(Proverbs 23:4).

Our hearts desire should be to store up riches in heaven and not worry about what we will eat or drink or wear. But seek first *Gods+ kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:25-34).

The Bible Disapprove of multilevel marketing (MLM)/network marketing?

In the Bible, the Book of Judges states, twice, that In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Judges 17.6 and 21.25) It is sad to see Christians getting involved in something that they think is right in their own eyes without finding out from God or the Bible whether that thing is right or not. But, first of all, we need to know who are a Christian and what a Christian is. A Christian is once as inner saved by the grace of God. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2.8, 9) He must have been convicted of sin, awakened by the Holy Spirit of God to see his wretched and sinful state, looked to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation of his soul, and believed that He came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1.15) and died on the Cross for him. (Romans 5.8; 1 Peter 2.24) He should be able to know when and where he was saved. From the day he was saved, he has become a new creation and cannot and will not like to follow his old and sinful ways. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature [creation]: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5.7) He is not the same as before. He will want to obey Gods Word and do His will. He will love the Lord Jesus Christ and grateful to Him for dying on the Cross for him. If he does not love the Lord, he is accursed. (1 Corinthians 16.22) Now we come to the matter regarding networking business or multilevel marketing of manufactured products, networking Life insurances marketing product. Should a Christian get involved in this business? Of course, one will not find a scripture in the Bible that says You shall not get involved in multilevel marketing, but there are scriptures in the Bible that disapprove of the philosophy and practices of multilevel marketing or networking...

THE ENRICH PHILOSOPHY

One of the aims of MLM, networking businesses is to produce wealth and make their members richer. Generally speaking, all those who are involved in the business will want to enrich themselves. Christians are also caught up with this idea. It is not in the will of God that everyone should be rich. There have to be the poor or not-so-rich in the world. Proverbs 22.2 the rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the Maker of them all. The Lord is the Maker of them all: not only as men, but as rich men and poor men; God gives riches to whom He pleases, and poverty to whom He pleases; riches and poverty are according to the order of divine Providence. (Gills) But MLM philosophy goes contrary to this order: anybody in this business can be rich or richer. If God gives riches to one of His own, the riches are obtained by honest means without contradicting His Word. He gives riches so that He is glorified and honoured. The Bible has a lot to say about wealth and what it can do to the soul. We look at some of the scriptures. Psalm 73:11-12. And they say, how doth God know? And is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the un-Godly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. James 5.1-3 1. Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

3. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 6. But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8. And having food and raiment [covering] let us be therewith content. 9. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10. for the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Those who have enriched themselves buy properties, luxuries, etc. They have heaped up treasure not knowing all their possessions shall be destroyed in the Great Tribulation. The Great Tribulation is coming! MLM/NW does not make those involved in MLM content. If they have food and covering (that is, roof to cover them), as well as clothing, they should be content. MLM/NW cannot satisfy. They want more and more riches! They will not be content. Those who are enriched through MLM or other means may fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. From time to time, we hear the woes of those who are rich. We hear of broken marriages, infidelity, family feuds, murders, health problems, etc. They cannot sleep, and enjoy a good sleep. Ecclesiastes 5.12The sleep of the labourer is sweet, whether he has eaten little or much; but the fulness of the rich doth not suffer him to sleep. Ecclesiastes 5.13,14 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he be getteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

Covetousness
There is one word that describes all those who want to enrich themselves. The word is covetousness, or greediness. We know the covetous will not enter the Kingdom of God. 1Corinthians 6.10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Ephesians 5.5 for this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Luke 12.15 and He said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. The Lord Jesus Christ says a mans life does not depend on his possessions or wealth. He has riches but not peace and joy. He may not have health. They may spread a sumptuous table before him but he is not able to eat, or enjoy the food. He has all along thought his ability, acumen, wisdom, and strength have helped him to gather riches, but he has left out God. Ecclesiastes 6.1,2 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is frequent among men: one to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honour, and he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and a sore evil.

Serving Mammon
The business has become their Mammon. Their heart is full of desires to earn as much money as possible. It can consume a lot of their time to sell the products. Family time is affected. They neglect the home and their children. If they are Christians, they have very little time for God and His Word. They are

actually serving Mammon, and the Lord Jesus Christ says: Ye cannot serve God and mammon (or, money). (Luke 16.13) Serving Mammon means Be entirely at the command of; and this is true even where the services are not opposed. MLM/NW businesses make use of any days Monday to Sunday, the Lords Day, for their activities, conducting meetings, seminars and workshops in which members are invited to attend. Their members even sell the products on the Lords Day. They may not want to go to church for meetings because they have to attend MLM meetings or an appointment. They are serving the Mammon even on the Lords Day. The Lords Day is for the Lord, but they are using it for Mammon. Their heart is wrapped with root of wild grass like their hearts desire to make more and more. Their health also suffers. It is because they are serving Mammon. However, there are many who have motivated to pursue this kind of business because of the commission and recruitment system its all about money and their desire to be productive and intention to getting more and more. They want to bring more souls in the business rather than bring them to God; you cannot bring souls to God for your intention to get them in the MLM/NW business. You cannot serve two masters Their mind and heart desires are focus upon treasuries of this world and also stored upon it. 1 Corinthians 7:31 and they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. Mark 8:35 for whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. 36 or what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Luke 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? Math.6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: Why be enriched? And for what purpose? Vanity of Vanities. They stop serving Mammon, a very hard and cruel taskmaster. The Bible warns us against all kind of our intension regarding investment of treasury upon this world

Honest labour rewarded

In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25.14-30), the master gave his servants talents (silver money) before he went away to a far country. He gave five talents to one servant, two talents to another and one talent to a third. The servants who had five and two talents went and traded with them and made five and two other talents respectively. But the third servant went and hid his masters talent in the ground. The master returned from his journey and each of the servants had to come before him and give an account as to how they had used the talents. The one who was given five talents went to make five more, and the one who was given two talents, made two more talents. To each of these two servants, the master said: Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. It is to be noted that the two servants with five and two talents doubled the talents by honest industry. The Greek word for traded means worked. The two servants worked, without getting others to work for them to double the talents no more and no less. The five talents get another five more, not eight more or ten more. The same is said with the two talents. There is no need for the two servants to make as much money as possible for their master. It is not so with multilevel marketing businesses. They want you to work hard and sell as much as possible. Even if you work so hard for MLM, it is not honest

hard work. Do you think God wants you to make as much money as possible for Him? You think God is so poor and need your money? Listen: Psalm 10.10-12God says: For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.1 Corinthians 10.26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. People use the things God created to make money for themselves, and never thank the Creator! Every multilevel marketing business rewards its distributors if they work hard to sell its products and sponsor others to do the same as the distributors. The distributors and those over them are the upper levels or uplines, and those below them are the downlines. The more the distributors and their downlines sell the more rewards the uplines get (of course the big boss gets the most). The downlines also hope to have their own downlines to help make them rich and then they can sit back and let the downlines earn money for them. Sometimes the downlines sell more than the uplines, but the uplines still get rewarded from the products sold by the downlines. Is it right? Someone from a downline works so hard or even harder than those in the uplines and in the end find all those above him or her are rewarded. Is it right in Gods sight? So the more downline distributors there are the more their uplines benefit. So the uplines get richer and richer without having to expend so much energy and work because the downlines are earning money for them. The ones who profit most are those at the top of the MLM or networking business. Is it right in Gods sight? In the Parable of the Talents, we see the servants themselves laboured to double the talents. They did not get others to help them earn the talents. If they had received help from others, then their talents would have been more than doubled. No, they did not.

MLM OR NETWORKING businesses promote materialism and worldliness

One notes that the products of MLM businesses are very expensive. Only the rich can afford them. MLM products are for those who have money to spend, and not for those who are poor. The prices of their products are marked up very high. Christians should ask themselves whether they should buy or sell such products. Remember, the money you have does not actually belong to you. It belongs to God. It is God Who gives your life, strength and ability to work, and you should use the money you earn for His glory and service. We have to give an account of our stewardship to God one day. The more you have the more you have to give an account to God. If you can get a good stainless steel cooking pot at a departmental store, say, for $100, why get an MLM cooking pot that costs $1,000? The MLM pot is a luxury. Should you take vitamin supplements? There are MLM distributors who promote the sale of vitamin supplements, networking life insurance. Nothing wrong with life insurance, but the problem is networking and MLM process the nature of this business actually against to the Bible. They try to convince and get more souls in the business and to buy the products to promote that you are protected have you ever been ask a question like this? If in case something happen to you (means premature death), is your family protected? God is not looking whether you are protected or unprotected by treasures or materialism; hes concern so much of our salvation and diversion of your mind to come to knowing him. His salvation is perfect and divine mercy towards us. Deuteronomy 28:66 and thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: Put your trust in Gods assurance to our salvation not life insurance. Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

In terms of health, they encourage you to buy to promote that you protect your health Doctors will tell you vitamin and mineral supplements are not necessary for it is very rare, today, for a person to suffer from a vitamin deficiency. Anyone who thinks taking vitamin supplements can give him health is deceived. A person can take all the supplements he wants and God allows him to get sick or some serious disease. Your trust should not be in the supplements but in God. Do not buy them. They are very expensive. Use the money for Gods service and not to line the pockets of those who are already rich. MLM and NETWORKING business products can make a Christian worldly. Their cosmetic products are selling very well, of course, to those who are more interested in outward beauty than in inner beauty of the heart.1 Peter 3.3,4 Whos adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. On the other hand, if you are not rich and need to buy a thing, ask God to show you where to get that thing at a lower price. God will direct you where to buy it and you save money. Believe it! Its difficult for those who are rich to trust in God because they trust in money! To them, money can buy anything! Money is their god. They worship the god of wealth. 1Timothy 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. Once again, it is very difficult for those who are in the MLM and networking organization to knowing God and desire to grow up to him for their mind and hearts are stumbling with their desires in getting more and more. Recruiting, selling and invest more treasure towards this world. Their heart is stored upon investment towards unguaranteed future.

The rich have difficulty getting saved

It is very difficult for those who are rich to go to Heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ says so. Mark 10.23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto His disciples, how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! Those who enrich themselves in MLM and networking business will have difficulty knowing God and be saved. If you are a Christian involved in MLM and networking, you are responsible, in a way, for those who have been enriched by you not coming to know God because they have become so rich and do not need God. You are responsible, whether you like it or not, for their going to Hell. We should not put a stumbling block in their way to know God, but MLM or NW business is a stumbling block. The founders of MLM or NW businesses are responsible too for causing people not to know God and leading thousands and millions to Hell. They imbibe in their members the idea they can get rich in MLM or NW business. They tell the members and distributors if they work hard they will be rewarded, and become richer, they can even get your attention by telling, be smart, dont waste your time in thing has no value, dont focus on materials, have self-control, and save money. Someone may say the founder of the MLM or NW business is a Christian, and even tells people about the Lord Jesus Christ at MLM and NW meetings. The founder has earned the most money in his MLM or NW business. in order to sooth his conscience and make him feel good, he tells people about God. First, do not think anyone who talks about God or the Lord Jesus Christ really knows Him. Satan can use people to talk about God and righteousness. 2 Corinthians 11.13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. Someone says he uses the money to give to charities or to God. First, God does not need his/her money. Second, he feels bad if he does not give to charities. When he sees other non-

MLM millionaires or billionaires give to charities, he feels bad if he does not give. Third, we need to be careful not to consider anyone who calls himself a Christian a saved person and a child of God. Only God knows who are His, and any child of His will not want to start this kind of business or get involved in MLM 2 Timothy 2.19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let everyone that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity. Any one who names the Name of Christ must depart from iniquity. The word iniquity comes from the Greek adikia, which denotes unrighteousness, lit., unrightness (a, negative, dike, right"), a condition of not being right, whether with God, according to the standard of His holiness and righteousness, or with man, according to the standard of what man knows to be right by his conscience. (Vines Expository of New Testament Words) As we have seen see, MLM is not right in the eyes of God, and already there are people who have voiced objections or disapproval of multilevel marketing or networking, whether legal or not. A visit to the Internet reveals the many articles that have been written against MLM, and the Bible speaks clearly against it. Are you a Christian involved in MLM or NW? You had better examine yourself and know where you stand before God. You may say you are not covetous, but why are you involved in MLM to increase your riches? It is covetousness in the sight of God. Covetousness is a sin, and a covetous person cannot go to Heaven. One thing is sure: the Holy Spirit will tell a saved person not to be involved in MLM and any kind of networking business. An unsaved person has no Holy Spirit to tell him so. Mark 8.36,37 for what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Additional learning regarding MLM and NW Education: *MLM/NW has an ability to get individual to become rich and rich.
Luke 12:21 so is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. Job 27:19 the rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not. James 5:1-3 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

*MLM/NW has an ability to brainwash and divert peoples mind into positive, and self-confidence. Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. *MLM/NW can create conflict and division to individual in our society. * MLM/NW can destroy a testimony and relationship to individual. * MLM/NW can develop different strategies to impact peoples life to become successful in their goals and desires, also able to organize a group according to their goals. Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. *MLM/NW is also able to pretend who they are and what they have. They can also use influential people to attract individuals desire and intention. EX: millionaire, billionaire, Christian, lawyer or according to their achievement in life.

They keep educating and telling to people that they claim to help individuals life, families need, financial needs, health needs, or even future needs. Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Galatians 6:7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. MLM/NW love to use the word help. But what is Help means giving extra time or free service. There should be no payments involved or commission to be rewarded. The bible warns us against all these things.

The bible warns us against all these things. Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Luke 16:13

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.
Matthew 6:24

No man 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.
Matthew 6:19

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 2 Corinthians6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?

Christian I challenge you, As a child of God, being saved by grace that we should not involve with them lets help them to get out in this kind of business and bring them to God where he give what we need God give us joy, peace, and contentment.