Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 5:10
One of the wealthiest men in the world, when asked how much money he needed to live comfortably, answered, "I would starve on $2,000 a week." We never seem to have enough. We buy a house and promptly want to remodel. We get a raise and shortly find ourselves living to the limit of our higher income. We buy a new car and covet the newest models as soon as they hit the market. This is our fate as long as we chase after earthbound goals. Contentment is a handmaid to the attitude that sees wealth and possessions as gifts through which to give God glory. "If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that" (1 Timothy 6:8).
There is nothing wrong with a fine home, a reliable car, or a comfortable income. All these may be used to glorify God. The trouble comes when they begin to take a preferred place to God on our list of values. "The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10).
God has a special plan for our lives. He is the giver of all good things. He grants us places to live and clothes to wear. But He gives us the grace to love Him above all else. His Son has taught us to live before the face of God with humility and gratitude, contentment and gratification.
PRAYER: Dear God, give us such values that place Your Son first in our lives; in Jesus' name we ask this. Amen.
(Devotions from "The Abundant Life" copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Ecclesiastes 4-6 Acts 9:23-43
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