Introduction

Greetings! Let's delve into Exodus Chapter 22. You'll notice that this chapter recounts some unfortunate events. How did these undesirable occurrences come to pass among the Israelites? If you read the preceding chapter, you'll find that Chapter 21 largely deals with matters concerning human life. Chapter 22, however, focuses on issues related to property. The theme of this chapter is "Specific Manifestations and Solutions for Curses Related to Wealth."

Be exceedingly cautious, as some of the events recorded in the Bible may seem normal. However, many of these occurrences have underlying causes. The Bible states: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. If people are consumed by the love of money, numerous problems will arise!

Deception among people often revolves around either wealth or lust. After the deception, you'll find that the deceiver doesn't necessarily prosper, while the deceived suffers greatly. Ultimately, the deceiver also faces dire consequences. Society largely revolves around property. If everyone were selfless, with a shared vision and Mingding Destiny, wouldn't there be fewer problems? As society progresses, one thing remains exceedingly difficult to manage: human selfishness.

Selfishness is More Foolish Than Ignorance

To this day, human selfishness, regardless of the nation or ethnicity, is incredibly challenging to resolve. People's hearts are filled with money, leading to numerous complications. If a person becomes entangled with money and loves it, forget about holiness! During church construction, I must caution everyone about something. Some individuals, regardless of their ignorance, are manageable because I can teach them. However, selfishness is insurmountable.

Brothers and sisters, ponder this: selfish individuals have virtually no chance of being transformed. What is selfishness? It's being concerned only with oneself, one's own wealth, and one's own purse. I'm astonished at the extent of human selfishness! I've taught them how to cast out demons and resolve people's ailments. Some have followed me for not just three or two years, but many years. Yet, one day, his 90-year-old grandmother had her family call me, asking if I could minister to her. Of course! I had ministered to his grandmother many years ago, resolving many of her health issues. However, the elderly woman and her family had left the church.

Why are they calling me now? She's been in pain for two years. I asked this brother, her grandson, "Why didn't you pray for your grandmother's pain?" Of course, I said this while praying with his grandmother, and the pain vanished. His grandmother painstakingly raised him; many are raised by their grandmothers or grandfathers. His grandmother has been in pain for two years, requiring me to lead her in prayer. I'm astonished at the extent of human selfishness! They neglect their own mothers and fathers because caring for their fathers requires spending money; they neglect their own grandparents because caring for them also requires spending money. How selfish can one be?

I'll share a heartfelt truth: I often say that I want to shepherd people to the point of leaving the church. Why? Because I've discovered that they are selfish. Selfishness primarily involves being concerned only with oneself in matters of money. Frankly, don't blame me or engage in the knowledge of good and evil. Even now, many here who are selfish and unwilling to change rarely remain in the church. Don't mistake selfishness for ignorance. Selfish individuals are not ignorant; many are highly intelligent, using all their wisdom and knowledge for selfish gain, and they excel at it.

Some people's offerings are motivated by selfish intentions. Later, I discovered that some people's actions stem from ignorance, but they are not selfish. While I wouldn't dare say they are entirely selfless, they are not in that state. I tell you, ignorance can be changed, but selfishness, especially deep-seated selfishness, is exceedingly difficult to change. Reading Exodus Chapter 22, it's all related to money. Gradually, you'll understand that if your heart is filled with money, sooner or later, trouble will arise, and you will surely be cursed.

The Love of Money is the Root of All Kinds of Evil

“If anyone steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.(Exodus 22:1)

Why would someone steal an ox or a sheep? Because they see someone else's ox as valuable, as money. Why don't they steal cow dung? Perhaps they would, for farming. They only steal what's valuable. But here's the problem: can a person become wealthy by stealing or gambling? No! Creating value through legitimate means is the right path. Look, after someone steals, God curses them. If they are discovered, having previously owned four oxen, they must repay four oxen for stealing one. Do you think they can avoid poverty?

Four sheep for one sheep – that's a severe ratio! Understand that this ratio is devastating. Do you think stealing makes them poor? Have you ever seen anyone become wealthy through stealing? I haven't. Maybe there are, maybe there aren't. But in the Bible, if you are a believer, Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Genesis are not written for non-believers but for believers. We're not discussing non-believers. What happens if they steal an ox or a sheep? We don't know. Stealing oxen and sheep is rampant in this society.

Non-believers may seem to successfully evade consequences after stealing. But if you are a believer, that's problematic because God will surely expose you, and your curse will be manifested. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some lose their lives before successfully stealing anything. Whether it's stealing or robbing, ultimately, they either risk their lives or risk being caught. If caught, they must repay. If they have nothing, they will be sold to pay for what they stole, becoming slaves. What are these people toiling for?

One year, a friend of mine asked me to minister to someone. His home was filled with idols. If I were to minister to him, I would use God's methods. He was quite ill. I wanted to discard the idols in their home, but they negotiated with me, asking if they could keep them. They were somewhat afraid, asking if they could return them to the temple. Behind my middle school, there was a large temple that appeared wealthy. What was the story behind this temple?

Several years ago, there was a boss in my hometown who made a fortune in the building materials business. He was very wealthy. Some young college students returned home for vacation and were short on cash, so they wanted to make some money. After observing for a while, they targeted this family. After scouting and planning, they set a time and went there with knives and such. When they arrived, the lady of the house was reasonable. She said, "Take whatever you want, just don't hurt me." This wasn't stealing; it was robbery, all for money. The robbers took the money. You know, wealthy families have a lot of money! After taking the money, they were about to leave when the family's son returned. The foolish son blocked the robbers, and they stabbed him to death.

Aren't many of the world's tragedies related to money? Think about it: do you want money or life? How much money can a person spend in a lifetime? After the son was stabbed to death, the old couple burned a lot of RMB for their son. After burning it, the old couple were completely devastated and became monks, using their money to build a large temple. That's the origin of the temple. Later, I sent the idols to the temple. People die for wealth, and birds die for food! What do you live and die for? I suggest you live and die for God. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Money will take your life, but God won't. God will preserve your life.

Whether it's stealing or robbing, it's all related to money. Years ago, there was a book called "Water Margin." Did you notice that the characters in "Water Margin" were similar to those here? They would kill someone and flee to Liangshan; they would beat someone up and flee to Liangshan. Did you notice these events? The so-called Liangshan heroes were a group of people who were either skilled at stealing, skilled at fighting, or skilled at robbing. That's who they were. Brothers and sisters, what was the fate of the Liangshan heroes in the end? Not good. People must understand what they are living for. For money?

The Root Cause of Poverty is a Curse

"If what was stolen—whether ox, donkey or sheep—is found alive in their possession, they must pay back double. “If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and allows them to stray and graze in someone else’s field, the offender must make restitution from the best of their own field or vineyard." (Exodus 22:4-5)

The livestock do not go to their own field to eat from their own, but go to eat from others' fields. See how wicked this person is, always wanting to take advantage. Such compensation is necessary; this is the law set by God.

“If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make full restitution." (Exodus 22:6)

Whether you are careful or careless, intentional or unintentional; if you are under a curse, you might accidentally burn someone else's belongings, and you must compensate. If not this, then that, eventually losing even your trousers. There is indeed a case later where one loses even their trousers. God has a merciful heart, allowing the return of the compensated items to the person at night, otherwise they would have nothing to cover themselves with. These are all related to money. People become poor as they live, because they are under a curse. Constantly compensating, how can one not be poor? Poorer still, one might end up compensating with oneself, becoming a slave. Even as a slave, after working for six years, one becomes a free person in the seventh year, still penniless. The solution to poverty is addressing the issue of the curse.

Brothers and sisters, know that poverty is a bottomless pit! As we often say, help in times of emergency, not in times of chronic poverty. If a person is poor throughout their life, you must be cautious. Do you want to help the poor? My way of helping the poor might be different from yours. If you help them with money, you cannot truly help them, because it is a bottomless pit. No amount of money can solve their problem, because they are under a curse. Everyone must understand that curses are very powerful. These unfortunate events happen to these people; no matter what they do, it does not work, because they love money!

Although the army of the Lord God came out of Egypt, those who loved money still loved money, and those who loved God were still just a few. People are foolish here. If you help someone cursed by God, you too will enter into the curse. How do we help them? We release them from the curse. If you have personally experienced my ministry, you will find that my service is relentless. Anything that causes you to be cursed, I will definitely tell you, to release you from the curse. The ways of curses are ever-changing, but they all stem from the same root.

“If anyone entrusts to their neighbor silver or articles for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double. But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges to determine whether they have laid hands on the other person’s property." (Exodus 22:7-8)

Just these messy affairs require hiring lawyers. If people spend their whole lives entangled in these messy affairs, what else can they do? If not this, then that, whether it is oxen, donkeys, sheep, or clothes, there is always something. And then, going back and forth, dealing with this and that, either compensating or being compensated, you are just caught up in these affairs!

“If anyone entrusts a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or is driven away while no one is looking, the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath before the Lord that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person’s property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required." (Exodus 22:10-11)

Some people live their entire lives for these things, such as giving gifts to smooth relationships. It is tiring, all for money! Some people live just to make money, make money and get cheated. Earn 100,000 and get cheated out of 100,000; earn 200,000 and get cheated out of 300,000, still owing 100,000; earn 300,000 and get cheated out of 500,000, owing 200,000. Anyway, it is always these things, so much turmoil! The longer I minister, the more I see the curses in people's lives manifested in every aspect, until death.

“If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price for her and marry her. If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins." (Exodus 22:16-17)

God is a very gracious God. According to current laws, it is not handled this way. According to God's way of handling it, it is still very gracious; he can marry her.

“Do not allow a sorceress to live. “Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal is to be put to death." (Exodus 22:18-19)

Why does this sorceress practice sorcery? For money. When I was young, some people used sorcery, making a small figure, writing the person's birth date and name on it, and pricking it with needles. Some people also cast spells, secretly engaging in spiritual operations, using witchcraft to bring disaster to others. This is called casting a spell. Some people are targeted by spells, and many unfortunate things happen to those who are cursed. A sorceress must not be allowed to live because she earns money through sorcery. As for having sexual relations with an animal, I do not know about that.

“Anyone who sacrifices to any god other than the Lord must be destroyed." (Exodus 22:20)

Worshipping idols is seeking wealth, which is the most deadly. Therefore, we must not take advantage of the poor, nor take advantage of orphans and widows, because God will always hear their cries.

“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless." (Exodus 22:21-24)

This is a curse. God does not allow you to bully those who are cursed. If you oppress them, God will send evil spirits to punish you. Those who oppress others do it for money. Those who make money by oppressing others will not have a good end.

“If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest. If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset." (Exodus 22:25-26)

Poverty is closely related to curses. God is a gracious God, and He will favor those who are gracious. Do not be stingy with money. Those who love money as their life will not have a good end. These are discussions about money matters between people. We must know that these things related to money are related to slandering God and slandering the leaders of the people.

“Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people." (Exodus 22:28)

For example, if you have pastors who shepherd you, and you secretly slander them or slander God, why is this? It is because people have encountered some bad things. Some people have experienced the death of their husbands, becoming orphans and widows, cursing heaven, cursing earth, cursing everyone. This is called blaspheming God. Therefore, there are thousands of paths leading to curses, but only one path leading to blessings. What else could be the reason?

“Give me the firstfruits from your threshing floors and your winepresses. “You must give me the firstborn of your sons. Do the same with your cattle and your sheep: Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day give them to me." (Exodus 22:29-30)

The firstborn belongs to God. If a person's livestock has just given birth to a sheep, someone will come and ask me: Pastor, I only have one sheep at home, should I dedicate it to God or keep it? My answer is: You have lived your life to the point where you only have one sheep, how deep is your curse! And you are still thinking about whether to dedicate the sheep to God? This is truly foolish!

Resolve to Act According to God's Word

We, brothers and sisters, must know that curses are closely related to money. Your attitude towards money and your attitude towards God are closely related to the curses you will receive. Do not blame me for not telling you if you attract curses. I have told you, but you might forget as soon as something happens, and then you will follow your own way, rushing headlong onto the road to curses! These cursed things seem reasonable no matter how you calculate them. Is there something wrong with that?

For example, if the livestock raised at home are torn by wild animals, you bring them back to eat to save money, and then they become unclean. Why is this? Just to save money. But God does not want us to save money; God wants us to live a holy life. If money makes us unholy, should we be careful about money matters? Why do some people directly choose their business over God? Why do they directly choose their work over God? It is all because of money. But these are all cursed and unclean.

I tell everyone that curses are blooming everywhere on the road to pursuing money! We must be careful! Sometimes I am very surprised that people do not feel sorry for themselves unless they rush onto the road to curses. It is all related to money. Brothers and sisters, do you understand now? In matters of money, no matter how reasonable it seems, you must implement it according to God's word. When these things happen to us, you must think carefully. Some people live in curses, and I ask them to reflect on their past foolishness, but after reflecting for a long time, they think they have done nothing wrong! My goodness! I do not know what to do. They themselves think that nothing is a problem.

Brothers and sisters, if you have sown so many curses in the past years and have reached this point, do you not need to reject those curses and start sowing blessings? How many people are cursed because of money! Let us put it this way: several women gather together and talk about things related to money, making themselves feel uncomfortable. People are very strange. Why do people have to love money so much? How much money can a person use in their lifetime?

The path of curses and the path of blessings are placed before you. I call heaven and earth to witness for everyone, urging you to choose the path of blessings and reject the path of curses. This requires rejecting curses as if scraping poison from bones! May God have mercy on me! My ministry is not easy. With my little strength, I cannot even hold everyone back from running on the road to curses! We have read Exodus chapters twenty-one and twenty-two. When these phenomena occur, there is only one thing to do: repent well and realize that you have done something wrong. Do not let me keep talking about it over and over again, and then when you chat with a few women, you return to the worldly logic system. May God have mercy on our ministry.

How we handle money matters with God, if our heart is on God and not on money, then offering is not a problem; if our heart is on money and not on God, then go ahead and do what you want. Actually, I still encourage you not to believe in the Lord. Because if you believe in the Lord and still do that, how deep will the curse be! I do not understand what kind of mind a person has who trusts in the Lord Jesus and then violates His words. May everyone choose the path of blessings and reject the path of curses.

May God bless everyone!