Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
There are many people who spend their entire life saving money so that they can someday retire, purchase a wooded lakefront home, and buy an expensive fishing boat. Each day, their dream is to fly across a lake to a secluded bay where they can drop anchor and catch some bass with their family. Many years later, when it eventually happens, they finally take their grandkids fishing, but when they get to their destination, they find another family in their fishing spot who are pulling in the fish, laughing and having a great time together in their old 16 ft aluminum boat. They’re doing the exact same activity, but the only difference is, is that he bought the boat for $500 at a rummage sale the weekend before.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
A young child doesn’t care about sitting on leather padded seats or some soft pillows. They don’t care about a $200 fishing rod or using a cheap one from a rummage sale. They don’t care about a new $30,000 truck or riding in a used car. Adults care, because humans are greedy and covetous by nature. So much time is wasted in people’s lives because rather than spend it on relationships with God and others, they spend their time on things that are completely irrelevant to Spiritual growth and happiness. Instead of seeking God, they seek after Earthly riches.
1 Timothy 6:6-10 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.
When you are content, you are satisfied with your own possessions and situation in life. Contentedness with what you have, will cause you not to seek after what you don’t really need. Some people, instead of being content with what they already have, want something different. Instead of being content with their home, they want to move somewhere else. Instead of being content with their vehicle, they want a better one. Instead of being content with their spouse, they want someone else. Whatever it may be, contentment is a quality that God commands us to possess, and to be thankful in everything.
Hebrews 13:5 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.
Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
When someone is not content, their eyes will continually be focusing on moving up in this world, rather than focusing on the things of God and the Holy Spirit. The more you have, the more things can get in the way of your relationship with Him. Instead of spending time discipling others and bearing spiritual fruit, it it is spent on amassing wealth and Earthly treasures. We are supposed to redeem the time that we have been given, using it to help others grow in their faith, rather than using it to increase the size of your bank account.
Matthew 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Luke 12:13-21 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Moses turned away from all the riches of Egypt, proving by his own actions what a spiritual life with Christ was worth to him.
Hebrews 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Some people actually believe that increasing one’s wealth is Godliness, while the exact opposite is true. In that state they don’t love God, they love money which is the root of all evil.
1 Timothy 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
Wealthy people are comforted by their riches, rather than the Holy Spirit.
Luke 6:24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
The amassing of Earthly wealth and treasure reveals what somebody really loves in their heart.
Matthew 19:23-24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Choosing to be content with food and clothes and the simple things of life, brings great blessings from God. You have more time available to seek Him during your day, rather than cluttering up your weeks trying to obtain unrighteous mammon. The original disciples left their jobs in order to be with the Lord Jesus each day and grow in His teachings.
Luke 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
Like my own children that I caught from the womb, a little baby only needs food and clothes to find contentment. It takes adults of this world to instruct you that you need to improve your life. That you need better things or more possessions to find happiness. That you need to take on some extra jobs to increase your Earthly wealth. The truth is that people such as these are lost in a world of iniquity, and the last person one should ever listen to. This is because they worship the things of this world rather than Christ. They will only pierce themselves through with many sorrows as they waste their lives seeking after wealth, rather than God.
1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Time is a precious commodity and there is only so much of it available during our lives. As they have always said, the most precious things in life are free. These are the times spent with God and with each other, which don’t require a nice truck, a pricey fishing rod, or even an expensive……
……Fishing Boat
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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