1 Timothy 6:8-10

The call to live simply and with contentment is not easy. I am not there, but I’m trying. Tom Norvell encourages us not to grow weary in our battle to live simply so we can find true contentment.

Have you been vaccinated against this flu? We have got to address our addiction to things, money, greed, debt, wealth, and materialism.

"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction."

"But those who [are not financially ethical and] crave to get rich [with a compulsive, greedy longing for wealth] fall into temptation and a trap and....."

Inspirational illustration of 1 Timothy 6:9 -- People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

It's new! Improved! It's easy to want what everyone else is getting. But it's also very, very dangerous. God can help you learn to be happy with what you have.

"Dear Father, whose truth is gentle, Help us to find a heart to serve you, even in oppressive circumstances. Grant that our religion may not be a..."

What can money fix in your life? Wealth, money, can help with some things, but not everything!

Our prayers often treat God as if he is the free Amazon delivery service for our every whim and want. Phil Ware with Andy Johnson remind us that our prayer is for the bread we need today, not the extravagance we want for ourselves.

"For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."

Inspirational illustration of 1 Timothy 6:7-8 -- For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Have you been deceived by this yet? Alan Smith reminds us that get rich schemes normally get someone else rich and leave us in trouble.

Are you still trying to buy love at Christmas? Priceless memories that you make with those you love are far more valuable and enduring gifts than anything you can purchase with money.

"Dear Child of the Father in Heaven, In My earthly ministry, I taught My disciples these essential truths:Some people store up treasures in their..."

Which do you prefer? Money and our desire for it can get us in trouble; we must learn to be happy with little or much.

Would you wear the castoffs of the losers? Patrick Odum describes what happened to the Patriot SuperBowl championship jerseys that were going to be thrown away because they lost, and challenges us to give more than our throw aways to the poor of the world.

What really is behind all of this financial mess? Rubel Shelly talks about the financial crisis, or better, crises, that are afflicting our economy and housing markets and foreclosure problems and points to one age old problem -- greed.

What makes you rich? Jesus told his followers that it was hard for the rich to become a part of his kingdom (Matthew 19:24). The apostle Paul said that those who want to have wealth fall into a trap, and some have ruined their faith because of it. (1 Timothy 6:9-10) And James

Godliness with contentment is enough Christians can be rich. Rich people can be Christians. But we need to remember that material things can often get in the way of our faith. Godliness with contentment. That should be our goal.

How simply can you live? We can all learn the joy of living simply.

So what's your reward? This fisherman has learned the real meaning of the word contentment.

How did we get into this mess? Rubel Shelly is talking about money and debt and solutions to it at a national and personal level.