26 - 02 - 2017, 02:24 PM
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 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I Tim. 6:11-12
Just before this passage, Paul tells us not to pursue riches but that Godliness with contentment is great gain. I adore this verse as it has been our family motto for 26 years. 
It is hard when you have no money..or even if you have plenty but have a lot of unforseen expenses (as we do right now), to not get a little obsessed with money or the lack thereof. But that is certainly not the same thing as wanting to ‘get rick quick’ or envying ‘life in the fast lane’ which I think is the point here.
Only today, our family experienced a great potential loss due to a poor grade that a child received. A scholarship opportunity that was a Godsend.. is gone in a moment or so we fear. We are praying for our son who is absolutely devasted. He also made a phenomenal grade right along side it. We are very proud of what he did and made sure he knew it.
Of course we assured him that we are behind him all the way. We don't rely on the world to provide money for his education. The Lord is perfectly able to do that. It was simply a lesson he needed to learn.. and worth far more than a scholarship in our minds.
But the key issue is what are we focused on?
What are we ‘pursuing’? Money or godliness?
It is too easy to let the world revolve around bills and checks, scholarships, shopping, on jobs and their ups and downs, and on the economy and it’s stability or lack thereof.
The only conceivable way to obey this command is to walk in faith, and take every situation and every need to the Lord. Don't get caught up in how you are going to pay for this and that.. though of course you should work responsibly to provide for yourselves. But your heart and mind should be consumed with pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love.
Like Peter, we must focus on Jesus.. and keep our eyes fixed.. so that the economic waves beneath us are of no importance. Riches as are uncertain as anything on this earth is.
When you have a mind and heart filled with the pursuit of living for and loving the Lord, it's much easier to have a peaceful heart and to know confidently that the Lord will provide for every need in due time. Truly Godliness, with contentment is GREAT gain!
Dear Lord, Help us keep our eyes firmly fixed on you, like Peter did. Let us not look beneath our feet to our own resources to see how we are going to 'stay afloat'. Instead, help us do as you commanded and not worry.. but take everything to you in prayer, with thanksgiving, knowing you know our needs and will provide in your good timing. Help us stay focused on the eternal.. and leave the temporal up to you. In your name we pray,
Amen
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