3 Bible Verses Encouraging Us To Strive For Holiness More Than Riches

 Pixabay

Christians who have fully put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ have been made into a new creation and are given a new identity: an identity as a child of God through Christ. With this new identity we are given new pursuits and ideals. One of these is to pursue holiness.

Pursuing God

The Lord Jesus Christ, frank as He is, warned us that in our pursuit of God we will face challenges. One of these is the challenge to pursue God and not money. In Matthew 6:24, He warned us,

"No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

Knowing this, we will do well to be fully aware if the master we are serving is God or riches. In the pursuit of riches and material gain, we will appear to have many possessions throughout our lifetime. But at the end of our lives we all know that we will part with them. And then will come the sad realisation that we should've lived for God.

Pursuing God, on the other hand, might appear boring and unappealing to many. But the truth is that it's the only pursuit that brings lasting satisfaction and overflowing contentment. And yes, this joy will never end, even if we face trials and hardships.

Pursue Holiness Over Riches

God, our Father, wants all of us to be like Him; He wants us all to be holy as He is holy (see 1 Peter 1:16). Our desire, then, should be the pursuit of holiness rather than the pursuit of riches and material gain.

To help you pursue God's holiness instead of worldly, material gain, here are some Bible verses for you.

Psalm 84:10-12 – "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give favor and glory, for no good thing will He withhold from the one who walks uprightly. O Lord of Hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You." (MEV) (Pixabay)
News
Petition calls for end to disciplinary action against Jennifer Melle
Petition calls for end to disciplinary action against Jennifer Melle

There are concerns Melle could lose her job.

UK Christian and Gospel music set for official singles chart launch
UK Christian and Gospel music set for official singles chart launch

The UK’s Christian and Gospel music scene is set to receive a major boost with the announcement of a new official singles chart, developed in partnership between AStepFWD and The Official Charts Company.

More Protestant churches closed than opened in the US in 2024, new analysis finds
More Protestant churches closed than opened in the US in 2024, new analysis finds

The closures have served to highlight the importance of church planting, say researchers.

Cultivating the fruits of the Spirit: gentleness that reflects God’s strength
Cultivating the fruits of the Spirit: gentleness that reflects God’s strength

To be gentle is often equated with being passive, fragile, or easily overlooked - a liability rather than a virtue. But the Kingdom of God operates by an entirely different framework.