January 10, 2020

Today you should read: 1 Timothy 6:3-10

Thanks for faithfully reading Jumpstart.  I hope it encourages you and gets your day started right. 

Today’s passage has three major themes:

Dissension (v.3-5)

Contentment (v.6-8)

Money (v.9-10)

Dissension (v.3-5)

There has been conflict in the church as long as there’s been a church.  Conflict about who’s in control, what’s believed, and what’s said. Look at the things listed in verse 4:

• Controversial questions
• Disputes about words
• Abusive language

Causing friction.  This ISN’T God’s plan for His church or His people

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.  Romans 12:18

Contentment (v.6-8)

In verse six we see a formula.  All the pieces must be there for there to be success.

GODLINESS + CONTENTMENT = GREAT LIFE

GODLINESS without CONTENTMENT or CONTENTMENT without GODLINESS won’t do it.  Live your life for God and be content with where He has you. He will take care of you.

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34

Money (v.9-10)

Verse 9 blows my mind!  The love for money is the source for all kinds of evil.  This isn’t hard to understand – we’ve seen this in the world around us.  This thinking even finds its way into the church. The last part is what’s hard to get your mind around.  Some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith…  The unbridled desire for money has caused people to leave their faith.  Now that’s a breach in perspective.

Three Questions to Ponder Today:

• Do I work for peace or do I cause dissention?  At work? School? Home? With friends? At Church?

• Am I content with where God has me?  With what He’s given me?

• Do I have material possessions and money in the proper perspective in my life?

Spend some time today and think these questions through.  Ask God to change your thinking and values to match His. Remember – things work better when you do them God’s Way!

 By: Tim Parsons — Lead Pastor

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