Contentment
One verse that I have had on my mind lately from the letter to the Hebrews:
"Keep away from the love of money. Be content with what you have."
I find myself thinking about this subject frequently, so while eating lunch today, I listened to a message from Tim Keller, entitled "Hope and Money." He had several timely things to say, as I have been thinking lately about money and its role in the kingdom, and consequently, its effect on our lives.
Keller didn't mince words in this fairly short sermon, in which he spoke from 1 Timothy 6:6-19.
Keller challenged me on many levels, but here are a few nuggets to chew on:
-Money has power. It has power to blind you to how much you have! That's why Jesus said in Luke's Gospel, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Why would he say "Watch out!" for any other reason than the fact that we can easily be blind to it. He didn't say "Watch out!" about every kind of sin.
"Keep away from the love of money. Be content with what you have."
I find myself thinking about this subject frequently, so while eating lunch today, I listened to a message from Tim Keller, entitled "Hope and Money." He had several timely things to say, as I have been thinking lately about money and its role in the kingdom, and consequently, its effect on our lives.
Keller didn't mince words in this fairly short sermon, in which he spoke from 1 Timothy 6:6-19.
Keller challenged me on many levels, but here are a few nuggets to chew on:
-Money has power. It has power to blind you to how much you have! That's why Jesus said in Luke's Gospel, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Why would he say "Watch out!" for any other reason than the fact that we can easily be blind to it. He didn't say "Watch out!" about every kind of sin.
-Just as with drugs, there is a tolerance effect with money. We begin to think that our luxuries are necessities, and we are tricked once again by its power.
-When you see Christ as your treasure, you will finally be wealthy and content.
-Wherever you fall socioeconomically, be content with more simplicity. God wants his people to be involved in all spheres of society, but that doesn't mean we live the same materially.
-If you are in the Church, the older you are/the more money you make - the bigger difference there should be between you and your peers.
-In Christ, we can be content with what we have and forsake the pursuit of more, because:
1. Our Bad things will turn out for good
2. Our Good things cannot be taken from us
3. Our Best things are yet to come
(Jonathan Edwards)
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