Pastor Ed Bowen was saved on March 24, 1957 at a revival meeting at Horse Branch Church in Turbeville, S.C. at the age of 23. Brother Bowen has been married to his wife, Margaret, for over 54 years. After being ordained in 1960, Pastor Bowen went on to preach in various places until he became pastor of Cherryvale Baptist. Having been there for over 43 years, in 2000, he had to slow down a bit due to prostate cancer.Though unable to do what he used to do, Pastor Ed has just changed venues. For over ten years now, he has been encouraging people via email. He has graciously agreed to be a contributing author to this website. This series of posts entitled, “Heart To Heart” are the fruit of his times with our Lord Jesus! If they mean as much to you as they do me, then EMAIL him and let him know about it!
(1 Timothy 6:8-10) “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (KJV)
The most common form of the sin of covetousness is the love of money or things. The lusting after more and more material riches. This is described by the Apostle Paul in the Word of God, as those “that would be rich.” So, one does not necessarily have to possess much to be covetous and love money. A person could have a small bank account or no bank account at all, and still love money.
The evidence of this inordinate desire for money is shown by the getting, the keeping and the spending of it. In getting it, one may have such an obsessive desire for attaining wealth that it becomes his dominating passion and greed possesses his heart. There is also a miserly attitude which causes a person to cling to money like a drowning man to a log. He hoards it despite the needs of others and the cause of Christ. Then, there are those who are called spendthrifts. They get money only to spend it on their lustful appetites.
There is a prudence to thrift and a blessing in generosity, if each is directed by the Lord. There is also an honorable dedication to diligence and dutiful labor. The rich fool (Luke 12) was not foolish because he was idle. He was a fool because he was not rich toward God. He did not acknowledge the source of his blessings. Let us never be such a fool!
Ed Bowen
Conclusion
It is so easy to be deceived by money and it’s glitter! Many a devout Christian has been brought under it’s power and ground to powder. May everyone who reads this post be sure to keep their heart right with God and their motives righteous as it pertains to money and materialism!
Would you consider purchasing…
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Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words |
By W.E. Vine / Thomas Nelson
This convenient one volume combines Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words and Unger and White’s Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament. This book allows you to easily access the alphabetized English equivalents of the Greek or Hebrew words from which they are translated. Throughout the text the most significant biblical words are illustrated by Scripture passages, comments, cross-references, ancient and modern meanings, precise etymologies, historical notes, and clearly defined technical information. Each original language is indexed, and the addition of a topical index allows you to access all the dictionary entries pertinent to specific New Testament ideas and teachings.Keyed to Strong’s.
