Of Pearls, Swine and Giving

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. (Matthew 7:6)

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (2John 10, 11)

He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. (Proverbs 22:16)

I want us to look at giving differently. I am sure you have considered that tithing is an Old Testament practice, even if you still practice it (read the post ‘Tithing’ elsewhere on the blog).

Do you know that God holds you accountable for all your giving? Do you know that your gifts have a capacity of sending you to heaven or hell, however generous or otherwise you might be? Of course many preachers talk about a gift opening your way before great men. Does that only talk about humans? Does it not apply even better to God and his agenda? Remember Cornelius?

And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. (Acts 10:4)

Giving in the right place does open doors of God’s favor to the giver just as giving in the wrong place can open the doors of God’s wrath.

I therefore want us to look at your giving as your treasure even as we look at this explosive topic. This is because you are accountable before God for every little gift you give. It is imperative therefore that you look at that little coin you give as a pearl.

Why did Jesus commend the woman who ‘wastefully’ poured costly ointment over Him instead of selling it to give to the poor? Did He not care for the poor? That lady accessed the season and did the required action for that season.

Like I have always argued, the difference between OT and NT giving is the leading presence of the Holy Spirit. It means that however much we give, if it is not consistent with the leading of the Holy Spirit, it is giving your pearls to swine. Not only will it be wasteful and useless but you will be judged for it.

Back to the tithe, assuming the incongruous. According to Malachi 3: 10, where is the tithe supposed to be taken? To the storehouse of course. Why? So that there is food in God’s house. Is there food in the storehouse you take your tithe? Can the hungry access that food if it is there at all?

Sadly, most storehouses are just that by name. Many are personal or corporate accounts that can be accessed by a select few. It might have the name XYZ church or ministry only for promotional purposes. Even the giver may never be able to access that should his situation change and he go hungry. Many times it is the wealthy that easily access that loot you foolishly and trustingly gave.

I repeat that the tithe was meant for the Levites who had been denied the opportunity to fend for themselves as they served God. It also catered for the disadvantaged (orphans, widows, refugees and the poor). Remember it also catered for the religious celebrations of the community.

Does the tithe you give do that? Does the tithe you give do what your heart desires the Kingdom of God to be doing?

You see God’s purpose for giving to any person who worships Him is so that he would continue His work on earth. That resource, from time to strength to money exists to enjoin us to His redemptive purpose on this earth as He sees fit.

It is therefore our responsibility to connect with God concerning that purpose so that I do not waste any of that into a diversion from that purpose. I am directly responsible and accountable to God for the way the resource is used.

There is a common misconception that has now become a very popular teaching of spiritual conmen. I at one time believed the same. And this is that it really does not matter what the money (tithe and offering) you give does provided you give it to the storehouse.

Sadly that is unscriptural. I am sure many are wondering why.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

And that leading does not stop when we get to giving. Our lack of guidance into our giving habits is akin to disobedience as God never intended for us to use cruise control in any aspect of our Christian lives. If you depend on the leading of the preacher to give to his storehouse, is it possible to depend on the leading of the Spirit on any other thing? If the prophet determines what you give him for his prophecy, does the Spirit ever lead you into anything? If the crisis (real or imagined) of the storehouse is the reason you give, what would you say is the reason Christ said it was better that He leaves? Does the Holy Spirit lead us into anything if He is not allowed unlimited control of those resources?

But the storehouse must be filled, even if it is the personal or corporate wealth of a few. The owners of the storehouse must bend their theology to convince you against the leading of the Spirit (sadly feigning their being led of the same) so that their interests are well catered for. Sadly that storehouse as I have said exists only by name. It might provide some food once in a while as a public relations exercise especially when the giving goes down or to convince more givers to sink their money there.

Does the Holy Spirit direct you as to where and whom you will give your offering? That is the fundamental question. And it is because if He does it would be impossible to see the extremes that are in churches nowadays, especially the big churches where we have the poorest of the poor ‘worshipping’ with the wealthiest in society with no attempt at bridging the gap. The pastor himself is many times a minister to the rich because they have ensured that he is elevated to their level. In fact you will find that there are different classes of pastors. I remember one time I was brought a concern by a friend about such a church. The senior pastor is wealthy, drives an SUV yet his associate was in dire straits as he had no money to take his wife to the a maternity hospital for his child to be born.

God desires to guide your giving. And your giving has a connection to the vision God has given you. It is connected to the burden God has placed in your heart. And I believe God is very specific in those things.

The fact that the storehouse you give screams missions at every opportunity does not mean it is interested in reaching the unreached people group God has placed in your heart. The fact that they have a handful of missionaries does not qualify them to take the Gospel to the place God has placed in your heart. You see the storehouse manager will pursue his vision (assuming he has one) to convince you to invest there. Yet do you know that God will hold you accountable for the failure to reach the people He placed in your heart? And that is so even when the storehouse is doing something similar to what He has called you to do. You see being mission minded does not mean reaching the person God gave you.

I believe the storehouse principle is the reason we have so much of the world still unreached yet in the first century a handful of believers were able to take the Gospel to the whole world in a generation. They were able to do it because the church was sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit concerning missions.

I believe God allowed the writing of Acts the way it is so that we get adequate information to guide us. Have you ever asked where the 120 who were in the upper room ended since the only Peter is sufficiently mentioned? What about the other 11 apostles? I believe God sent His ministers all over the world and raised support for them from other believers like it happened in Antioch or like He spoke to Philip amidst a revival in Samaria.

What are you doing with the vision God has given you? What are you doing with the burden He has placed in your heart? What are you doing with the ministry God has called you to? What are you doing with the community He has called you to lead to Him? Are your resources focused there or must you give to the storehouse that has no idea about it?

It is not a sin to let a storehouse to close down if it does not provide food to the world. In fact it is a sin to let it continue being in existence. And the ones keeping it there will be judged by the One whose business it is that the world does not starve due to the selfish or corporate interest of a few.

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs

Giving what should go to the vision God has given you to a storehouse lacking that vision is giving what is holy to the dogs.

It is your responsibility to ask God for clarity concerning the resources He has given you. In fact there is no excuse for not doing so.

What has God called you to? Are you supposed to go or is it your responsibility to facilitate the goers? Why not ask God to show you where that money and other resources should be heading to? Why do you think the pastor is better placed to know where to direct your money than the Lord of the harvest? Or has your pastor convinced you that God only speaks to storehouse managers?

How does God hold us accountable for every idle word we speak (Matthew 12: 36) yet forgo how we have handled the resources He had entrusted with us? Is it possible that God will overlook our diversion of the resources He had given us to pursue the vision He had entrusted us with to a storehouse that was pursuing a different, even though similar vision?

Will you listen to God concerning where you should take your gifts and offerings?

God bless you

All These Things 2

And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. (Judges 15:14)

Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. (Mark 5:4)

We continue with the two sources, this time looking beyond wealth though we will still revisit resources.

Have you ever wondered how a drug user is able to afford those expensive drugs before he gets completely addicted? Ever wondered how a drunkard is able to get all that booze before getting totally stoned? Ever wondered how a whoremonger is able to afford all those sex partners with the limited resources at his disposal?

The devil is the driver and financier of addiction. And this because he knows addiction may be the easiest avenue for demon possession to take root. It may be the only method for it to occur without a person’s direct permission. You see, once addiction sets in the devil has unfettered control of the person.

I remember my season in teenage rebellion when I found enjoyment in breaking school rules, mainly going outside the school compound to take breakfast as the school one was made of some smelly yellow maize. Incidentally I never lacked the money yet at that time what would be called pocket money was what I had saved from the bus fare I was given to school at the beginning of the term which could not have lasted a week. To date I do not understand where all that money came from. Yet it is understandable knowing the original source of rebellion. Another interesting thing is that I was never caught. The only time I was caught was when I was denied permission to go to hospital when I was sick. I got so angry that I marched off to hospital. And no teacher could have suspected I had no permission. But I met the teacher who had denied me permission. Interestingly I was saved and actively involved in the Christian Union in the school. But of course I did not spend time in the scriptures.

But today I want us to look beyond resources to strength and power.

Do you realize that the demoniac legion had strength comparable to Samson? Another thing I will ask is how did those chains break without destroying his body?  Why is the same language employed on the two as if what broke those chains and cords was not the human element?

I believe it is the Holy Spirit resident in Samson who was the element of breaking those cords as well as doing those feats he was known for. He was not actually extra strong. What he had was a resident force that went ahead of him to deal with those challenges as per the assignment the Spirit had been given.

It was the same with the demoniac. It was the vast army of demons that was the active element in those feats.

What am I driving at? The devil empowers the people doing his bidding just as God empowers His servants. And I am saying this as an answer to a lot of unexplainable things I have seen in my not very short life.

Have you ever seen a thief being mobbed? How is it that after a beating many think he will not be able to get up on getting a slip is able to dash so fast no one can catch him yet he was on the throes of death? How is he able to recover that fast? And how does he appear immune to pain?

Have you ever wondered how a man is able to sleep with several women daily without tiring yet he is unable to do it once daily his legal wife? How does a prostitute sleep with so many clients yet she has enough STDs to finish an army yet a normal woman with one is unable to do anything, leave alone being sexually active?

The devil has power he releases to those who serve his purposes. As the prince of the world and god of this age he avails his best to those servants who serve him best.

But that is not the purpose of the post. This is just information to help us deal with the enemy on his terms without being confused as he is the master of that.

Counterfeit is the game the devil is master at. And what he seeks most to counterfeit is the power and reality of God. And that is what I want us to look at briefly.

What would have happened had that demoniac started proclaiming the name of Jesus and using that power he had as the demonstration of God’s power? How many would have known that the spirit he was operating under was a contrary one?

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. (Acts 16: 16, 17)

Who would have guessed that this girl was using the truth she was proclaiming to counter the Gospel? Remember Simon of Samaria (Acts 8) and Barjesus?

You see the purpose of counterfeit powers and prophecy is to get people off the path of true relationship with God by showing a counterfeit one. And it takes someone of great spiritual sensitivity to tell them apart.

And it is important that we remember that Jesus warned us about all those counterfeits when He talked about the end times.

For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. (Mark 13:22)

A demonstration of power is not limited to God. The devil does release power too. Sadly that power is released to counter the power of God and especially to be confused with the power of God. Remember Pharaoh’s magicians?

Interestingly when I was in rebellion I was hailed as a very attractive specimen of a believer. Many admired my life as I seemed to enjoy the best from both worlds. I enjoyed the acclaim of the world, the company of the toughies and the fellowship of the believers. I was attractive as I was not as uptight as the other members of the Christian Union. Many thought I was a very good witness. I never smoked or took drugs as the company I kept did. And my grades were good.

But was I God’s witness? Of course I was not. I could not enjoy the goodies from the devil and lead people to Christ. I could not enjoy the acclaim of the world and lead the same world to the Savior. And that is where it most matters.

A lot of music we call worship is inspired from hell. From the scripting to the instruments to the arrangements. Only the lyrics are ‘godly’, and that to confuse us to think that the song is about God.

I must substantiate before I am lynched. What is worship? What is the result of worship? Worship is an encounter with God, not with words about Him. Compare that with coming in the presence of a king as He says in Malachi.

 That encounter can never leave you the same. In fact you can never live the way you did before that encounter. And the King we are talking about is the Holy One who is the Creator and Lord of the universe.

How can we go to a worship event, lift our hands, shed tears and feel all blessed yet go back to our sexual immorality? Can we leave the presence of a Holy God and go back to a life devoid of holiness? Can I leave the presence of a Just God and go back to a life of injustice? Can I leave the presence of a loving God and go back to my selfish and greedy ways? Can I encounter holiness and continue enjoying flippant conversations? Can I encounter God and continue wearing provocative and tempting dresses even in my bedroom?

God’s presence transforms completely. It is therefore clear that a worship that does not produce lasting transformation toward holiness is from the counterfeit spirit, however to the contrary you feel.

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 6:5)

That in a nutshell is what true worship produces. And we see that from David to Job to Peter. Worship that does not produce a change toward holiness is mastered from hell. Worship shows me who I am before God whose presence I stand in worship. Instead of making me feel good, worship makes me have a proper evaluation of my person before God who I am standing (many times prostrating) before.

Could it be that the devil is the driver of all these worship experiences we are planning and attending? You see from a passage in the Bible Lucifer’s makeup was music. Is it not probable that he knows what part of music creates a particular response from the human body? Do you think he will have a problem with ‘holy’ lyrics being applied in that?

A friend told me something that surprised me though it shouldn’t have had. He told me that any place where alcohol is sold is dimly lit and even the light is of a particular tint. They also employ some particular types of music. All this is done to make the atmosphere conducive to drunkenness. I hear that a drunkard who could walk comfortably on leaving that atmosphere will be unable to stand. Interesting enough I have never seen a drunk being carried off the bar for being too drunk to walk. They all fall outside. They realize they are too drunk to carry themselves once they leave that spiritual atmosphere. Incidentally even in the big hotels the bars are placed in dimly lit corners.

Again dancehalls apply a play of lights and music for their success. Why are we applying the same lights for our worship concerts if it is God we are worshipping? I have watched some videos and became convinced that very little God can be found there as there is really no difference between their visual and aural atmosphere and that of a secular disco.

Could we be enjoying the musical goodies from the devil to ‘worship’ God? Can that really be worship? Was my rebellious witness leading anyone to God?

What is the solution?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12: 1, 2)

It is possible to know what exactly God expects of you. But it involves the sacrifice of self to the holiness of God.

All These Things

And saith unto Him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. (Matthew 4: 9)

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)

It is interesting that this statement applies to two opposing kingdoms, equally. This of course means that the purpose of that statement in one kingdom is directly opposite to that of the other kingdom.

We know that the kingdoms exist each to undo the works of the other.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

That summarizes the conflict of the kingdoms. Remember what was said of Christ?

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3: 8b)

What are you aiming at? I am sure some are already asking.

There are two clear sources of wealth, and they are diametrically opposed.

Treating wealth as if it comes from one source is not just ignorance; it is folly at the highest order as it automatically leads us to an eternally damning response.

Psalm 73 describes the dilemma of one seeking to make sense of wealth without considering two sources. He gets thoroughly confused until he finally decides to seek God’s take on the same. Then he is able to make sense of it all.

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. (Psalm 73:17)

Incidentally that is the same reasoning we see with Job’s miserable comforters. They seem to advocate the doctrine that there is only one source of wealth, meaning that Job had lost his wealth because he had fallen foul of that source and that explained why he was going through the ‘chastisement’ the source was releasing.

The point I am making is that the devil has the capacity to and does enrich. It is therefore wrong to treat all the rich as though they have been treated bountifully by the God we serve. Otherwise Christ could not have issued this statement

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:25)

Surely God can’t be so ill disposed to people He has blessed, or wealth should be treated as the greatest curse. Why give something that disqualifies the recipient from heaven?

Or could we be arguing for wealth coming from one source to keep people from investigating the source of our wealth since we know that it is not from God? Then we can continue living in deceptive comfort even as we fleece and impoverish God’s people.

Let me give a few distinctions between the sources to help us ascertain where ours may be coming from.

The first thing can be seen in the verses.

The devil gives to the one yearning for the wealth. He entices to craving by showing the world and all it contains in a snapshot (today he uses the media to do it in bucketfuls). Then he gives the requirement to give that wealth. Any time the pursuit of wealth becomes a goal it is certain that it is wealth from the other source that one is searching. Look at this verse

No servant 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. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:13)

And this because the pursuit of wealth is many times contrary to the worship of God. Or using other words, the pursuit of wealth is worship of the source that is the devil.

God given wealth on the other hand is not sought for. It pursues those who are pursuing God and have no interest whether they get any of it or not because God alone is enough. It is therefore for His glory that He gives wealth because He is sure it will be used to lead others to know and connect with Him.

Another thing to notice with wealth from the devil is that it leads to selfish interest which is the way the source intends. It therefore will be used to promote personal agenda and will rarely, if ever, be used for something the owner has no interest in. Even generosity or benevolence is self centered as opposed to a real concern for the recipients. His giving is comparable to a bribe even when offered in church.

He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? (Proverbs 21: 26, 27)

Wealth from God, due to the fact that it was not gotten by its pursuit does not stick to the righteous.

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. (Proverbs 11:24)

And that is not new. Remember James saying this?

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? (James 2: 5 – 7)

Another thing wealth from the other side does is it never satisfies. Having more and more is its motto, like leech’s two daughters. But it may also be an attitude influenced by the other side. You see it is impossible to access the ALL that was promised and so there is always room for some more stuff. That is why generosity that will not bring in more is shunned by those rich.

You will see someone with clothes they will never wear in this life, yet unable to give any of them away. Even small items like ties can become a nuisance in someone’s wardrobe yet it becomes difficult to give any away. The only things that are given away are those worn out. I heard a girl on the media saying that she lives in a 4 bed roomed house and apart from her room all the other rooms are filled with clothes.

A person can have two cars, three cars, five cars yet never give any away until they completely get out of fashion. And even then they will be sold. The same goes with properties and business stock that is given away days before its expiry date though others would rather sell even that for a pittance. Yet money is the greatest culprit and is the greatest success the devil can boast of because it has ensnared hordes. And this because it is easy to convince them that money can never be enough because it can fit in a card however much it is, or on the forehead or hand as we are about to see soon.

Amassing is the hidden motive (not so hidden nowadays) of gifts from the other side.

Wealth from God flows freely and does not need the protection of the holder. It is easily released because the source is dependable. Remember Isaac leaving his wells to someone instead of protecting his hard labor? Remember his father refusing to take his due from the kings he rescued as he rescued Lot?

The study of Abraham, Isaac, David and Nehemiah can give us indicators of God gotten wealth.

Nothing has changed whichever generation we are talking about. Money sourced from the evil one will manifest the same way because he pursues the same agenda since he was thrown down from heaven.

I will not seek to dwell on the distinguishing of the two sources, not because I can’t do so but because the Bible has very clear guidelines on the same. It is the reading and study of the Bible that will be able to give us the clear guidelines for the same. Reading the Bible consistently is the one thing that will bring out the issue with the greatest clarity.

One thing I will add though is that wealth from God will draw the recipient to God, bringing out greater devotion and worship. Another thing it will do is draw others to God. It is the clearest witness in the muck of self interest demonstrated by those who have received from the other source.

The greatest tragedy is that the church is on the whole so uninterested in knowing God’s word, at least individually. They are content to have others reading and interpreting for them, many times people who are severely compromised by the other side.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6)

It goes without say that such interpretation will be heavily weighted in favor of the source they are feeding from, which sadly is the devil.

Before you start shouting against me for attacking your favorite imposter and spiritual broker let me explain a little more.

Like it happened to Solomon, many ministers started with receiving their wealth from God. But with time they started mixing that with human ingenuity and spiritual compromise to enjoy more dependable wealth returns. Their search for security therefore compromises and pollutes their initial receipt.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No. Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean. Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean. (Haggai 2: 11 – 14)

Wealth from God, however legitimate it is, will automatically be corrupted when it gets mixed with humanly sourced wealth. Then it all becomes corrupted.

And I have enough examples. I know ministers whose call to ministry was nothing short of phenomenal have their cutting edge of preaching dulled by a gift from the ‘right’ source. He receives a suit, a car, a house in a spiritually compromised manner. They then stop preaching against particular sins because they are part of them.

The easiest any sensible person can see without looking is a dangerous preacher to the other kingdom receiving a sizeable gift from a woman who dresses flimsily. They automatically stop seeing the evil prevalent in those exposed thighs and breasts even though she will sit at the front pews. They later become blinded to the sexual sin being promoted by this ‘supporter’.

The reason very few preachers today are against sin is because they are feeding off sinful supporters. It of course becomes technically impossible to preach against their sins. That is what we call compromise.

Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. (Ezekiel 22:26)

And that happens because they are receiving their support from two spiritual sources. And receiving from the devil automatically means that whatever you may have received from God is already corrupted. God then releases it to His enemy so that His judgment will be just.

What is the secret? Read the Bible for yourself. Do not allow yourself to be led by anyone just because his ministry seems to enjoy an abundance of favor in terms of wealth. That wealth could be as a result of them submitting their wills to the enticement of wealth. The wealth you think of as Gods favor might actually be a reward from hell.

As I close let me ask this question concerning these ‘blessed’ people. How much of the fruit of the Holy Spirit can be seen in these characters as they enjoy their wealth. This is because God not only releases wealth, He will always release an abundance of His fruit as the evidence that He is the one that has given that wealth.

The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. (Proverbs 10:22)

By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. (Proverbs 11:11)

And I will end with that evidence to gauge between the two sources.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5: 19 – 23)

Which side speaks of your blessed characters?

But it is imperative that the Bible in its entirety forms the standard by which you judge those and any other blessings.