Beyond the Broadcast: What About Widows?
When it comes to caring for widows, it’s easy to be pulled by emotions into unwise decisions. That’s why Paul’s instructions are so helpful. And so are his practical reminders.
When it comes to caring for widows, it’s easy to be pulled by emotions into unwise decisions. That’s why Paul’s instructions are so helpful. And so are his practical reminders.
Our culture doesn’t exactly inspire contentment—everything around us is designed to promote dissatisfaction, comparison, envy, and competition. But you can stop this disappointment cycle by being thankful. When you count your blessings your worry shifts to gratitude, and you begin enjoying all God has given you.
Contentment is the unknown “X” in life’s equation. Face it. You and I are afraid that if we open the door of contentment, two uninvited guests will rush in: loss of prestige and laziness.
While money and wealth are not evil, the love of money leads to emptiness and disaster because you’ll always strive for more.
Hilarious generosity begins with contentment. It’s being satisfied with and grateful for all we have and are able to experience. We must understand what contentment is...and what it is not.
As leaders we are tempted to see the objective in front of us—of all we must get done. Wise leaders remember objectives can’t be the single drive of our lives; we must build into those who will someday be in leadership.
To summarize Scripture, the issue is not that possessions are wrong. It’s our attitude toward them. It is the LOVE of money and things that Scripture condemns. Anything we trust in besides God is an idol.
Egalitarianism used to mean that all people are equal with respect to social, political, and economic affairs. But today, socio-political philosophy says all people are equal and deserve equal treatment in all things, and inequality must be removed.
God’s blessings are not for sale. He showers His gracious gifts—monetary and otherwise—on whomever He pleases. In fact, Paul wrote about this subject in the last chapter of his first letter to Timothy, explaining that God expects contentment and stewardship from His children.
A good way to think about contentment is Christ-sufficiency, not self-sufficiency.