Contentment Or Greed??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #185

We live in a “grab it while you can” world, and it doesn’t even matter what you’re talking about; if I see it, if I want it, then I am “entitled” to it!  As I used to hear when I was young, “Taint necessarily so!”  Not good grammar but you get the point.  We have created at least two generations who have been brought up with this mentality, and we have forgotten that scripture says different, but then we have written scripture off as “fairy tales” rather than the truth of God!  It breaks my heart, so I simply want to share some truth from God’s Word that may remind us to reevaluate our ideas, our mindset, and our attitude toward material gain—or you could say material greed!

Paul warned his son-in-the-ministry to beware of the dangers of the “pursuit” of wealth rather than the “pursuit” of godliness.  While this is a bit of a lengthy passage, I pray that it will call us all to reassess our focus, our desires, and our stewardship, especially toward our Lord.

“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.

7 For we brought nothing into this world,

and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment

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.

11 But thou, O man of God,

flee these things;

and follow after

righteousness,

godliness,

faith,

love,

patience,

meekness.”  1 Timothy 6:3-11

What is greed? Not just wanting what we don’t have, we can have desires that aren’t greed, but appreciation and desire to have beautiful things around us; but greed is setting up our desires as the “prime directive”, or in biblical terms, “idolatry”—making “my desires” being fulfilled the great goal and pursuit of our lives (and remember Paul didn’t say that money was evil, but “the love of money”—be careful what steals your “love”).  And often once we get it, we find that “all that glitters is not gold” (from William Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice)!  For one of the saddest episodes in all of scripture, we can look to the story of Tamar, Absalom, and Amnon in 2 Samuel 13.  I would encourage you to spend some time in this story, for it contains some important lessons that we can all learn from.

Paul also wrote some things in regard to possessions and our regard for them—people, places, or things!  And in light of eternity and the fact that we will leave all of this world’s goods behind, it would seem that our focus ought to be heavenward and laying up treasure in heaven rather than totally focused on earthly things.

“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear,

then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;

fornication,

uncleanness,

inordinate affection,

evil concupiscence,

and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God

cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time,

when ye lived in them.” Colossians 3:4-7

The new life in Jesus is not to be a match to the life we lived in the flesh—as Paul also told the Galatians we are called to “walk in the Spirit…not the flesh”.  I just want to share some other scriptures for you to consider.  My words mean little without God’s own words to rely on, and base our life on.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run with patience

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand of the throne of God.”                   Hebrews 12:1-2

And Jesus’ own admonition to us to be heavenly minded rather than earth bound, keeping our eyes on Jesus not our flesh, greed or earthly pleasures, and yes, there is “pleasure in sin for a season”—but that season is short-lived and the bill will come due, and we will never find it agreeable, for “sin will take you farther than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to pay” (attributed to R. Zacharias).

“Lay not up for yourselves

treasures upon earth,

where moth and rust

doth corrupt,

and where thieves

break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves

treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust

doth corrupt,

and where thieves

do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also.”  Matthew 6:19-21

So where’s your heart?  May we remember Paul’s simple words to Timothy:

       “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Amen and Amen!!!