"I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit . . . "
Most normal and/or sane people want to "profit" in their lives. They want their existence on earth to amount to something. Even the worst and most rebellious sinners feel this way. And this is good, because God made us to want to "profit." But note (above) that the Lord "teaches" His church *how* to profit.
The *way* God does this is through convincing His children of the proper hierarchy of "loves." If we love Jesus and His church *first* and foremost; then we are in a good and legitimate position to also love other people (outside of the church); and to enjoy other things, including wealth and abundance.
[Puritan quote of the day: "If you would not be discouraged in any condition, then never make your comforts depend upon your condi-
tion, nor be in love with any condition for itself . . . " --William Bridge, in "A Lifting Up for the Downcast"]
