Be Content

My Monday night bible study got into the discussion about wealth. God says a lot about wealth. But when you dig into it, I’m not sure we get the message about what He is saying. In a broad sense, the love of money is evil.

1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

Ecclesiastes 5:10, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.”

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.”

I got it, no brainer. But, does that mean that God wants us to give away everything? Is God opposed to wealth?

My guess is NO. God wants us to enjoy the experiences of life. He wants us to be content where He has put us. The love of money is not about having money; it is about putting your trust in it rather than God. Where do you look for contentment? When you wrap your future security up in your 401K, you’ve created an idol. That doesn’t mean God doesn’t want you to save money for your future. Just be aware that the future He is having you save for may not be your future.

Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, “So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.”

Let me put a fence around this discussion with a short story. In 2002 I promised a friend of mine I would go with him to a Champions for Life Prison weekend. I didn’t want to go. First of all, it was a full weekend, then there were the convicted felons, and I think there was an expectation that I should share the Gospel. Aside from the inconvenience, and the cultural abyss, I didn’t understand God myself, how could I explain Him to others.

I’m at the hotel in Columbia, SC waiting to register. I’m decked out in my usual work attire, professionally pressed Oxford button-down, worsted wool slacks, Cole Haan slip-on, no socks, hey I’m casual. In front of me is Danny. Danny came in from Tennessee on his Harley. He has on his jeans, t-shirt, leathers and what? Danny had a tattoo. Not your run of the mill tattoo. Danny was bald, like me, he had a tattoo of Christ on the Cross, three colors, forehead to nape of the neck, ear to ear. It was an amazing piece of artwork. All I could think was “Ouch!”. Danny turned around, and I blurted out, “Boy, that had to hurt.”. Danny had a checkered past, but was now completely sold out for Christ.

We talked about it being my first time and how unprepared I was. I felt I had nothing in common with the inmates. Danny said, “you’ll be surprised, there are people just like me, and there are people just like you. The ones like you won’t talk to me, so I’m glad you came.”. That stuck with me. On the way to the Level 4 Maximum Security prison, I did still pray that it would be a win-win for God and me if He made me invisible. I wouldn’t misrepresent Him, and He wouldn’t have to condemn me for eternity for doing it.

( Side bar in case you think God might be wasting His time on you: I met Ricky Green in Broad River Correctional on April 13, 2002, he was a lifer. He was afraid his son, Bradley, would follow in his footsteps. He ask me to write to him. I did. Bradley accepted Christ in 2004. I keep the letter. God changed my perception of me. Preparation is God’s expertise, not yours. )

The more significant point is this. People feel comfortable talking to people more like themselves. It is human nature. God wants His people throughout the entire social-economic range so that we can interact with everyone. The point of having-or-not-having isn’t having-or-not having. The point is, what are you doing for Christ where Christ put you.

I don’t think we will ever agree when enough is enough. We know when we see someone way over the line, and we know when we see someone way under the line, but we aren’t sure where the line is. God doesn’t care about the line. If you can afford to live in a posh neighborhood, move there, start a bible study and share the Gospel with the rich. They need it too. If you can only afford to rent an apartment, ditto. It is not about what you have, it is about who you are.

1 Timothy 6:6-8, “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”

Wealth is just one of God’s many tools for expanding His Kingdom. Money is a crutch that man came up with that God doesn’t need. But it is there, so He uses it. Our issue has two parts. Part one is how much time do we give to thinking about money? Part two is when we do think about money, does the thought glorify God?

I don’t have an answer. I do know, just like Ester, you are where God wants you for a time like this. If you don’t do it, God will raise someone in your place.