The Bible Study Podcast, episode 166. Today, the Bible Study podcast continues a study looking at money.

Welcome to the Bible Study podcast. I'm your host, Chris Christensen. This is the second part of a study on money,

and I don't know how long this study is going to go on. I'm interested to see myself.

Last week, we looked at the question of sort of the theology of glory, the theology that says

God wants you to be rich, that God promises many times in the Old Testament, we

looked at some of those promises last week, that if you are obedient to him, he will bless you.

And I challenged some of those things, but let me tell you now, now that we're starting a new

episode, that I believe those promises. I believe that if you are obedient

to God, that he will bless you. Now, I think it's a little more complicated than some people make

that. So let's look at a couple different things. First of all, why do I believe that? And if you think

about it, it makes perfect sense. If God is desiring what is for our good, if God loves us, and if God is

capable of giving us guidance, which I believe he is, and the Bible certainly says that he is,

then if I am faithful and obedient to God, I am at least eliminating from my life some problems.

Okay? So let's look at that. For instance, if I have a problem that I have a weakness for something,

if I have a weakness for alcohol, if I have a weakness for sex, if I have a weakness for food,

if I am obedient to God and I am being faithful and I am

steering away from those things where I am tempted, then I'm going to be better off.

For instance, when the terrible disease AIDS struck, I lived very close to San Francisco,

which was a real epicenter for that disease, but I was not

afraid of it. Why? Because I live in a monogamous, loving relationship with my wife. Since I'm not

going to go have sex with prostitutes, for instance, I'm being protected by that obedience

from some problems that would come into my life.

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