I hadn't been out of college too long when I begin to realize that their was a real world out there. I had left home two weeks after graduating from High School and had been on my own basically since that time. But I had still been really protected from the pull of world. I had already discovered that "paid ministry" wasn't all that lucrative as a profession. My first full time ministry paid less than my part time milk route and dock experience at a local dairy where I worked during my college years. My friends who had also recently graduated with business degrees were in starting jobs that paid three to four times what my first ministry job paid. I've noticed that most of those professional jobs still pay about three times ministry.
After leaving my first ministry, I was trying to enroll in a clinical psych program at a major university. While I was waiting to get into the program, I went to work for a retail chain. I quickly moved up the ranks when they discovered that I had a college degree. It wasn't long before I found myself in management. A few short successful months in that position of getting three out of my four assigned departments out of the red, that I was suddenly being groomed for executive training within the company.
When the top company execs showed up one day to talk with me, I suddenly realized that this was a crucial moment in my life. All my friends that I grew up with were already doing well financially and now I had a chance. Yet, something kept haunting me. It was my call to ministry. I knew if I took the position being offered me, it was off to a different life that would center around me. But my calling was to a life centered around serving others.
The world is constantly beckoning us to chase after it's goods. It flashes it's glitter and shiny things at us, tempting us to grab onto its empty promises. Things, stuff, material possessions are alluring. And to be honest, there is nothing inherently wrong with having wealth. It's the pursuit that's the problem. In this text, 1 Timothy 6, the Apostle Paul talks about how the love of money is the root of all evil. He says it leads to destruction and people to ruin. Chasing after the accumulation of wealth is a trap. And many people have fallen into the trap thinking that this will lead to happiness and end all our problems.
Paul encourages us to pursue godliness and contentment in God if we want to find great gain. All the things in this world that we could accumulate have to stay here on this planet when we die. It's impossible to take stuff with us. It's just stuff and the only place it has value are to people here. But the things of true value, lasting value, lie beyond this place. That's why Jesus tells us to lay up our treasure in heaven where thieves can steal it or things depreciate or decay or can and will be destroyed.
Why do we kill ourselves trying to get stuff? This consumeristic world we live in seems get more and more rabid. The more stuff we try to consume stuff, the more we get consumed by it.
I almost fell into the trap. I came close, but I walked away. I knew it wasn't the financial reward that I really wanted. I just wanted my life to be used fully of God to carry out His mission in the world. For some, accepting that job might be exactly what God wanted them to do. God uses people in all positions of life. But I knew for me, I was having to face building my life around me and chasing after material things or giving my life completely over to God and finding my contentment in Him.
God, the allure of the world is very strong, especially in our culture. Get, get, get seems to be the order of the day. Somehow the world convinces us that having stuff gives us personal value. God, I'm still trying to find my contentment and value only in you. I want the great gain that can only be found by pursuing you. Keep me on the path that leads to you.
After leaving my first ministry, I was trying to enroll in a clinical psych program at a major university. While I was waiting to get into the program, I went to work for a retail chain. I quickly moved up the ranks when they discovered that I had a college degree. It wasn't long before I found myself in management. A few short successful months in that position of getting three out of my four assigned departments out of the red, that I was suddenly being groomed for executive training within the company.
When the top company execs showed up one day to talk with me, I suddenly realized that this was a crucial moment in my life. All my friends that I grew up with were already doing well financially and now I had a chance. Yet, something kept haunting me. It was my call to ministry. I knew if I took the position being offered me, it was off to a different life that would center around me. But my calling was to a life centered around serving others.
The world is constantly beckoning us to chase after it's goods. It flashes it's glitter and shiny things at us, tempting us to grab onto its empty promises. Things, stuff, material possessions are alluring. And to be honest, there is nothing inherently wrong with having wealth. It's the pursuit that's the problem. In this text, 1 Timothy 6, the Apostle Paul talks about how the love of money is the root of all evil. He says it leads to destruction and people to ruin. Chasing after the accumulation of wealth is a trap. And many people have fallen into the trap thinking that this will lead to happiness and end all our problems.
Paul encourages us to pursue godliness and contentment in God if we want to find great gain. All the things in this world that we could accumulate have to stay here on this planet when we die. It's impossible to take stuff with us. It's just stuff and the only place it has value are to people here. But the things of true value, lasting value, lie beyond this place. That's why Jesus tells us to lay up our treasure in heaven where thieves can steal it or things depreciate or decay or can and will be destroyed.
Why do we kill ourselves trying to get stuff? This consumeristic world we live in seems get more and more rabid. The more stuff we try to consume stuff, the more we get consumed by it.
I almost fell into the trap. I came close, but I walked away. I knew it wasn't the financial reward that I really wanted. I just wanted my life to be used fully of God to carry out His mission in the world. For some, accepting that job might be exactly what God wanted them to do. God uses people in all positions of life. But I knew for me, I was having to face building my life around me and chasing after material things or giving my life completely over to God and finding my contentment in Him.
God, the allure of the world is very strong, especially in our culture. Get, get, get seems to be the order of the day. Somehow the world convinces us that having stuff gives us personal value. God, I'm still trying to find my contentment and value only in you. I want the great gain that can only be found by pursuing you. Keep me on the path that leads to you.
