Contentment
But godliness with
contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the
world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and
clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into
temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge
people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds
of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced
themselves with many griefs.
But
you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness,
faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take
hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good
confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives
life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius
Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot
or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring
about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and
Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light,
whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Command those who are
rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,
which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us
with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up
treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they
may take hold of the life that is truly life.
1 Timothy
6:6-19
Money is mentioned
many times in the Bible as being a problem, either having too much or not
enough.
Jesus did not teach
about giving to fill His pockets. Instead, Jesus warned us trusting in wealth
and using it to gain power gets in the way of everything else we do.
Paul tells us those
who are rich should not be conceited about their wealth, but those who have
should give back.
God measures wealth
by the quality of our lives and our generous disbursements of wealth to bless others.
Riches
are a blessing only to those who make them a blessing to others.
Our Daily Bread –