In part 4, I shared that self-dependence finds it's root in the devil and He co-opted Adam and Eve through deception, thereby creating through them a self-dependent world system. Click here to read part 4.

The devil usurped my focus and energy in the enterprise of meeting my temporal needs while missing out on all the true riches of God that meet both my current and eternal needs. He offered poor substitutes for the life of God that truly fulfils. He did this to lull me into a false sense of security, thereby de-motivating me from making the most of my relationship with God, being so pre-occupied by self.

1. "If you are thirsty, come and drink water! If you don't have any money, come, eat what you want! Drink wine and milk without paying a cent. Why waste your money on what really isn't food? Why work hard for something that doesn't satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and you will enjoy the very best foods. Pay close attention! Come to me and live. I will promise you the eternal love and loyalty that I promised David." (Isaiah 55:1-3 CEV)

2. "Jesus answered, "You've come looking for me not because you saw God in my actions but because I fed you, filled your stomachs--and for free. "Don't waste your energy striving for perishable food like that. Work for the food that sticks with you, food that nourishes your lasting life, food the Son of Man provides. He and what he does are guaranteed by God the Father to last." (John 6:26-27 MSG)

3. ""I'm telling you the most solemn and sober truth now: Whoever believes in me has real life, eternal life. I am the Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate the manna bread in the desert and died. But now here is Bread that truly comes down out of heaven. Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever. I am the Bread--living Bread!--who came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will live--and forever! The Bread that I present to the world so that it can eat and live is myself, this flesh-and-blood self." (John 6:47-51 MSG)

4. "If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. Eventually there's an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck. A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough. But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after." (1 Timothy 6:3-10 MSG)

God's original plan shows how it ought to be.

1. "Israel, do you want to go into the land the LORD promised your ancestors? Do you want to capture it, live there, and become a powerful nation? Then be sure to obey every command I am giving you. Don't forget how the LORD your God has led you through the desert for the past forty years. He wanted to find out if you were truly willing to obey him and depend on him, so he made you go hungry. Then he gave you manna, a kind of food that you and your ancestors had never even heard about. The LORD was teaching you that people need more than food to live--they need every word that the LORD has spoken. Over the past forty years, your clothing hasn't worn out, and your feet haven't swollen." (Deuteronomy 8:1-4 CEV)

The text above shows that me that I was not to live by bread alone. In this context, bread encompassed all man-made means of meeting our needs and the qualification "alone", suggests there are limitations to such a system. The nation of Israel found themselves in wilderness conditions with no means of sustenance. A man made system was not able to cope with the circumstances they faced, hence their hunger. By contrast, God was able to meet their needs through extraordinary means for which there was no earthly precedence and extend the life of their belongings supernaturally. This is a clear example of why we are not to live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from God's mouth. God's word caters for every possible scenario without fail.

1. "And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth." (Genesis 47:15 KJV)

2. "Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage-- to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life." (1 Timothy 6:17-19 MSG)

3. "Remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to become rich. He does this because he is still faithful today to the covenant that he made with your ancestors. Never forget the LORD your God or turn to other gods to worship and serve them. If you do, then I warn you today that you will certainly be destroyed. " (Deuteronomy 8:18-19 GNB)

Through these scriptures and experiences, I discovered that man-made riches are a poor substitute for God. It demanded worship and competed for the attention and affection that rightfully belonged to God, while claiming to be my provider. The truth is that God is a loving father that delights in blessing His children and worldly riches is a task master seeking to rule and eventually ruin us (John 10:10). Earthly riches are indeed deceitful.

1. "and the cares of this world, and the deceit of riches, and the lust about other things entering in, choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful." (Mark 4:19 MKJV)

2. "..let God be true, and every man a liar." (Romans 3:4 MKJV), God's wisdom, however, is shown to be true by all who accept it." (Luke 7:35 GNB)

---

To those who deny the truth

Hear me out

The truth will not be denied

It will only pass you by

Deny you its fruits

And yield it to those who are aligned

Cause the truth will not be denied

Selah

---