Based on 1 Timothy 6:6-19 (New King James Version)
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
One of the greatest problems we have today, and especially within the church of Christ, is a problem with materialism. This is something universal, and it is shown in different ways. We live in a world that is grossly materialistic, and this is not just a problem with the elite of the world as many assume, thinking that the ones that are sinking in materialism are the millionaires and billionaires of the world. So then, let us leave aside those people and think more on ourselves, because everyone else’s problems are not our problem, but rather, we need to look at our own issues. One day not too far away, God will ask you what you did, and nothing more.
Materialism within the church is revealed in different manners, and it is one of the reasons for why many people do not come to a church, because they are afraid of being eaten by the wolves (per se), such people within the leadership that use godliness for gain. Unfortunately, there are many ministers and preachers and teachers that do use the things of God for their own benefit. And why should we speak of this? Because you have to be careful with who you listen to, and who you feel attracted to, so that you do not fall in the same issue, and that you wind up as lost as they are, because when you get so close or listen to evil, that you will also become the same evil. That is the problem. Those that use the things of God for their own convenience will always say nice things to you. They will tell you pleasant things, things that will make you feel good in the flesh. They will appeal to your weaknesses and desires. One obvious way to be able to detect a wolf is to see what they have, and compare that to our Model, to Jesus Christ. As it is written: “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.” Matthew 10:24-25a. While the Lord was on the earth, did He have a mansion, or property, or expensive clothing, or any kind of ostentation? No, as it was left written: “Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, ‘Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’” Matthew 8:19-20. So then, whether they speak nicely or harshly to you, just look at how they live, and you will know who their true god is. By their fruits you shall know them.
This is something that must also be left clear. Money within itself is not evil. Money or wealth by themselves have no power to influence, nor can they have any kind of control over a person. They are ultimately inanimate objects that know nothing, nor can they do anything on their own, and are completely consumable. The problem is love for money, or also, the attraction for the material, because it is not only about money, but also about material goods. The problem is when a person focuses on material things, and they put their faith and prime efforts into them. There are people that will say: “I don’t love money”, and like that they justify themselves. But, they want things that only money can buy, like a house, or being able to travel and know the world, or wanting to retire ahead of time, and so on, all things that only money can buy.
And here comes the great question: “How much is necessary?” That is a question that each person that claims to be belong to Christ should ask the Lord Himself, and let the Lord respond to them. But we can see in this passage that there is a very clear and simple answer, as it says: And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. Food and clothing are very basic things, and they are related to what you need daily: a place to live, clothes, and food. Do you need a big house? I don’t think so. Do you need expensive clothing with various options? I don’t believe so. Do you need great feasts with all kinds of goodies? I doubt it. If you sit and think about how much is truly necessary, you will realize how much is really enough also. You can also think about it this way. How did you come into the world, and how are you going to leave it?
And we must leave yet another thing very clear. We must help our neighbor, but the neighbor that has real needs. Because there is something that everyone must have perfectly clear. The gospel and loving our neighbor do not consist of feeding irresponsible or envious people. We should not feed irresponsibility nor give in to people that just envy others. In summary, we are not called to support sin in any kind of way. This is what the Word says: “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.” 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12. By God’s grace, I am not supported by any group of people nor by the government. I work very hard at a secular job to be able to pay my bills with the sweat of my brow. May God be praised!
Every person that can work should work to fulfill their responsibilities, but only to obtain what is necessary and indispensable, and also, to be able to help those in true need. But, if you are only thinking on material things, one day, you will become its slave, and you will not be able to serve the God you do owe everything to. So then, what is reigning in your life, materialism, or the Lord? Lord bless! John