basics-training
"If we have food and clothing we have all that we need." —1 Timothy 6:8
The Bible says all we need is food to eat and clothes to wear (1 Tm 6:8). Very few Christians agree with this. Most feel they at least need a house for shelter, insurance for security, a car for transportation, a phone for communication, and a TV for entertainment. What Americans consider a simple life is extravagant by Biblical standards.
The Bible considers the typical American lifestyle a "temptation and a trap" (1 Tm 6:9). By our lifestyle, we let ourselves "be captured by foolish and harmful desires which drag men down to ruin and destruction" (1 Tm 6:9).
When Jesus talked like this to "the Pharisees, who were avaricious men" (Lk 16:14), they "began to deride Him. He said to them: 'You justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God reads your hearts. What man thinks important, God holds in contempt' " (Lk 16:14-15).
We must let Jesus be Lord of our lifestyle. Otherwise, He's not Lord of our lives.
Prayer: Father, may they know we are Christians by our lifestyle, lived in love for You and for others.
Promise: Jesus "journeyed through towns and villages preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God." —Lk 8:1
Praise: Robert and Margaret raised their children without television, but with much reading of Scripture.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet Seek First The Kingdom.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 11, 2009
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