Danger Ahead
Let your way of life be free from the love of money, being content with what you have, for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” Hebrews 13:5 NASB
Being content – What is enough? The Bible answers: what you have been given. That’s a particularly uncomfortable answer for almost everyone. Few are those who willingly accommodate their lives to what God has provided. Most of us require – and expect – just a little bit more.
Of course, we are quick to renounce any motivation based on the “love of money.” That would be sinful, selfish and socially unacceptable. Maybe we are just a little too quick to deny these motives. The word “love of money” is philarguros, literally, “a friend of silver.” The verb is phileo, the same verb used positively to describe love of the brothers and sisters in the Body. It isn’t the action that is inappropriate. It’s the object of the action. The New Testament treats philarguros as a form of coveting. It is the desire for wealth as a solution to life’s problems. Millions of people become philarguros every week when they buy a lottery ticket. Millions more show themselves philarguros when they idolize Hollywood celebrities or Wall Street billionaires. “Why shouldn’t I have what they have?” That demand is the tragedy of the American entitlement mentality. “I deserve to have it,” becomes the expectation of philarguros. You don’t have to be Scrooge McDuck to be ruled by the love of money. All you have to do is want more than God gives. All you have to do is forget that your life is a gift. Then you can stand with Havvah in front of the Tree and ask yourself, “Why should I be denied what will benefit me?”
Contentment is an incredibly dangerous idea. In the hands of the natural man, contentment becomes the political currency of suppression. “Be satisfied with what you have,” is the message of the power-hungry elite. Those who are in control accumulate at the expense of those in need because they govern the means of contentment. But in the hands of the follower of the Way, contentment is a sign of trust in the sovereignty of God. In fact, from the biblical point of view, the only reason a man or woman can entertain contentment is because God is good. His provision is sufficient.
Rabbinic exegesis of the idea of contentment is insightful. The Greek verb arkeo parallels the Hebrew rab lak. When Moses asks to enter the promised land, God tells him to be content with the answer. The LXX treats this as a prohibition against further dialogue, but the rabbis saw this as a combination of previous divine guidance, present divine grace and future divine gift. Rabbi Joshua says that the verse (Deuteronomy 3:26) means that Moses is to be content with the coming world. Rabbi Joshua says that the verse means “be content that the evil impulse has no power over thee, yea rather that I will not deliver thee into the hand of the angel of death, but will Myself be with thee.”[1] We think of contentment as a present-tense issue, but the rabbis direct us to consider contentment in its fuller temporal sense. Contentment is accepting God’s grace in the past, God’s gift today and God’s promise in the future. What more could I want?
Topical Index: contentment, arkeo, love of money, philarguros, Hebrews 13:5
[1] Kittel, arkeo, arketos, autarkeia, autarkes in TDNT, Vol 1, p. 466.
Another excellent meal from G-d’s Table, chef Moen! Contentment. Amen!
“For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in G-d.” What? I have died? When did I die? -About 2,000 years ago.. “I (too) have been crucified with Christ..” Were you there? “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . .” (Galatians 2.20)
I have been buried (in the likeness of His death) and I have been “raised to walk in newness of life,” – His life, and “the life I now live in the flesh (I’m here ain’t I?), I live by the faith of the Son of G-d, (even our “faith” is a gift), who loved me and gave Himself for me. Yeshua was (and is) the Author and the Perfecter of our faith. “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things..” (Did we leave anything out?) Who started this? He did. Who sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of G-d? He did. Who rescued me from danger, and interposed His precious blood? He did. My friends,- “Jesus paid it all.” Lock, stock and barrel. -“It’s all Him!”
Yes, (Rick Warren) -it’s not “about me,” or you or him or her. “He must increase and “I” (or “we”) must decrease. He must become greater; I must become less. (John 3.30) And “I” must allow Him to do this, meekness, humility, and much repentance.
So many today suffer from “I” trouble. The solution is simple- “so long self” “See yah.” “Not my will (what I want) but Thy will (what You want) be done.” Absolute Surrender (of self) to the Savior. “Let (allow) this mind to be in you which also was in Christ Jesus.” “We (now) have the mind of Christ.”
How do I know what He wants? How do I know His will? -(what pleases Him?..)- Read the book. Read and follow label directions. Lather, rinse, repeat. Do what He says. “Follow Him”- our personal Trainer.
Every one of us want more and every one of know (in our heart of hearts)- there is “more” available. I remember my father telling me when I was a young pup, going through the cafeteria line at Morrison’s (yum!): “Son, the eye is bigger than the stomach..” It sure is Pop! Way bigger.
How much money is enough money? John D. Rockefeller’s answer still rings ominously in our ears: “just a little bit more!” “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not G-d chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which He has promised to those who love him?” (James 2.5)
Folks, -I am far from poor any more. Maybe I have “too much!” Maybe I have been distracted and my “possessions have possessed me.” “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 5.10) Who said this? It was King Solomon, the richest and (second) wisest man who ever lived. He was the man who had it all. Name it- he had it, except for “one thing.” And what dear friends, was the one thing missing in this poor man’s life? He did not know what we (now) know: “Jesus is LORD.” Yeshua is ADONAI. And precious family of G-d:- We may now say it and know it (experientially).. “the LORD is my Shepherd/King- I shall not want..” He maketh me to lie down in green pastures- He restoreth my soul.” “Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.” (and you.. and you.. and you..).”
“For the LORD is good,” (all the time, and to every one). His steadfast (covenant) love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100.5) -Is He worthy of our worship? You tell me..
“Contentment is accepting God’s grace in the past, God’s gift today and God’s promise in the future. What more could I want?”
Hi Skip,
I was reading your Prayer Request last night after spending some time with my daughter and Max.
It was a beautiful evening with a full moon and clear sky and my daughter (15) was sharing her negative emotions about living in Milpitas and going to high school here.
She was asking me if I were happy living alone and I was trying to explain how I don’t really think in terms of happiness, but I’m not happy when she is not happy with school.
I was trying to tell her that the “secret” is really learning to accept what you have as gift from God and that’s about as good as it is going to get wherever she goes.
Because she and my son have been on Spring break I hadn’t seen them last week, as I normally take them to school.
So I was very happy to be with my daughter even though she was complaining about not living in Mt View.
But it took me about 60 years to begin to get the point of you comment above, and I don’t think my daughter will see it any time soon 🙂
Regarding your reference to Luke 7:47 yesterday, I accidentally went to Luke 22:47, looked up to 22:45 and saw the following:
“The veil of the Temple was torn right down the middle; and when Jesus cried out in a loud voice “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” With these words he breathed his last.””
And it made me think of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s romance, The Scarlett Letter, considered by Wiki to be his magnum opus. …
On an allegorical level, the letter stands for able, authentic, angel, etc., and the veil is one of his favorite metaphors.
In much allegorical litereature, if you want to see the truth behind the mystery, you have to “lift the veil.”
In regard to money: I want to thank the community at God’s Table for the generous gift of God’s provision from them to help finance my training to eradicate human trafficking. If anyone would like further information on my/these endeavors please contact me at ( n777jc@gmail.com ). I did not publish my Note of Need here…
Ms. Jan Carver
“Your upside-down cross”
In the movie, The Professionals, and on the way to find Jesus Raza.
Bill Dolworth leaves a sign of “danger ahead,” in the form of an upside-down cross in a graveyard.
BTW in Californian Spanish, La Raza can mean “the way.”
Contentment is one more opportunity to trust God.
Hi Fred,
Contentment is somewhat other to me 🙂