Christmas Contentment
As we enter this Christmas season, coming off of Black Friday sales that went on for weeks, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and the constant online sales that will run until Christmas Eve, we might benefit from a reminder on contentment.
“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” (1 Timothy 6-8)
Paul taught Timothy that true godliness with contentment is great wealth. Paul said this in the context of warning Timothy about people who would show godliness only to attain wealth, people who would teach a different gospel just so they could gain money. Today we call this the “prosperity gospel” or “Prosperity theology” and unfortunately there are a lot of well-known people who preach this way. It’s a bit surprising to see this false teaching goes all the way back to the church’s beginnings. Paul accurately points out that we brought nothing into this world and we will take nothing with us when we leave it—so do not store up treasures on earth, which is something Jesus taught a few years earlier.
“‘Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.’” (Matthew 6:19-21)
According to figures from the U.S. Department of Commerce, online sales increased 31% from the first to the second quarter of this year, seeing consumers spend $211.5 billion during the second quarter alone on e-commerce. From March to June, a mere four months, Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos’ net worth rose by $48 billion. Through this pandemic and now into the holiday season, we are spending more and more money from the comfort of our home and that can lead to storing up treasures here on earth. Jesus warned against this behavior because we can make treasures out of trinkets by giving more significance to stuff that we accumulate, the stuff that, as Paul pointed out, we can’t take with us.
“But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
“Then He (Jesus) said, ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.’” (Luke 12:15)
As this holiday season begins to ramp up, remember to keep your treasure in Heaven. Treasure your relationship with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Treasure the knowledge and wisdom the Spirit gives, and as you continue shopping, remember that life is not measured by how much you own. If we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
“I remind myself that all these toys were never intended to possess my heart, that my true good is in another world, and my only real treasure is Christ.” -C.S. Lewis
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
—Redeemed
