Could you walk through a mall and be content without having bought anything—even if you were a millionaire? If you’re 90+ years old, maybe the answer could be yes. But what if you’re 30, or younger?
If you’re a normal human being less than 90, there would probably be all kinds of things in the shops in the mall that would entangle you in desire. We used to call a Sears Roebuck catalog the “Wish Book.” We go through life wishing we had this or that, things that money could buy. And we are discontented to live without those things.
Jesus was in His early 30’s, yet He was content to have those two things Paul speaks of in 1 Tim. 6:8: food and raiment. And Jesus was truly human. He had to have decent clothes to wear (His seamless robe was probably of good quality), and He had to have food to eat, all this just as you and I need. But it appears that He was not burdened with the heavy load that we have to bear of idle wishing for things. That’s why He could say, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).
December is the “covetousness month” of the American year. We’re so busy shopping and partying and decorating that we find but little time for prayer and study of the Bible. A few chapters later, Luke reports that Jesus told us another “take heed,” and He very likely had reference to our month of December,” lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting [face it, that means eating rich food and too much good food], and drunkenness and cares of this life [keeping up with the world can make you spiritually drunk because Babylon is drunk!], and so that day [of judgment] come upon you unawares” (21:34).
The Good News is that God will have a people who do “take heed,” who will keep their heads and hearts while the world all around them is wild with materialism and selfish pleasure.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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