“And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (1st Tim. 6:8)
I am wondering, were human beings created with the desire to have more, was it built into our nature by the Almighty to seek for more than what we have? Since we are to lay up our treasures in heaven, wouldn’t that mean that we are to look for those treasures? If we are to strive for the crowns, to set our affections, and thereby our desires in heaven, to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, how can we be expected to be content, with only what we have?
If we do only that which we have been commanded to do and are thereby to consider ourselves unprofitable, does it not infer that we are to seek for more to become profitable, and could then not be considered content in where we are?
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Phil. 4:11)
Is it a sin against the Almighty to seek after more materialistic items, the things that this world has to offer? Why did Paul work as a tent maker at times, beyond the clear reason that he did not want to be a financial burden to those he was witnessing to?
A question for you that might be, so to speak, too close to that whirlwind again, if the Lord has promised to supply all of our needs according to his riches, why do we still need to work by the sweat of our brow to obtain many of those needs, and how are we to be content with only what we have when we have the financial wherewithal to obtain more than what we currently have?
“When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” (Psalm 27:8)
I believe we must be able to see, even in the materialistic sense, a contentment with what we have, while at the same time being able to differentiate the difference between a need and a want, but that brings up an entirely new question, does the Lord desire for us to have wants in the materialistic sense? And that question must be based in how to apply wisely your financial increases, what could be called extra money.
Here is the subtle trap of Satan that rears its head occasionally in regard to the wealthy, how they should use all of their extra money to help the poor, thereby intentionally causing divisions and causing those with less to not remain content with what they have.
“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.” (1st Tim. 6:10)
The worker is worthy of his wages, but what are we to do with the increase, with what is left over after our giving and all our needs are met?
The Lord Jesus Christ, and as far as we know, along with the twelve He chose, did not have any form of income for three plus years, no place to lay His head, no place to call home, they accepted the offerings of others. Are we to do the same?
Contentment is the subject matter here, not the amount of things we own, or how much money we have left over at the end of the week.
This is one of those rare cases my friends where it can honestly be said about all that has been written here, “That’s between you and God.”
What do you need to remain content in this world materialistically? Can we ever truly be content Spiritually if we are continuously seeking the face of God? These are not two subjects, they are one, intertwined, and they are worthy of our contemplation.
Only one of them needs to be considered as we walk the path to that strait gate, the other we will continue in throughout eternity.
