Greatest Temptations : Topic 3: "Vanity, definitely my favorite sin"

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, in their eagerness to get rich, have wandered away from the faith and caused themselves a lot of pain. - I Timothy 6:10

It is a human thing to desire. I believed that there's nothing wrong with that.
Even God has a future plan for us, that is to prosper:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. -Jeremiah 29:11-13

What's wrong is that we never get satisfied and often desire to have more, up to the extent that we let our faith to be compromised.

This is already present in us as it was said in Genesis 8:21:

...even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood...

That evil inclination in our heart is the one that Satan’s tickles every now and then until we commit sin.

Yes, we need money typically to sustain our basic needs.
Even so, does it stop there? I don't think so. The more we have, the more we want and the more we want the more we pursue. It's vanity. It's endless.

It is not good to eat much honey: So for men to search out their own glory is grievous. -Proverbs 25:27 

Richness, power, fame, prestige, glamour, etc. many people have died and dying for these things. Ignoring the fact that wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony are some results of these wicked desires.

I just remember Al Pacino (John Milton), wherein vanity is his favorite sin (from the movie Devil's Advocate).

Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves), a defense attorney in  Gainesville  ,  Florida  , has never lost a case. He defends a schoolteacher, Mr. Gettys (Chris Bauer), against a charge of child molestation. During the trial, Kevin realizes that his client is guilty, and a reporter tells him that a guilty verdict is all but inevitable. However, through a harsh cross-examination Kevin destroys the credibility of the victim (Heather Matarazzo) and secures another not guilty verdict.
...
Kevin wakes up during the recess of the Gettys trial. After embracing Mary Ann (Charlize Theron), Kevin announces that he can no longer represent his client, despite the threat of being disbarred. A reporter follows Kevin and Mary Ann, pleading for an interview and promising to make Kevin a star. After some prodding from Mary Ann, Kevin reluctantly agrees. After Kevin and Mary Ann leave, the reporter shapeshifts into a grinning Milton (Al Pacino). Breaking the fourth wall, he says, "Vanity, definitely my favorite sin." - Wiki
It's a good movie by the way. :)

Vanity doesn't choose what kind person you are or what's your status in life as long as you’re in vain or have a tendency of becoming one, that’s everything Satan needs to know.

Temptation through richness and wealth are not new to us. I believed it is one of the most effective temptations that Satan used to human to fall into sin. This is the same strategy that the devil used to Jesus in the wilderness. When the devil tries to fool Jesus by deceiving Him; To give Jesus everything just to worship him (the devil).

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. And he said to him, "I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me." -Matthew 4:8-9

Then Jesus said to him, "Go away, Satan! For it is written: 'You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to his needs. -Matthew 4:10-11

This might be the greatest temptation, but we can overcome it just like Jesus did. We only need to know how respond to the temptation. We need to be rooted to the Word of God.  

As Christian, we know that our wealth is not here on Earth but in heaven.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Matthew 6:19-21

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you? you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.- Matthew 6:25-34

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. -Matthew 6:24

"Read your Bible, pray everyday, And you'll grow, grow, grow"

To God be the glory. God bless...

 ~ If this post somehow helped or inspire you, please share your thoughts in the comment section ~

Thank You and God bless.

Dedication or Baptism?

I was baptized under Roman Catholic months after I was born.
I was confirmed as a Methodist during my adolescent.
Recently, I was born again.

When I was growing, I haven't heard of "child dedication" not until I became a godfather of my friend's son who was dedicated.

"Why dedication and not baptism? Is there any difference?"

 
I thought about these questions for a while then tried to answer it for myself; However, at back of my mind, what's the big deal they're both offered to God?

When my wife became pregnant, the question about dedication and baptism cross my mind again. It was then I started to seek for an answer and pray that God will lead me. 

Along with wife's pregnancy, we already thought of considering dedication. However, we're continuously praying for the discernment because we still regard our families of what may they say or how will they react; unlike baptism, most religious organization does not practice child dedication.

Sharing to you are some of my simple findings:

Religious Affiliation

We're not technically a member of the church that we're attending but this church helped us in our spiritual life grow and still growing.

I consulted a friend of mine who has been connected with the church for sometime now, and she told me that its church policy that they do not baptize child younger than 7 years old. Since Kiel is just three month old, he will not be baptized.

My personal study

Since I'm now reading my Bible from Genesis to Revelation and currently in the Book of Judges, I still haven't read about baptism.

I could/may be wrong  but as far as my knowledge about baptism, it was only introduced by John (the Baptist) in the new testament. 

Below are some of verses that I may relate to dedication:

Consecration of the Firstborn 
- Exodus 13

Others
- Exodus 22:29
- Exodus 34:18-20

Redeeming What Is the LORD’s
- Leviticus 27 

The Birth of Samson
- Judges 13

Hannah Dedicates Samuel
- I Samuel 1:21-28

I did research on the internet and found many websites about dedication and baptism. I just selected two websites having simple but understandable explanation that may help you as an added reference in the future. 

Dedication or Baptism (click either of the two)

Since our child can't decide for himself, it is our responsibility as parents to decide for whatever best we think for him.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. 
- Proverbs 22:6

"Read your Bible, pray everyday, And you'll grow, grow, grow"

To God be the glory. God bless...

 ~ If this post somehow helped or inspire you, please share your thoughts in the comment section ~

Thank You and God bless.