Listen to Devotion

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 people 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.

The secret to an effective trap is to keep your prey from seeing the menacing end that lies ahead. Instead of seeing a mouse trap that should scream, “Danger!” all the mouse sees is the piece of cheese. By the time the trap is tripped, it is too late. The mouse is caught. Its fate is sealed.

In today’s Bible reading, the apostle Paul warns us about having a lifelong ambition of being rich. Wealth can be like a piece of cheese. We want it so badly that we don’t realize what we stand to lose in getting it.

Do you know people who have given up too much in an attempt to get rich? How about the person whose marriage failed because of working sixty plus hours a week to get the big promotion? Or the worker who always had time for work, but never for family. Perhaps you know people like this, or know this type of pain firsthand. As bad as these consequences can be, though, an even greater pain would be to have riches destroy one’s relationship with God.

Paul’s words to Timothy are meant to warn us. But they are also meant to encourage us to fight greed with contentment. One way to pursue contentment is to count blessings. We do well to remember that God takes care of all our needs. He gives us food and clothing and provides all that we need for our body and life. Even more importantly, he has given us his son, Jesus, as our Savior from sin and sure hope of eternal life.

Take Paul’s advice and save yourself from a lot of misery. Be content with the blessings God provides and give thanks for the physical and spiritual gifts he gives to you. Pursue godliness with contentment.

Dear Lord, help me to count my blessings every day. Keep me from falling into the trap of always wanting more. May I always be content with the good gifts that you give to me. Amen.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.