Man chooses not to find security in God but seeks to be independent. He amasses money in the hope of gaining security. He does not seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness but material security. He is self-centered, therefore lawless.

Man chooses to "marry," to be in union with, people, things, and circumstances that are not found in the Father. Only what is in the Father is holy. Man burns with desire toward unclean relationships because he is self-centered, therefore lawless.

Man chooses and seeks his own place and role in the Kingdom. He is envious of anyone who has been given a place or role he desires. He is ambitious because he is self-centered, and therefore lawless.

God has made abundant preparation for our need for security, pleasure, and achievement, the three areas of man we are discussing.

For security, God has promised that if we will overcome He will make us a pillar in His Temple and we shall go no more out (Revelation 3:12).

For pleasure, God has promised that we are to become one in Christ in God, and one with those of the same calling (John 17:21-23). At God's right hand there are pleasures for eternity.

For achievement, God has promised that if we overcome our lawlessness we will sit with Christ in His throne just as Christ has overcome and is seated with the Father in His throne (Revelation 3:21).

God is not determined to take things away from us. He is bringing us to a "good land," to the fulfillment of every worthy desire. But because the three areas of man have been perverted and inflamed, God gives authority to the forces of darkness to kill the three dimensions. God then can raise them to eternal joy and glory.

We must "die" to each of these: to our tendency to seek security apart from God; to the desires we have that are not found in God (which are idolatry); to our ambition and pride that strive for preeminence.

God will give Antichrist authority to ruin many saints, to impoverish them. Then they will learn to depend on the Lord for material needs, for safety, for health, and for all else necessary for survival in the body. The jar of manna, the readiness to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, must be created in us.

How many Christians must have "nice things"? They find their comfort, their security, in the things of this world. When God calls them to minister somewhere they think first of how this will affect their income. how they will survive financially.

In some instances those whom God has called have continued to work with the idea that when they retire they will have enough money to minister without having to depend on God to supply their material needs. Unless God has led them to make this kind of plan, it will not work. Either they will die or become sick or weakly or lose the anointing for ministry.

We cannot put our material needs first and the Kingdom second. If we do we will lose both our material security and the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

People amass money so they do not have to depend on God.

To be continued.