Why Choose A Spiritual Life over Materialism

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INC International Edition

Brother Bob Pellien: These days, life feels more challenging, especially with financial struggles weighing people down in so many places. You know, it’s easy to get caught up in chasing material success, thinking it’s the key to a better life. But in all that hustle, are we forgetting the importance of a spiritual life, a life rooted in faith and guided by biblical teachings that gives true peace and direction-something that well, material things cannot provide?  Are we giving enough importance to our spiritual life, dear friends, and our spiritual growth? I’m Bob Pellien. We’ll be discussing this and much more right here today on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. Stay with us. 

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Brother Bob Pellien

San Francisco, California

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Bob Pellien: And joining us today in this important discussion once again is Brother Eric Waterman in Quezon City, Philippines. Brother Eric, thanks for joining us.

Brother Eric Waterman: Good day, Brother Bob, and everyone.

Brother Bob Pellien: Joining us in our discussion also for today is Brother Donald Pinnock in Toronto, Canada. Brother Donald, thanks for being with us as well.

Brother Donald Pinnock: Thank you for having me on the program, Brother Bob.

Brother Bob Pellien: Joining us from New York City is Brother Neil Omelda. Brother Neil, thanks once more for being with us.

Brother Neil Patrick Omelda: Thank you, Brother Bob, and hello to all of our reviewers.

01:30 – “Business as Usual” Before Christ’s Return

Brother Bob Pellien: Welcome, Brothers and everyone. Let’s begin with you, Brother Donald. Is it surprising that so many people nowadays are really solely focused and so directly focused on the here and now, on acquiring material goods and enjoying life? And many would even say, just enjoy the good life, eat, drink, and be merry, and that’s all what is being pursued and valued nowadays. Are we surprised about that, Brother Donald?

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Brother Donald Pinnock

Toronto, Canada

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Donald Pinnock: Not at all, Brother Bob, because it was already foretold by the Lord Jesus Christ. We can read this statement here in the book of Luke, the chapter 17, and the verses are 26 to 30, and he states the following: 

“When I return the world will be as indifferent to the things of God as the people were in Noah’s day. They ate and drank and married—everything just as usual right up to the day when Noah went into the ark and a flood came and destroyed them all. “And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot: people went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building—until the morning Lot left Sodom. Then fire and brimstone rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the hour of my return. 

[Luke 17: 26 to 30 The Living Bible]

Brother Donald Pinnock: Please notice, dear viewers, when it comes to this description of our Lord Jesus Christ, that would be the state of the world on His return, very similar to the state of the world at the time of Noah and also at the time of Lot.

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Brother Neil Patrick Omelda

Bronc, New York

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Neil Patrick Omelda: What is alarming, Brother Donald and our dear viewers, all of these signs heralding the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in Matthew 24:6 down to 8, prophesying the signs of His return have all been fulfilled. And we’re seeing all of these things happening, not only the wars in different parts of the world, but also earthquakes and famines and pestilences, and all of these, the beginning of sorrows as declared by our Savior, are evidently seen.

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Brother Eric Waterman

Quezon City, Philippines

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Eric Waterman: And dear Brothers, we can see that nowadays that so many people are so involved in what they’re eating? We have the Food Network. We also see so many people enjoying drinking or the nightlife, or people just are so immersed in having a married life or having a wedding ceremony. But what did the Bible say? The day of Christ’s return will be just like the time of Noah and Lot, business as usual.

Brother Donald Pinnock: People so focused on the matters of this life or materialism during those ancient times and even now, and because of this, at those times people were suddenly destroyed. It will be the same come Judgment Day.

03:30 – Signs of Christ’s Return

Brother Bob Pellien: Thank you, Brothers. You know, I can imagine. However, though, as our viewers are listening to what you’re saying and reading there brothers, I can only imagine that there’ll be some, maybe even rolling their eyes, or maybe saying that, “Well, what are you trying to say there? I mean, if I don’t work, I can’t pay the bills. If I don’t try to pursue what I need in this life, who’s going to provide for my family? God expects that as well. What about my family? What about the bills? What about car insurance? What about the rent? What about the mortgage? What about car payments? All of these different things. I got to  chase after the material things of this world. They might say, Brother Neil.

Brother Neil Patrick Omelda: Well, Brother Bob and our dear viewers, no one is saying that we should no longer work. In fact, that is one of the commandments of our Lord God, that one must not be lazy, but that one should strive hard and work hard, as recorded in Proverbs chapter 6:9 down to 11. And our Lord God guides us that we must earn an honest manner of living, as recorded in Ephesians chapter 4:28. However, even though we need to do all of these things, there is something far more important than all of that.

07:00 – Put God First

Brother Bob Pellien: Wait, wait, Brother Neil, you mean far more important than putting food on the table for my family, putting a roof over one’s head, and are you saying there’s something more important than those things for the sake of the household?

Brother Neil Patrick Omelda: Surprisingly, yes, brother Bob. Far more important than all of those things.

Brother Bob Pellien: What’s that?

Brother Neil Patrick Omelda: Let the Bible answer. Recorded in the book of Matthew, the chapter is 6, the verses 31 down to 33. This is what the Bible reveals: 

“So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to. 

[Matthew 6:31-33 The Living Bible]

Brother Neil Patrick Omelda: There you go, dear viewers and dear Brothers. Yes, it is important that we provide for our daily needs, and that is a commandment of our Lord God, but our Lord Jesus Christ guides us that we don’t have to worry about having enough food and clothing. That is not what we must focus on, but that we give first place in our life to our Lord God, and that we must live as He wants us to. 

Brother Eric Waterman: And that is why in our life here on earth we have a series of choices to make: either live for the material world or live for God. And we, as members of the Church Of Christ, make that choice. As the people of God, we live to please Him. We live as God wants us to, and that’s what we invite everyone to do.

Brother Donald Pinnock: And what would be the result? Our Lord Jesus Christ says that God will grant unto us what we need. Yes, it was mentioned earlier, and we reiterate we still need to work. Rather than making the procurement of material wealth our prime priority, however, we should instead strive to serve and worship God, then our means of livelihood and the results of our labor will be blessed by our Father in heaven.

Brother Neil Patrick Omelda: In all this, then, we are being guided by the Holy Scriptures that one should prioritize spiritual life over materialism.

Brother Eric Waterman: And many people can see this in the lives and the lifestyle of the members of the Church Of Christ, that we are living spiritual lives, not for the material world.

Brother Bob Pellien: Once again, and some of our viewers might, you know, be listening to all that you’re reading and all that you’re saying, and it’s very nice, but the natural thought might come to mind, which would be, aren’t I going to lose out if I behave and live my life that way, pursuing spiritual things in service to God and all such? 

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TODAY’S TOPIC: THE IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE IN A MATERIAL WORLD

09:00 – Will We Lose Out by Choosing a Spiritual Life?

Brother Bob Pellien: And I could be working double time. I could be working an extra job. I could be chasing the material things that are needed in order to satisfy my life and the future of my family, you know. Serving God isn’t going to take away time from making some extra cash that might be needed by any of our viewers viewing the program, Brothers?

Brother Eric Waterman: Well, Brother Bob, that outlook in life is indeed very prevalent nowadays, and there are those that knowingly and unknowingly are enveloped in their life of materialism, just thinking and focusing here on Earth. Some people even have resorted to crimes or dishonest means of earning a living, scamming other people just to get money. But is one really at a loss or to be pitied if they choose to prioritize living a spiritual life over a materialistic one? So we can read here what the Bible teaches us to do in Psalm 37, the verses are 34 to 38. Allow me to read. 

Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep traveling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honor you with every blessing, and you will see the wicked destroyed. I myself have seen it happen: a proud and evil man, towering like a cedar of Lebanon, but when I looked again, he was gone! I searched, but could not find him! But the good man—what a different story! For the good man—the blameless, the upright, the man of peace—he has a wonderful future ahead of him. For him there is a happy ending. But evil men shall be destroyed, and their posterity shall be cut off. 

[Psalm 37: 34 to 38 The Living Bible]

Brother Eric Waterman: So, Brother Bob and dear viewers, there’s a stark contrast between the people of the world and the man of God. For one to be blameless before God, that person must choose to live a spiritual way of life, and what is the result? That person will be blessed by God and will have a happy and great ending in their life.

Brother Donald Pinnock: And we can’t help but take note, dear viewers, of what will happen when it comes to the wicked. All those who did not give God first place in their life, tragically, they’ll end up in destruction.

Brother Bob Pellien: By the way, Brothers, just let me insert this question, if I may, because what Eric, you read that about a happy or a glorious ending that would be given by God to those who have chosen to give most importance, their utmost importance, to worshiping and serving Him rather than being totally absorbed in acquiring material wealth, so let’s pose some questions. What’s that? What’s that happy ending and all about? How does the Bible describe that? Let’s also ask this: What kind of destruction will be experienced by those who are tragically mired in a materialistic way of thinking and a materialistic way of life, dear friends? These are important questions that we’ll be picking up and addressing in just a moment when we return. Stay with us here on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. We’ll be right back.

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INC International Edition

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Brother Bob Pellien

San Francisco, California

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Bob Pellien: Welcome back, everyone, to the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition, where today we’ve been talking about the importance of having and living a spiritual life, as opposed to one only in pursuit of materialism, shouldn’t person shouldn’t be overly engrossed or absorbed in this materialistic way of life so prevalent in the world nowadays? 

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TODAY’S TOPIC: THE IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE IN A MATERIAL WORLD

11:30 – What Is the “Happy Ending” Promised by God?

Brother Bob Pellien: We’ve been learning, Brothers, and we are thankful to you for that, how Christ has been teaching how to value giving and putting God, prioritizing God as first place in our life over all the pursuits, other types of pursuits around us in this world, and that if one chooses to do that, we’ll have a happy or a glorious ending. So before we took the break, we posed that question: What is that glorious, happy ending that you guys are talking about and reading from the scriptures? Let’s go to you, Brother Donald. What is that ending that is glorious?

Brother Donald Pinnock: Well, the Bible teaches the following, Brother Bob and dear viewers. Here in Psalms 37, the verses are 28 to 29. 

For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish. The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

[Psalms 37:28 to 29 New International Version]

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Brother Donald Pinnock

Toronto, Canada

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Donald Pinnock: So please notice, dear friends, the righteous, those who gave importance to living in that spiritual way of life, they are going to inherit the land. And according to Second Peter 3:12 to 13, the land being referred to is the new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells.

looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, …

[II Peter 3:12 New King James Version]

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

[II Peter 3:13 New King James Version]

Brother Neil Patrick Omelda: That is the great blessing if one chooses to live spiritual life, but on the other hand, it is also evident in that verse that one will face complete destruction if they do not prioritize serving our Lord God, and that is also recorded in the Book of Revelation, chapter 20, the verses 14.

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Brother Neil Patrick Omelda

Bronx, New York

Minister of the Gospel

Brother Eric Waterman: So this is a truly unparalleled benefit, a stark contrast and difference between living a spiritual life rather than a material one. Dear friends, materialism will only last a short time while one is here on this earth, or until one physically dies, as the saying is, ‘you can’t take anything with you,’ but a spiritual life will benefit not only in this life, but the promise of the true life, the everlasting life, in the Holy Land, in the Holy City.

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Brother Eric Waterman

Quezon City, Philippines

Minister of the Gospel

15:30 – How Do We Choose a Spiritual Way of Life?

Brother Bob Pellien: Well, that kind of a choice and the consequence of the choice that you have read, brothers, that should be still those who just live their life for the here and now, because they want immediate gratification, right? And it would be far from their mind to give any time for God, and you know when because everyone dies, right? When you die, end up just leaving everything behind, and you know if you’re that person who has cast aside spiritual and  of any kind and just pursued a materialistic way of life, live for the moment. Eternal condemnation in the end. That’s a horrific choice to have made, isn’t it, Brother Donald? Got to  be a better way, right?

Brother Donald Pinnock: Brother Bob as was mentioned so many times in this episode of the importance of making the right choice. We make the wrong choice, we choose to live a materialistic way of life—we’ll end up in destruction.Or we can make the right choice, and that is to live a spiritual life, to serve the Lord our God, to consider Him as our number one priority in life. Yes, we still have to work for a living. Students should pursue their education, and we can reap the fruits of our labor, one may say. But we can always or should always remember that eventually we will die. However, if we’re counted amongst God’s people, we have the great hope of attaining eternal life. 

Brother Neil Patrick Omelda: The choice then should be very clear, dear brothers and our dear viewers. 

Brother Bob Pellien:  That’s really true, brother Neil. It’s quite obvious, and we hope you, dear viewers, our friends joining us in our discussion for today, that we hope that you see the clarity of the choice you need to make. And you understand the consequences of the choice. And you know, brothers, if our viewers have listened closely and have come to the conclusion that I need to make the right choice, how do they do that? How can anyone live a spiritual or righteous way of life, and you know won’t those who… Look, anyone who makes a choice in their life to change their way of thinking, change their behavior, choose to prioritize God, choose to leave behind the pursuit of material and self-gratifying ways of this world, they’re going to inspire the anger of those that have been close to them while they were living a former way of life. Won’t those who know me think it’s strange? They might say, “I think it’s strange that I’ve changed. Won’t they make fun of me? Won’t they persecute me? They might leave me out of the friendship circles and such things as that if I will change and prioritize service to God? 

Brother Donald Pinnock: That’s a really good question, Brother Bob. If I can interject here, how can a person make that right choice? Let’s read Psalms 1 the verses are 1 to 3, and this is stated: 

God blesses those people who refuse evil advice and won’t follow sinners or join in sneering at God. Instead, the Law of the LORD makes them happy, and they think about it day and night. They are like trees growing beside a stream, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves. Those people succeed in everything they do. 

[Psalms 1:1-3 Contemporary English Version]

Brother Donald Pinnock: So please note this: one can live a spiritual way of life by giving great importance to the laws or the commandments of the Lord our God. And even though again we are pretty clear to all our viewers and guests joining us in our discussion for today. But you know, if you hear those sneers or jeers behind our back, there may be those who may be persecuting us or mocking us because we made the choice to serve God. However, if we live by the laws or the commandments of God, please notice we will be successful no matter the condition of the world.

17:30 – Trusting God Through Problems and Persecution

Brother Bob Pellien: Here’s another one: Do the advantages of living by God’s laws outweigh the negativity we may experience from others in the end of it all?

Brother Neil Patrick Omelda: Here in the Book of Psalms, chapter 62:1 to 2 and also we’re reading 7 down to 8:

I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. For salvation comes from him alone. Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense, and fortress. Why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come? My protection and success come from God alone. He is my refuge, a Rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust him all the time. Pour out your longings before him, for he can help. 

[Psalm 62:1-2, 7-8 The Living Bible]

Brother Neil Patrick Omelda: As members of the Church Of Christ, dear viewers and you Brothers, we are not exempt from the trials, the difficulties, the persecutions of this world. We all go through them just as anyone else. But the choice is, despite these hardships that we go through, to choose to serve God, to be spiritual, to live in accordance to His will—that is what it takes to be a true Christian. And even though we face all of this, what is taught in the Holy Scripture is clear: that we pour out our longings before Him, for our Lord God can help. 

Brother Eric Waterman: That is absolutely true, Brother Neal, and that is why we, as God’s people, live to please Him, and we pray to God, and when we pray consistently to the Lord God, we prove that we have complete trust and believe and rely on God. He is our rock, our defense, our strong fortress against the storms of life, and will rescue us from every problem and burden in this life, when we pray and seek Him wholeheartedly and live spiritually to please Him. 

Brother Donald Pinnock: And even if a true servant of God does not, they do not attain the immediate answer to their prayers, they wait patiently for the Lord to rescue and save them from their predicament. They remind themselves not to become tense or fraught or to lose hope, but rather they continue to place their hope and trust in God.

20:00 – Personal Stories: How Faith Changed Their Lives

Brother Bob Pellien: Take a look here, dear friends, at a couple who have decided and chosen to pursue a spiritual way of life, and how it benefit them? Take a look. 

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Tawanda Cockrane: If I didn’t have the Church, I’d probably be in a deep depression, in probably a bad relationship that I didn’t need to be in.

Felix Samoza: I mean, I went through hard times in 2020. I was always trying to prove to my parents that I can make it to college. And then that’s when I started smoking weed for the first time. Every day it’d be the same: smoke weed, go to work, and hang out with friends. And I tell myself, is this going to be the same every single day in my life?

Tawanda Cockrane: I probably wouldn’t be as good a mother to my son. I probably wouldn’t listen or understand how he’s feeling, what he’s going through. 

Zsolti Horvath: I feel like before I joined the Church, my life was going in circles. It was like I was going—you know—one step forward and then three steps backwards. I was never getting ahead.

Marda Debnam: I try not to think about what my life would be like outside of the Church Of Christ, and I joined the Church when I was 20 years old, which is a very fragile age, especially when you’re in college. There’s so much going on.

Felix Samoza: If I never received an invitation from the person who invited me, I feel like my life would have been the same: Smoking every day, going out with friends, sleeping in my room—that’s how my life was back then. But now that I have the Church Of Christ, I know where I’m going, and I’m not—I’m never alone.

Zsolti Horvath: Once I joined the Church and I was baptized and I dedicated myself to my offices and to God Himself, I feel like my life did a complete 180 [degrees].

Tawanda Cockrane: It put me on the right path. I’m not so anxious. I’m not so stressed about the worldly things anymore, like I used to be. I know as long as I have faith in God and pray to Him and let Him know my concerns, I can let it go. Is He gonna take care of me?

Felix Samoza: Your plans might not go the way you wanted, but God will make your plans for you. Yeah, cause yeah, cause like before, without having Him in my life, like I said, I was a very lost man. But now that I have in my life, I don’t know how to explain. I don’t know how to explain. You can. He’s the best, you know.

Jennie Guerrero: Even living with anxiety, I still know and feel that God is with me. I feel that Christ is with me. That I can pray to them when I’m having troubles.

Charles Louinel: I was looking for a place where I felt like family, a place I could feel God’s presence. Then I found the Church Of Christ and it’s the most important thing in my life.

Marda Debnam: The Church Of Christ has impacted my life in so many ways, but I guess the best impact or the greatest impact has just been knowing that I have the right to receive salvation, that I am a member of the true Church.

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Brother Neil Patrick Omelda: Dear friends and our dear viewers, we hope that the comments that were shared by our brethren rang true and spoke to you in some way. And if you want to experience that same relationship we have with our Lord God, we invite you to attend our Bible studies in the nearest congregation where you are at, or reach out to our brethren, so that you can attend the worship services that we uphold inside the Church Of Christ, or even check out our websites at incmedia.org and learn more about the doctrines that we uphold from the Holy Scripture, that all of us may be together in service of our Lord God.

Brother Bob Pellien: Well, friends, that brings us to the end of our program. We’d like to thank Brother Eric Waterman in Quezon City, Philippines; Brother Donald Pinnock in Toronto, Canada; and Brother Neil Omelda in New York City. Thank you, Brothers, for giving us Bible-based answers, so that, as the Apostle Peter said to the Church.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

[I Peter 3:15 New International Version]

Brother Bob Pellien: That’s First Peter 3:15. Well, that does it for us for today, dear friends, on the Iglesia Ni Cristo International Edition. We hope that you will all join us again next time. I’m Brother Bob Pellien. Thanks for watching and before we go, join us in a short closing prayer.

Brother Donald Pinnock: Our merciful and loving Father in heaven, we thank you so very much for allowing us to present your teachings, that shows how critical it is to live a spiritual life and not a materialistic one. We ask of you to bless all those who may view this episode of this program, that they will be moved to seek out more of your gospel truths as taught in the Church. That in so doing they will be on the path that leads to the greatest wealth of all, and that is the salvation of one’s soul. Come judgment day, an entrance into our true home, the holy city. Always look after our spiritual elders. May you bless Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, being our Executive Minister, and also our Deputy Executive Minister, Brother Angelo Eraño Manalo, for the continued stability of the Church in these last days and leading us to the promised salvation. Again, dear God, it is our faith that you’ve heard our prayer. You’re blessing all those who will benefit from this episode. We ask for everything in the precious name of Thy Son, our Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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INC International Edition