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  NOTHING WILL GROW WHERE GOLD GROWS
  by Thomas Brooks
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Summary: Prioritizing the world over Christ leads to a heart that is
incapacitated to receive divine counsel and comfort, and ultimately
results in the departure of Christ.

Topics: "Prioritizing Christ", "Worldly Desires"
Scripture References: Matthew 6:19-21, Matthew 8:34, Mark 8:36, Luke 12:15, Romans 12:2, Philippians 3:19, Colossians 3:2, 1 Timothy 6:10, James 4:4, 1 John 2:15-17

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DESCRIPTION
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Thomas Brooks emphasizes the tragic choice of the Gergesenes, who
preferred their worldly possessions over the presence of Christ,
illustrating how an inordinate love for the world can lead to spiritual
barrenness. He warns that when hearts are filled with worldly desires--
be it wealth, pleasure, or honor--there is no room for divine growth or
comfort. Brooks highlights the folly of choosing temporary gains over
eternal salvation, urging believers to prioritize their relationship
with Christ above all else.

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CONTENT
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"Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And

when they saw Him, they pleaded with Him to leave

their region." Matthew 8:34

Many prefer the world before Christ; yes, the worst of

the world before the best of Christ! The Gergesenes

preferred their swine before a Savior; they had rather

lose Christ than lose their hogs! They had rather that

the devil should still possess their souls, than that

Jesus should drown their pigs. They preferred their

swine before their salvation, and presented a

wretched petition for their own damnation.

Though there is no misery, no plague, no curse, no

wrath, no hell, compared to Christ's departure from

a people--yet men who are mad upon the world will

desire this.

Some say that nothing will grow where gold grows.

Certainly, where an inordinate love of the world grows,

there nothing will grow that is good. A heart filled . . .

either with the love of the world,

or with the profits of the world,

or with the pleasures of the world,

or with the honors of the world,

or with the cares of the world,

or with the business of the world

--is a heart incapacitated to receive any divine

counsel or comfort from the word!

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/thomas-brooks/nothing-will-grow-where-gold-grows/
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