Reading your Bible for today March 4

March 4: 1 Timothy 6:6-10

KJV Key Verse: 1 Timothy 6:8
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Devotion:
It is sad to see some people making a trade of Christianity. They go all out to make money from being a Christian or make money from starting a church or something similar. Each one of us has been directed to take good care of all that is God’s. In other words, we have to take good care of everything. All those things which Christ has allowed us to have, we need to be good stewards of them – in other words, look after them well and not fleece our neighbours just so we can profit from God!

Nothing physical we gain here in our lives will be able to be taken with us when we die. No belongings, no money, no wealth, no comforts, nothing. Christ is the author of this world and He certainly does know what is best for us. If we are willing to allow Him to guide us in our lives, then we will be getting the best possible advice for our lives. He is not going to give us a whole bunch of money unless He is sure we need it to do His work. But if He does allow us to gain that money and we do not use it for His works, then do you really expect He will continue to allow you to have it?

The more we gain, the more we abuse our gains to either gain more, or worse, to subdue others… How many times have you boasted about getting something just to show you have more than the person you are boasting to? How many times have you actually used what has been given to you for their betterment rather than your own gain? God is very careful in giving us things because of our built-up temptation which will ruin His gift. He will not give us those gifts until we are ready to receive them! It is not the money which is the evil part, it is the lust we have that we exercise when we have it which is the evil part. As long as we are willing to allow God to be in control, we will not go down the lustful paths with the gifts He gives us…

Points to Ponder:
How often do you receive gifts?

How often do you use those gifts for others rather than yourself?