Wrong Desires (1 Tim. 6:9)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6-24-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Wrong desires

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 6:9

 

            Message of the verse:  “9  But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.”  This continues the section that Paul started about the false teachers, and their desire to teach the Word of God for gain of money.  I believe that Paul is describing the desire to become rich as a wrong and harmful habit, such as someone becoming addicted to drugs.  The more the person gets the drugs the more it takes to satisfy the craving for the drug.  People who have a desire to become rich will never have enough to satisfy them for they will always want a little bit more to make them “happy,” but it will never make them happy.  If a person is not happy when he is not rich, then riches will not make him happy.  I believe the correct word would be joyful, and that comes from within, from God.  The strong desire to become rich can even plunge a man into hell.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I know that I do not want to fall into this trap, for this trap leads to nothing but unhappiness and dissatisfaction with both God and life.  There is a balance to life and I want to live my life as a balanced life.  The Psalmist said that he would pray that God would give him enough so that he would not have to steal, and not to give him to much so that his riches would have a bad effect on him.  This is my prayer, as everything that I have is from God and I have a desire to use the things that He has given me, or better entrusted me with for His glory.

 

The Word of God was very instructive for my soul today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I do not want the things that God has given to me to own me, but that everything that I have be used for the glory of God and for the cause of Jesus Christ.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 5:20,21 & 1Timothy 6:6

 

Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound.  But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.