Bible reading: 1
Timothy 6:6-19
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. 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,
unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus
Christ: 15 Which in his times he shall shew, who
is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and
Lord of lords; 16 Who only hath immortality,
dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no
man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power
everlasting. Amen. 17 Charge them that are rich in
this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain
riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things
to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich
in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
19 Laying up in store for themselves a good
foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on
eternal life.
Before we can
understand what God may be trying to achieve in our lives by
putting us into tight financial circumstances, we must know
something of our Lord's purposes for money.
Many Christians think that the purpose of money is to provide
security, establish independence, or create power and influence,
but this is a very worldly view of the subject.
The Bible shows us that God has four basic purposes which
He wants to achieve through money - and understanding these
purposes is crucial if we are to be fruitful and productive
Christians.
The first purpose of money is to provide basic needs.
It's surprising how little money we need in order to sustain
the basic needs of life. These needs can be summed up in the words
food, clothing and shelter.
And God demonstrates His loving care by assuring us of His help in
obtaining these basic essentials: "And why do you worry about
clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor
or spin will he not much more clothe you, O you of little
faith?" (Mt.6:28-30).
Since the dawn on time, humankind has tried to become independent
of God. There are tendencies in our fallen nature to be
self-sufficient and self-supporting. We would much rather pray,
"Give us this month our monthly pay-cheque" than
"Give us this day our daily bread."
And why? Because it doesn't bring us face to face with our need to
be daily dependent on the Lord. How wise was our Lord in including
that phrase in the model prayer He gave His disciples. He knew the
recognition of daily needs would help to produce daily dependence.
Prayer:
Father, I pray that You will bring me under the complete sway
of Your Spirit so that my spiritual dependence will not be year by
year, month by month or week by week - but day by day. This I ask
in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Further study:
Matt. 6:19-34,10:29-31; 1 Pet. 5:7
- What are we to seek first?
- What will follow?
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