But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
Summary: Contentment is one of those ‘beautiful intangibles’ that make life wonderful if we have it.
Paul was actually a much richer man than he makes out. Timothy, too. When he says, “if we have food and clothing, we will be content,” he is talking about what the world sees and values.
But what about the things that God values?
James writes:
“Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” (James 2:5)
It is hard for us to wrap our heads around the riches James is talking about — the kind that Paul is already rich in.
What does it mean to be “rich” anyway? Why do we care?
The reason we like the idea of being rich is that the world sees material wealth as a kind of security blanket. Money maybe can’t buy happiness, but it can buy a lot of things, and for some people that is how they measure feeling good about themselves.
Another reason people like money is that it can buy security. Financial security is not having to worry about paying the bills or being able to afford the nice things in life. Ironically, the opposite of faith is worry. People who don’t have faith want money because it helps fend off worry.
Peter understands this, too. He writes that we have “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade” in heaven (1 Peter 1:4). Wealth beyond measure! Not material wealth that can be eaten by moths or rats, or stolen by a thief (Matthew 6:20), but wealth that makes you feel like a million bucks.
Which brings us to an important question: “Where is your heart?”
Jesus makes an interesting point when he says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
It would be horrible if you made it all the way to heaven and discovered you had left your heart behind!
Application: Do a heart check – make certain you know where it is.
Food for Thought: How can we protect ourselves from falling victim to the love of ‘things’?
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How can we protect ourselves from falling victim to the love of ‘things’?
I think it is best to keep earthly possessions in perspective. We are given these things by God to glorify Him in how we use them, and in remembering that they do not define our identity. I believe Jesus said it best in Luke 12:15 “And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'” In the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:13-21) Jesus reminds us that when we leave this earth, everything we once possessed will be someone else’s. So to love “things” is fruitless, but to share in them, give and receive with one another in His name, is fruitful.
Amen, Chris.
God does not love us for our “things!”