Bible Ballistics: BBs #511 Contentment Or Greed???

 

It’s that time of year again—time when people’s attention turns to shopping, and spending and getting and giving, yet it’s so easy to forget the very “One” that we are supposed to be celebrating—Jesus’ incarnation and birth—and be caught up in the glitter, tinsel and greed around us. God calls us to a higher plain, not just at Thanksgiving and Christmas time, but also in our every day living. Yet in a world gone crazy with “designer” stuff—“techno” gizmos—and just more and more and more, we must truly make a conscious effort to keep our heart and mind in check to biblical living. So I’d like to simply share a few words from scripture to help us refocus on the important things; for we will find that the issues which we face today aren’t much different than those which have been around for a long time!!!

“If any man teach otherwise,

and consent not to wholesome words,

even the words

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and to the doctrine

which is according to godliness;

4 He is proud,

knowing nothing,

but doting about questions

and strifes of words,

whereof cometh envy,

strife,

railings,

evil surmisings,

5 Perverse disputings

of men of corrupt minds,

and destitute of the truth,

supposing that gain is godliness:

from such withdraw thyself.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.”    1 Timothy 6:6

Paul reminded Timothy that there were those who twist God’s Word then, and he is reminding us that the same is true today! We must be aware and strive to guard our hearts from these things, and focus on “godliness with contentment”, for in God’s eyes that “is great gain”! Yet most of what we see and hear today—especially on any kind of ‘media’—pushes us to get ‘this’ new thing, buy the ‘bigger’ thing, the ‘newer’ thing, or the ‘latest’ version of whatever it is! But God is calling us to contentment! Now there is nothing wrong with ‘new’ things, there’s nothing wrong with having ‘new’ and ‘nice’ “things”—the problem comes when the ‘things’ begin to have us! Then the great green monster of greed will try to move in and take over!

“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.

11 But thou,

O man of God,

flee these things;

and follow after

righteousness,

godliness,

faith,

love,

patience,

meekness.” 1 Timothy 6:10-11

Take note here, Paul didn’t say that “money” is the “root of all evil”, but the “love of money” IS! And that is the issue that we must guard our hearts against! It is the issue that will pull our hearts away from The Lord whom we belong to! I pray that you will take some time today and consider what is the “delight” of your heart—contentment in Jesus, or the continual longing for “more things”? May we give our hearts totally to God—and that is a full time work! But it is a work of glory and grace!

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;

fornication,

uncleanness,

inordinate affection,

evil concupiscence,

and covetousness, (Greed)

which is idolatry:”   Colossians 3:5

May we truly seek to receive the words of Jesus?

“And Jesus answered him,

The first of all the commandments is,

Hear, O Israel;

The Lord our God

is one Lord:

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God

with all thy heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy mind,

and with all thy strength:

this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like, namely this,

Thou shalt love thy neighbour

as thyself.

There is none other commandment

greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31

 So one of two things—either love will crowd out the greed from our hearts, or we will foster the greed and it will crowd out the love!!! What are you fostering in your heart today?