Let Us Be Content
Always more. More, More, More.
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”— Heb. 13:5-6
We live in a world that constantly seeks to get us to spend more, buy more, have more, get better, more, more, more.
We are pushed to accumulate more and more debt.
It’s the culture of More
We feel like responsible people because we pay our debts (maybe), but we do not see the trap we are in.
Paul tells Timothy,
“But godliness with contentment is great gain.
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.
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.
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.
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
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.”—1 Tim. 6:6-12
Godliness, is to treat people in the same way you would want God to treat you. Think about that for a moment. We get saved and the Holy Spirit grows us, and shows us how to treat others, by how God has treated us.
This helps grow our contentment as we learn to trust God and love others.
The Devil uses this world and our fleshly natures to get us to covet and lust over the things of this world. Things we cannot take with us. Things that rot and rust and require payments, and maintenance.
Things that require us to sell ourselves into slavery to maintain.
Things we don’t even really own. The bank, insurance companies and the government really own it.
We pay for houses we barely see because we are working all the time to pay for it.
These are some of the miseries Paul warns Timothy of.
Our mind becomes focused on Mammon instead of God. We cannot serve two masters. Who are we really serving? Do we plan to serve God when we retire?
Understand that the love of money is the ROOT of all evil.
What does a plants roots do? It feeds the plant.
Likewise, we develop a love of money, in order to pay for our lusts and greed. We might claim we don’t love money. But, let’s be honest.
We know that more money would solve our problems. But, when we look at the verse from Hebrews above, we see that God will never leave us nor forsake us. He is the solution to our troubles, not more money.
It’s a trap.
Consider an addict. He gets high and loves it. Then, he wants more. So, he seeks more.
And he finds more and more.
Now, he cannot help but have more. He is hooked.
He makes excuses, like it helps him do better work. It helps him deal with things.
Eventually, he finds himself willing to do evil things for the addiction.
He or she might say, “It’s just business.” or “It’s part of the job” or “It’s what the boss wants.”
Do we do the same thing with our jobs, and money? Are we willing to do bad things to keep our job or business running? Do we love money or God?
The fact is that we live in a country and world that requires us to have money to survive. God knows this.
God knows that we need money to provide for our families.
God knows that we live in a culture that requires certain things or you will be treated like a bum or even have legal issues.
If you don’t have a home and the basic things, you could have your children taken and charged with a crime.
If you don’t have a license or car, you can’t work in many places.
If you do not have a phone or computer access and internet you cannot even look for a job.
If you don’t have tools or clothes you can’t work.
There is nothing I have found in scripture that calls us to poverty. God, will take care of us and we are to be content with His provision. Not looking at the neighbors new car, or pontoon boat. Not looking at the giant house we don’t need.
As saints, we dial back those desires and focus on other things. We build up treasures in heaven by giving and helping others instead of accumulating things we can’t take with us when we die.
When we let God provide and be content, we will see Him move to help us when we are in need and our faith will grow.
When we are content it provides peace and time, that we can devote to other things.
Imagine being content and living within your means as a young person.
When you get older you have everything paid off, and have time to live life. You can spend time with the kids and grand kids, without trying to get time off from a job you have slaved away at for decades now to pay your debts.
Being content grows wealth over time, it also saves your kids from trouble when you pass.
Being content is freedom.
No one can use the things of this world against you, because it doesn’t matter to you. You know God will provide and you’ll be like Paul,
“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”—Phil. 4:11
This is not a condemnation of wealth. I know wealthy people who are content. They have not always been rich, but they made some good choices, and avoided some pitfalls. Now they have wealth. They live godly and are content. They serve God and help people.
Honestly, when you are poor, you can barely do squat. The scriptures do not call us to be in poverty but to be poor in spirit and content.
God is with us and will take care of us and bless us. It’s a fact. Follow His Spirit.
The Son of Man had nowhere to lay His head. He trusted God’s provision completely. (Matt. 8:20)
This world is not our home. Our home is in Paradise with Christ. We brought nothing in to this world and we can take nothing with us, except people and the treasures we accumulate through His Spirit. (Matt. 6 :19-21)
When these last days get worse, there will be economic collapses and destruction. (James 5:1-8, Rev. 6:5-6, Rev. Chap 18)
Trusting the Lord, faith and contentment will help get you through these times. God will take care of you.
When the Mark of the Beast comes, there will be a choice people will have to make. Take the Mark to keep my job? Keep my home? Keep my life?
Consider this. If you cannot practice self control in the good times, how can you in the bad? If you cannot resist more and more debt. Or more and more things. How are you going to resist the temptation to deny Christ and get the Mark?
The Anti-Christ might promise to pay your debts and student loans, if you just get the Mark. He might create a new economic system that solves all kinds of problems, if you just get the Mark.
Learn to have self-control and resist the culture of More. Success does not mean more stuff. Ambition does not mean more debt. You can do more and still be content.
Contentment in all things will serve you greatly in tough times.
The Lord is with us and will protect us. We can trust Him.
Cover photo by Pexels
