This world is not my home; I'm just'a passin' through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world anymore. (1)

It's an old southern gospel tune sung by this generation to denote the fact we are citizens of a another place called heaven. It echoes what is written in Paul's reminder to Timothy in 6:7. Here's another way to say the same thing: "We don't live here Christian, so don't get too comfortable!"

Many people believe they'll attach a U-haul to their casket and move their "stuff" to their eternal home when they're dead. Paul dealt with the same issues in his day that give us trouble today. What he said just before and after his statement are like bookends giving support for his exhortation to make heaven our home and not this place.

Verse six tells us: "Be content with what you have." This can be paraphrased, "Having all I need, when I need it in the proportions I need to do what God expects me to do when He expects me to do it." Sadly, contentment is a rare thing in the house of God these days. Most of us are fulfilling the American dream: "Get all you can, can all you get and poison the rest!"

The familiar words of verses 9 & 10 remind us what happens if we are not content. Paul said wanting more than God wants to give you is a sure way to fall into a trap that will plunge you into ruin. Failing to have godly contentment is like laying out a welcome mat for all kinds of evil to enter your life. What comes in as a result of your indiscretion is your own fault; you can't blame anyone else.

Does contentment mark your life or are you like a cat chasing its tail. You try as hard as you can to catch it, but when you do, you wish you hadn't. But, that's exactly what we're doing when we live according to the standards of this world. We shouldn't worry about what we don't have, but use what we do have with godly discretion.

Yes, we Christians have everything we need to obey God. If we don't, we can be confident that God will give us what we need. How can I say that with confidence? Because God always equips me to do what he calls me to do. It's time to stop asking God for stuff that will be left behind when we die. This earth has enough junk passed on to others who do the same for those coming behind them. What this world really needs is someone who will leave it a better place than it was before they passed through. Now that's both a national and a spiritual treasure!

1. Albert E. Brumley © 1965 - Albert E. Brumley & Sons All Rights Reserved.
2 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Jr. 37:1-38:28 1 Tm. 6:1-21 Ps. 89:38-52 Pr. 25:28 )
3. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

Copyright © 1998-2004 James R. Green and Prayertower Ministries
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