Five Reasons to Avoid Becoming Just a Millionaire

1. Loss of Vision: As you accumulate wealth, you may find that your sense of purpose diminishes. Many individuals with substantial bank accounts often struggle to maintain a clear vision for their lives.

2. Poor Mindset: Ironically, having money can foster a mindset that is more impoverished than liberating. Wealthy individuals sometimes become more possessive and unwilling to share, focusing instead on their own interests. This can lead to a mindset that resembles that of those who are less fortunate.

3. Attracting Negative Relationships: Wealth can lead to attracting the wrong people into your life. You might find yourself surrounded by opportunistic individuals who say what you want to hear but don't truly have your best interests at heart. Genuine friendships may fall by the wayside in favor of insincere relationships.

4. Diminished Drive: With greater financial security, the hustle and adventure of pursuing goals may fade. When you have a substantial amount of money, your motivation to work hard can diminish, and you may rely on others to manage your affairs instead of seeking your own opportunities.

5. Potential for Corruption: As wealth increases, so does power. This combination can lead to corruption. Surrounding yourself with other powerful individuals may result in unethical behavior and decisions that prioritize personal gain over societal benefit. 

In conclusion, instead of striving solely for wealth, it is more essential to pursue a meaningful vision. With a clear purpose, financial success can be directed toward making a positive impact and helping others. Remember, as mentioned by Jesus, money should be used wisely, and this is only possible when you have a vision to guide your actions. 

"The Priestly Consecration and Living Sacrifices: A Biblical Parallel"

CI Schofield’s observation highlights that the consecration of the priests in the Old Testament was an act performed by another—specifically, Moses acting on behalf of God. The priests themselves did not consecrate themselves; instead, they submitted to the process ordained by God. This reinforces the idea that holiness and consecration are imparted by God rather than achieved through human effort alone.

This concept parallels the appeal in Romans 12:1, where believers are urged to present their bodies as living sacrifices. This verse suggests that followers of Christ are to willingly offer themselves to God, dedicating their lives to His service in a way that is both holy and pleasing to Him. It emphasizes an act of surrender and devotion, marking a shift from the ritual sacrifices of the Old Testament to a personal, spiritual commitment in the New Testament.

Presenting oneself as a “living sacrifice” reflects ongoing dedication—a continual process of seeking to align one’s life with God’s will. It’s both a response to God’s mercies and a reasonable act of worship, acknowledging God’s transformative work in the believer’s life through Jesus Christ. This builds on the foundation laid in Levitical consecration but extends it into a personal call for all believers to live a life set apart for God.

The Fifth Part

In Leviticus 6:5, if someone has sworn falsely, they are required to restore what they took or lost, plus an additional fifth of its value. This represents complete restitution. The term "principle" here refers to the initial requirement of restoration. Christ similarly restored humanity to God, as our sins were the fundamental problem. Just like forgiving someone requires making amends, Christ's sacrifice served as the full payment for our sins. God does not grant forgiveness without full restitution, and Christ's blood was the ultimate payment, achieving complete restoration between humanity and God. This complete restoration means God fully forgives us and does not hold past sins against us, as they have been entirely paid through Christ.

Can a Christian sin?

The distinction between iniquity, transgression, and sin is crucial. Iniquity, being the root, leads to transgression, the branch, which in turn produces sin, the fruit. The church often emphasizes individual sins rather than the inherent iniquity of Adam. While recognizing the iniquity of humanity through Adam is important, confession of personal sins and transgressions remains necessary.

For believers, the question arises: Do they carry iniquity? The answer is no, because Christ has borne our iniquities and granted us His righteousness. However, believers can still transgress, meaning they can cause harm to others. Whenever this happens, confession is needed, both to God for forgiveness and to others for healing and reconciliation.

Christians can sin, but to maintain a relationship with God and others, they must confess these sins and trust in Christ's righteousness for removal of iniquity. This ongoing process is not about obtaining salvation, which is secure through faith in Christ, but about maintaining fellowship with God and the community.

Leaven

According to Thomas Nelson study Bible commentary on the study of leaven (or "yeast") throughout the Bible offers profound insights into its symbolic representation of sin, moral corruption, and spiritual decay. Here is a detailed perspective on how the concept of leaven appears in both the Old and New Testaments, particularly regarding its implications for believers and the church. Let's delve into the key themes and findings:

1. Symbolism of Leaven:

   -Old Testament: Leaven often represents sin due to its pervasive nature, affecting everything it comes into contact with. In Leviticus 2:11, it is stated that no grain offering to the Lord may contain leaven, emphasizing the idea of purity and the absence of sin in offerings meant for God.

   - New Testament: Leaven signifies malice, wickedness, and a corrupting influence. In 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, Paul warns the church that just a little leaven can leaven the whole lump, urging them to purge out old leaven to be new and sincere.

2. Forms of Leaven Identified by Jesus:

   - Leaven of the Pharisees: This includes legalism and an unhealthy emphasis on external religious practices, as criticized in Matthew 23:14-16. Jesus called them hypocritical for focusing on the letter of the law while missing its spirit.

   - The Sadduccess Denial of the Resurrection:The Sadducees’ belief system, as shown in Matthew 22:23 and 29, represents a form of leaven that denies the power of God and the resurrection, leading to doctrinal errors.

   - Leaven of the Herodians: Their worldliness is illustrated in Mark 3:6, where their collusion with the Pharisees to plot against Jesus reflects an alliance with secular power instead of a commitment to spiritual truth.

3. Application for the Church:

   - Church Discipline: The call to remove leaven serves as a metaphor for the necessity of church discipline when sin becomes prevalent within a congregational body. The “little leaven” notion underscores the importance of addressing sin swiftly to avoid broader corruption within the church community.

   - Purity and Sincerity: The directive in 1 Corinthians emphasizes replacing the leaven of malice and wickedness with the "unleavened bread of sincerity and truth," highlighting the ethical and moral standards that should characterize the lives of believers.

4. Significance of Passover:

   - The connection to Passover in 1 Corinthians 5:7 reminds believers that Christ is our Passover lamb, sacrificial for our sins. This link stresses the importance of purity during the celebration of salvation and deliverance.

5. Prophetic Warnings:

   - In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, the mention of a falling away serves as a warning against spiritual complacency and the manifestations of sin within the church, suggesting an ongoing relevance to the theme of leaven as corruption.

Conclusion:

Your insights highlight the ongoing biblical teaching about the nature of sin and its danger to individuals and the church community. Leaven serves not only as a metaphor for moral deterioration but also as a call to maintain purity, truth, and sincerity in one’s faith and practice. This examination serves as an essential reminder of the need for vigilance regarding the influences we allow into our lives and communities, urging the pursuit of holiness as aligned with God’s truth.