Great Gain

“Godliness is actually a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment,” says Paul. (1 Timothy 6:6) This is a powerful statement, and an almost unattainable state for any American believer. The problem is less with Godliness than it is with contentment. Our culture, yea verily, our economy, is built on a spirit of discontent.
It is hard to be content. If we read the paper, watch TV, or surf the Internet, we are bombarded with advertisements for the newer, better, faster, greener, more powerful, more prestigious, more convenient something-or-other, and we believe it. We might say we don’t, but we do, at least partially.
Let me give you some personal examples. I am not tempted by boats and boating stuff. I got over that temptation when I figured out I didn’t like to fish and I couldn’t seem to stay upright when attempting to slalom ski. Neither am I tempted by hunting, rock climbing, snow skiing or spelunking gear. But, when an ad comes on for a new Canon DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) Camera or some lens, I start to salivate. Get me in an Apple Store, and I start thinking, “Woot! Woot!” (“Woot” = “want one of those!”) On a much lower economic level, I’d rather make a run to Wendy’s than drive the same distance to my house and grab a pimento cheese sandwich for lunch. Contentment is rather illusive, isn’t it?
We westerners are constantly on the hunt, it seems, for more stuff. Even in these difficult economic times, many of us may have scaled back, but we’re still satisfying our wants rather than our needs. (Government and “leading economists” tell us that is a good thing, because that is what drives our economy. I doubt it.) We know that the “one that dies with the most toys,” does not win. Paul, in the next verse reminds us that we “bring nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either.” (1 Timothy 6:7)
Contentment, according to the next two verses, is being satisfied with food and covering (clothes). Wanting to get rich, (or, in most of our cases, wanting to appear at least “comfortable”) leads us into “temptation, snares, foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.” [Can we require Congress to memorize 1 Timothy 6:8-9? But I digress. I am talking about you and me—not them.]
Allow me to paraphrase Paul’s closing statement to his paragraph (verse 10). “For the love of the newer, faster, better, greener, easier, more convenient, more powerful thing or things that money buys is the root of all evil, and some, by longing for it have gotten so focused on things or so deep in debt they can no longer pay attention to their faith, and it causes them great pain.”
Our lifestyles and materialism have distracted us away from God. We are squandering our kid’s (and their kid’s kids) future both as families and as a nation. (Can you get you mind around how much a trillion dollars is? Me either. But to talk about going in that much debt—again— is likely perceived in heaven as inane, profane, and insane.)

So, what can we do? What is the believer’s way out?
1. Give to the Lord what he is due. It isn’t logical, but it is biblical. Therefore, we should do it. I think the Bible is pretty clear about the 10% amount.
2. Get out of debt.
3. Figure out where your money is going – keep a note card or pad and write where that cash goes.
4. Make a spending plan, a budget, and stick to it.
5. Cut up the cards if you need to.
6. Start a savings account for emergencies – so you won’t have to “charge it” when the car requires maintenance.
7. Lower your sights. Say, out loud if you need to, “You know, I can be content without that,” when you see an ad or an item in the store.
8. Buy only what you can pay for, without going into the emergency fund.