it and that’s why I like him around. He’s the best alarm anyone could have. When someones outside our house George let’s us know it by barking. His bark is so loud it hurts your ears!

God’s Word is like a barking dog when we read it. It warns us of things we’re doing wrong! It let’s us know when our attitudes at work and at home down right stink. It let’s us know when we should confess sin and get right with others. The Word of God draws men away from the worlds system and draws them into the arms of Almighty God. There is power, transforming power in the Word of God.

Are you fed up? Are you tired of being the same today as you were yesterday? If so, grab the Word of God and fine ya a place to sit down and read it. Allow God to speak to you through His Word. Listen to what He says, trust Him, and obey what He tells you to do. I can guarantee it, you’ll never be the same! God wants to use His Word to transform you! The question is, will you let Him?