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RICH…. - 22 May 2009

 

If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions  and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But Godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1 Timothy 6:3-10 [NIV]

 

To think about:

“RICH” – it’s a powerful word, which evokes all sorts of feelings …desire, greed, envy to name but a few. Both in the Bible and today there are rich and poor godly people, and rich and poor ungodly people.

 

How do you feel about v.10?

What does v. 6 say about what it is to be truly rich?

 

……QUICK

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.   But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.   Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6: 25-34 [NIV]

 

To think about:

This passage follows Thursday’s (Jesus teaching on serving 2 masters), and he begins ‘Therefore’.   Money is a fact in our world, but how are we going to relate to both money and to God?   For those who want to be Christ followers, we do not need to worry about money, because God takes care of us just as he takes care of the birds and flowers.

 

Today what would it look like to live out these words of Jesus: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” ?


Tim Norman, 22/05/2009

Fri 29 May 2009 - We are Still Cracked Pots
Time and time again, just when I feel I am making progress on my spiritual journey and becoming that ‘beautiful, rose-painted, china tea cup that everyone wants to buy!.... More ...
Thurs 28 May 2009 - We are C.L.A.Y. being moulded
Remember that beautiful china cup from Monday? Often God's way of producing His ‘fragrance’ is to take the cup off the shelf, break it, and pour out the fragrance.... More ...
Wed 27 May 2009 - We are Cracked Pots
“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.... More ...
Tues 26 May 2009 - We are the Fragrance of Christ
"For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." 2 Corinthians 2:15 .... More ...
Mon 25 May 2009 - We are the Clay
“Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.... More ...
Fri 22 May 2009 - RICH....QUICK
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing.... More ...
Thurs 21 May 2009 - GET
Money does enable us to do all sorts of things. There are many things which promise to help us GET more of it. How do you feel about this?.... More ...
Wed 20 May 2009 - I
“I think, therefore I am” (Descartes) “I drink, therefore I am” (W.C. Fields) “I shop, therefore I am” (Anon).... More ...
Tues 19 May 2009 - CAN
“Money is power” (Anon) Then the LORD said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah... More ...
Mon 18 May 2009 - HOW
The Devotionals for this week come from Tim Norman and link in with Sunday’s talk “How Can I Get Rich Quick” which is the second in our series of sermons... More ...
Fri 15 May 2009 - Faithfulness and mercy
My faithfulness and My mercy and loving kindness shall be with him …. Psalm 89:24 [The Amplified Bible].... More ...
Thurs 14 May 2009 - Claim your benefits
The Encarta UK English dictionary gives the following meanings of the word benefits: • Something that has a good effect or promotes wellbeing – e.g. they eventually reaped the benefits of all their hard work.... More ...
Wed 13 May 2009 - Is anything too difficult for the Lord?
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Tues 12 May 2009 - What if what we claim to know is not true?
A pacifist at heart and an inventor by nature, Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel invented dynamite. However... More ...
Mon 11 May 2009 - God’s will for you
When the storms of life arise and we have suffered trials and temptations, we sometimes come to the point of not believing the word of God... More ...
Fri 8 May 2009 - Faith, Hope and Love
“ There are three things that will endure - faith, hope and love – and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13.... More ...
Thurs 7 May 2009 - One Body, Many Parts
“A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church… Now all of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.” ... More ...
Wed 6 May 2009 - Gentleness
“You have given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand supports me; your gentleness has made me great.” Psalm 18:35..... More ...
Tues 5 May 2009 - Guilt
“Speaking among themselves, they said “This has all happened because of what we did to Joseph long ago.... More ...
Mon 4 May 2009 - Listen and Learn
“This will happen just as I have described it, for God has shown you what he is about to do.” Genesis 41:28 [NIV].... More ...
Fri 1 May 2009 - The Plan - A Mystery
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you... More ...
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