TUESDAY- 6TH MAY, 2025
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO
WE SHALL BE CONTENT
I Timothy 6:8, KJV
"And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."
May you know rest! There's a way God gives His people rest. It is by ruling their lives with His Word which they adhere to. You can't adhere to the verse above and not enjoy rest.
This verse above doesn't abuse the ethic of work or thorough work. Rather, it removes you from those who'll blow things up in their bid to be wealthy. In the race to be wealthy, they let go of boundaries. Rather, they're in for anything. You'll hear, "as long as it'll bring money."
While I was with some church members who are spiritual people, we had conversations on relocation both locally and internationally. We zeroed in on how many travel abroad to become slaves without minding hazards that such jobs they have taken might put them into. Not to talk of many who sold everything or sacrificed much to be there but only to be disappointed. Some found out to their dismay that the other side of the fence may not always be green for everybody as painted. They regretted, lifted up their eyes like that rich man in hell and hoped that a little respite would attend to them (Luke 16:23-24). Many of these people are simply those who are not content. Many of them are not poor while in their countries.
God can give to you rest but you can shoo it away and say it is not satisfactory enough. In our interaction, as we looked at the life that doesn't mind doing anything to earn a living even when it's obviously dangerous, the wife mentioned, "why should we? If we have food and clothing, we shall be content."
God will meet your needs. What you must know is that He'll not leave you alone. "Food and clothing" here refer to your basic needs. Most importantly, that's what any man needs on this earth for survival and proper living.
Your basic needs include food, clothing, shelter and probably security. If all these are supplied in appropriateness, why the need for the much struggle and sweat we see. Though, God has rested a lot of people by providing these basic needs for them yet they haven't taken this rest by living at that level. They want more and would have it even when God has not increased or promoted them. It is that inordinate ambition that leads to the verses below.
1Timothy 6:9-10, KJV
"9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
Is God antagonistic of getting rich? No! But, can you follow till He picks you from your basic needs level and makes you rich. You can move from being able to meet all your basic needs to being rich (having to spare and give away). You can change levels on the job you are. If every level is marked by the appropriate promotion/increment, you'll have the testimony of the just man whose path shines more and more unto the perfect day. But some want to manifest this on their own. As such, they'll defy and violate godly and moralistic boundaries to their hurt.
If we have food and clothing, we shall be content. God knows what you need. He knows that's truly what satisfies. Especially in Africa, we have made it abnormal having food and clothing only (your basic needs). We call such people poor. These are the things that lead to the asking of many questions, "does he have this?" If he's still at the level of meeting basic needs only, he might likely be turned down. But God didn't create us like that. Having that is just an addition that not every one will have but basic needs are necessities that even developed countries recognize and put in place for their citizens. Even in developed nations, their citizens abide by "and if we have food and clothing we shall be content" than many Africans, Asians and those of other continents in their lands. Those people have entered into rest. They don't have any reason to work themselves to death as donkeys. Many of them don't even own private vehicles. They use public transport and nobody stigmatizes them for being poor. Who taught us error? So, that's where God wants us to get to. Where you are free from the opinions of people. Where you are free from the rat race but having released and yielded your life to Christ, He shepherds it even to where green pastures and still water are. Has He not said that His thoughts for you are of good and not of evil to give you a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11). What would change that? That he said he would give you a hope and a future doesn't mean He will necessarily and always make everyone who this word is spoken to wealthy or the richest man. Rather, it means you'll do well in the frame or bowl God has created for you. If you can take care of your family in a way that doesn't bring embarrassment, you haven't failed.
God wants to put many of you at rest. Don't look for wealth and fall into sin, crime or the occult. Don't look for the wealth that'll jeopardize your health and consequently your life. Any such wealth is not wealth but a disadvantage. What I heard is, "if we have food and clothing, we shall be content." If you're not suffering from inferiority complex and materialism, you'll see that you should indeed be content. Many are on the fields as missionaries. Some have yielded home, their certificates and any thought of personal ambition to God yet God didn't forsake them. He gives them the bread meet for them. They are not rich and they are not poor but they are never tired of life. It never occurs to them to commit suicide. They have peace, they hear from God, contribute to the well being of people and their community and are acknowledged for same. What else do you need?
PRAYER: Lord, teach me contentment anew.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
John 2:1-25 & II Samuel 20-21
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