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2BODYOFCHRISTNEWSJANUARY2013SEVERALMONTHSAGOasweviewedtheelectoralprocessinourcountrywenowunderstandevenmoresoaftertheelectionsthatthereisstillmuchroomforGodsgrace.AstaxeswereoneofthemajorconcernsalongwiththepoorweseeJesustalkingwithcertainofthePhariseesandHerodiansinSt.Mark1215-17astheyaskJesusShallwegiveorshallwenotgiveButheknowingtheirhypocrisysaiduntothemWhytemptyemebringmeapennythatImayseeit.Andtheybroughtit.AndhesaithuntothemWhoseisthisimageandsuperscriptionAndtheysaiduntohimCaesars.AndJesusansweringsaiduntothemRendertoCaesarthethingsthatareCaesarsandtoGodthethingsthatareGods.Andtheymarveledathim.Basedonthediscussionsovertaxesandthepoorithasbeenexpressedthatsomepeoplefeelthattheyshouldnothaveanyresponsibilitytoeither.Howdowecomparetheninetynineandthe1inourpoliticaldiscoursewiththeninetyandnineintheparableofTheLostSheepInLuke154itreadsWhatmanofyouhavinganhundredsheepifheloseoneofthemdothnotleavetheninetyandnineinthewildernessandgoafterthatwhichislostuntilhefinditThisassuresusthatGodcaresforallhischildrenevenifsomemayhaveawaywardattitude.Andjudgingbysomewithinthe99theywouldjustassoonallowcertainoneswithinthe1notonlytobelostbuttogetlost.YetweknowthatGodswillisthatallhischildrenwouldbeobedientandstaywithintheboundariesofhiscomfortsafetyandprotection.Inthisinstancethe99istheninetyandnineandthe1istheone.Withthe1beingtheonetherearethosewhowouldappeartobelostinthereahnofwhatGodexpectsofthemnotlostintermsofwherearetheybutwhoaretheyorbetterstillwhoseortheyInthebookofProverbs1917itsaysHethathathpityuponthepoorlendethuntotheLordandthatwhichhehathgivenwillhepayhimagain.Proverbs222readsTherichandpoormeettogethertheLordismalcerofthemall.InthegospelofSt.Mark147JesussaysForyehavethepoorwithyoualwaysandwhensoeveryewillyemaydothemgoodbutmeyehavenotalways.InthegospelofSt.Lukethe12thchapterGodwarnsagainstcovetousness.In1216b-21hesaysThegroundofacertainrichmanbroughtforthplentifullyAndhethoughtwithinhimselfsayingWhatshallIdobecauseIhavenoroomwheretobestowmyfruitsAndhesaidThiswillIdoIwillpulldownmybarnsandbuildgreaterandtherewillIbestowallmyfruitsandmygoods.AndIwillsaytomysoulSoulthouhastmuchgoodslaidupformanyyearstalcethineeaseeatdriukandbemerry.ButGodsaiduntohimThoufoolthisnightthysoulshallberequiredoftheethenwhoseshallthosethingsbewhichthouhastprovidedSoishethatlayethuptreasureforhimselfandisnotrichtowardGod.YouwouldthinkthatthosewhohavemorethanplentywouldatsomepointcometotermswithinthemselveshowmuchisconsideredenoughGreedpromotesgreed.Weareseeingthesetypesofactionsbeingplayedoutinallareasofoursociety.SomeprimeexamplesareHealthCarePetroleumIndustryMortgageFraudInsuranceCorporateFraudetc...InlookingbackitseemsthatMichaelDouglassproclamationinthe1987movieWallStreetdidhavesomeaffectontheloversofmoney.UsingaportionofhisspeechwhiletalkingtostockholdersandcompanyexecutiveshesaysThepointisladiesandgentlemanthatgreedforlackofabetterwordisgood.Greedisrightgreedworks.ItwouldappearthatthestatementGreedisGoodwasembracedbymany.InITimothy61OaPaulsaysFortheloveofmoneyistherootofallevil.Thisscripturedoesnotjustapplytothosewhoarerichorwealthybuttoallwhodesirerichesforthewrongreasons.InProverbs2822itsaysHethathastethtoberichhathanevileyeandconsiderethnotthatpovertyshallcomeuponhim.Proverbs2827readsHethatgivethuntothepoorshallnotlackbuthethathidethhiseyesshallhavemanyacurse.WhileunderstandingthattherewillbethosewhohavemuchanddonotseethebenefitsthatGodofferstothem.WemustlookattheyoungmanthatJesusspokewithinSt.Matthew1921-22sayingIfthouwiltbeperfectgoandsellthatthouhastandgivetothepoorandthoushalthavetreasureinheavenandcomeandfollowme.Butwhentheyoungmanheardthatsayinghewentawaysorrowfulforhehadgreatpossessions.EvenwithsimilarinstancestodaywearecontinuallygratefulandthankfulforthosewhodoliveandareguidedbythewordofGodandhavegenuinecompassionforthepooranddowntrodden.LetsstartthisGodgivenNew-Yearafreshandwhiledoingsoletusalsoacquireanewattitude.x1cThereisasufficiencyintheworldformansneedbutnotformansgreedx1dx14MahatmaGandhix14WilWilson99vsthe1