1 Timothy 6: 6-8 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
We can all testify to the truth of the words spoken by Job of the Bible where in Job 1:21 he says Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
All of us come into this world with nothing and when we die we can take absolutely no material thing with us. We hear of people trying to take their possessions with them but in reality our "stuff" stays on the earth. I heard of a man who loved his violin so much he requested at the time of his death that he be buried together with his violin.
So the question we ask is this - If we cannot take any of our money and possessions with us, why do we stress ourselves to become rich here? Why not be content with the simple things of life. Many people will give up almost anything to earn a more money that they will never use. People give up the opportunity to spend time with their spouse or children, give up their health by over exertion and workaholism, unwilling to give up the day of rest for the Lord, etc for the sake of money.
Now the Bible does teach us that we ought to work, to put in a good day of work for the wages we earn but I am talking about the life that takes the desire to become rich to a point where discontentment sets in.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
We need to focus on living a life of contentment. The basic needs of life are food and clothing, and a place to lay our head at night. Above and beyond this is an "extra" from the Lord for our enjoyment.
But in 1Timothy 6: 6 it says But godliness with contentment is great gain. So we see that we need both together - godliness and contentment. This is best described as having a good understanding of the passing nature of life. We are born, the Lord gives us time here to live life, some get many years and others only a few but we all move on to death sooner or later. The things of this world are here when we arrive and we leave them behind when we pass away. We cannot find godliness nor contentment in accumulating things.
We desire that God work his character in us - through the things that we experience in our lives. We accept God's will for our lives with the continuing thought in our life that as the old songs goes " This World is not my Home - I'm just a passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue." (that is heaven).
Living in godly contentment gives peace in our hearts and a calmness. We sense this peace and calmness within our spirit when we see others around us searching for happiness in various unproductive ways - we see peope stressing with working overtime, buying a newer boat, or acquiring more land, or new farm machines, or going on that next vacation or whatever it is, you fill in the blank. We need to pray for them. We need to pray that the Lord continue to fill our hearts with contentment and also pray that the Lord open their eyes to see that the life they are living will never satisfy. That longing deep within the heart can only be filled by the Lord Jesus. More money or acquiring stuff will not satisfy or bring contentment. Only a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus will satisfy the longings of our heart. We keep our eyes on Jesus! We set our eyes on things above, looking and waiting for the appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 6 11-14 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
We can all testify to the truth of the words spoken by Job of the Bible where in Job 1:21 he says Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
All of us come into this world with nothing and when we die we can take absolutely no material thing with us. We hear of people trying to take their possessions with them but in reality our "stuff" stays on the earth. I heard of a man who loved his violin so much he requested at the time of his death that he be buried together with his violin.
So the question we ask is this - If we cannot take any of our money and possessions with us, why do we stress ourselves to become rich here? Why not be content with the simple things of life. Many people will give up almost anything to earn a more money that they will never use. People give up the opportunity to spend time with their spouse or children, give up their health by over exertion and workaholism, unwilling to give up the day of rest for the Lord, etc for the sake of money.
Now the Bible does teach us that we ought to work, to put in a good day of work for the wages we earn but I am talking about the life that takes the desire to become rich to a point where discontentment sets in.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
We need to focus on living a life of contentment. The basic needs of life are food and clothing, and a place to lay our head at night. Above and beyond this is an "extra" from the Lord for our enjoyment.
But in 1Timothy 6: 6 it says But godliness with contentment is great gain. So we see that we need both together - godliness and contentment. This is best described as having a good understanding of the passing nature of life. We are born, the Lord gives us time here to live life, some get many years and others only a few but we all move on to death sooner or later. The things of this world are here when we arrive and we leave them behind when we pass away. We cannot find godliness nor contentment in accumulating things.
We desire that God work his character in us - through the things that we experience in our lives. We accept God's will for our lives with the continuing thought in our life that as the old songs goes " This World is not my Home - I'm just a passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue." (that is heaven).
Living in godly contentment gives peace in our hearts and a calmness. We sense this peace and calmness within our spirit when we see others around us searching for happiness in various unproductive ways - we see peope stressing with working overtime, buying a newer boat, or acquiring more land, or new farm machines, or going on that next vacation or whatever it is, you fill in the blank. We need to pray for them. We need to pray that the Lord continue to fill our hearts with contentment and also pray that the Lord open their eyes to see that the life they are living will never satisfy. That longing deep within the heart can only be filled by the Lord Jesus. More money or acquiring stuff will not satisfy or bring contentment. Only a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus will satisfy the longings of our heart. We keep our eyes on Jesus! We set our eyes on things above, looking and waiting for the appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 6 11-14 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;
14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
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