The love of "things"

[apothanein kerdos]

I was reading today in 1 Timothy 6:10 about the love of money:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Likewise, I was reading Augustine's On Free Choice of the Will and came across this passage:

Therefore, the very same things [physical things, i.e. money, tools, material items] are used in different ways by different people; some use them badly and others use them well. Someone who uses them badly clings to them and becomes entangled with them. He serves things that ought to serve him, fixing on goods that he cannot even use properly because he is not himself good. But one who uses these things rightly shows that they are good, although not good for himself. For those things do not make the one who uses them good or better; in fact, they become good by being put to good use. And so someone who uses them well does not become attached to them. They don't become limbs of his soul, as it were...so that when these things begin to be amputated he is not disfigured by any pain or decay. He is completely above such things, ready to possess and make use of them when there is need, and even readier to lose them and do without them. Since this is the case, you must realize that we should not find fault with silver and gold because of the greedy, or food because of the gluttons, or wine because of the drunkards, or womanly beauty because of the fornicators and adulterers, and so on, especially since you know that fire can be used to heal and bread to poison. Book I, 15

What got me thinking is how often we say that certain "things" are bad. We say it's "bad" if someone is rich. We say it's "bad" if someone has a nice car. We look at the item and determine if it makes the person bad or not.

It seems that both the Bible and early Christians looked at things differently. They saw items as morally neutral that could be used for good or evil. Thus, when Paul says we're free to eat the meat sacrificed to idols, he's saying there's nothing inherently wrong with the meat; what matters is our intentions.

This seems to be the overall view. Thus, when Christ says "lay up treasures in heaven," this isn't a command against getting a nice television, getting a car, having money, or having material things. Rather, He is saying lead a virtuous life so that you can use these items for good.

Augustine seems to be echoing this. We master things. We have them, we use them, but we do not love them. If we lose them, so what? If we gain it, great. But we don't pursue them, we don't make them our master; rather, we make them our slaves.

What do you think?

[TrustingFollower]

I agree things are not bad in or of themselves. We are the ones that make things bad and it is due to our own sin. If I had to sum it up I would say it is caused by one of the most dangerous sins, covetness. This was the first sin in the garden of Eden and mankind has never stopped doing it. It drives this world with the desires to obtain more money, stature, things and power. We always think if I could get this or do that then I will be satisfied. Once that is obtained and our eyes focus on the next thing and the next thing and so on.

We need to change the focus and not worry about what we have, God is enough. God uses rich men and poor men, smart men and dumb men. All things are possible for God, if we would just humble ourselves and submit ourselves to Him. Once we quit trying to provide all our own desires, God will bless us more than we could ourselves. God is not opposed to material things, after all He made everything. God is opposed to us making material things into gods.

[Vhayes]

I agree with you - What we have or don't have isn't the issue - it's where our heart is.

Paul said:
Philippians 4
11 - Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
12 - I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
13 - I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.



The secret is (as in all else) Christ.


Good post!
V

[Lynne]

I suspect, but cannot prove, humans are "hard wired" for worship. If I don't worship God, something else will fill His place. It coud be anything: money, motorcycles, football, power, sex, getting high, psychology, humanity in general, a certain person, knowledge, the earth, the stars, a stone idol, a golden calf, Lucifer, and on and on.

I think I have one choice between two things: worship the Creator or worship the created.

[kay-gee]

I suspect, but cannot prove, humans are "hard wired" for worship. If I don't worship God, something else will fill His place. It coud be anything: money, motorcycles, football, power, sex, getting high, psychology, humanity in general, a certain person, knowledge, the earth, the stars, a stone idol, a golden calf, Lucifer, and on and on.

I think I have one choice between two things: worship the Creator or worship the created.

Very good list. I would also include MUSIC

all thebest...

[crossnote]

Two extremes.

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
(Tit 1:15)

[ZAB]

I agree with you AK. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. "Things" in general are not evil in and of themselves. What makes something evil is how our consciousness defines it.

Rom 14:14 "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean."

Rom 14:20 "...All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence."

Rom 14:22 "Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth."

1 Cor 10:25 "Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:"

1 Cor 10:31 "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

[Partaker of Christ]

I agree with you - What we have or don't have isn't the issue - it's where our heart is.

Paul said:
Philippians 4
11 - Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
12 - I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
13 - I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.



The secret is (as in all else) Christ.


Good post!
V

Hi Vhayes!
I to was going to look for this verse.

"for I have learned to be content"

The word 'content'

Someone said (and I like) that when Paul said he was 'content', it meant that his circumstances (whether he had or had not) did not change his course. He remained the same, in focusing on running and winning the race.

[Dani H]

Nothing wrong with having things as long as the things don't have us.

Because

a) the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof

b) we're stewards, not owners

c) we can't take them with us and so why become overly attached?

d) they're to be used for God's glory, not for our own self-gratification, self-validation, ego, and so forth; emotional attachment is a breeding ground for unwise decisions

e) what we do with very little, is exactly what we will do with very much, and so the excuse of "I would do more if I had more" doesn't cut it, sorry; prove yourself faithful in little and God will give you more, because faithfulness is faithfulness is faithfulness.

[RabbiKnife]

The definition of "rich" is always $1.00 more than a person has.
The definition of "enough" is always $1.00 more than a person has.

Many, many Christians have an unbiblical world-view of money and stewardship and live in relative poverty as a result, then condemn other believers whom they consider "rich" or "wealthy" for having more.

My wife and I have a number of rental properties. People she used to work with often, frequently, consistently berated her because "she was married to a rich lawyer" and "you've got all those houses."

They failed to understand that the law degree was earned while working 45+ hours a week at another job, and that they too could have a rental property is they were willing to put in the sweat, blood, effort, and sacrifice that was required to obtain such an investment. They had nothing because, in many cases, laziness was easier.

The church has, in general, done a very poor job of teaching Biblical economics and stewardship over the centuries.

A young believer in our church is from Haiti. His wife and child are still in Haiti. He is working 2 jobs to try to save enough money to emigrate them to the U.S. A couple in our church has a business, and is getting ready to close a rather lucrative deal. From their increase, they are going to bless this young man and his family by providing the funds for the legal work and the airfare to get this family reunited.

Filthy rich people...

[John146]

I was reading today in 1 Timothy 6:10 about the love of money:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Likewise, I was reading Augustine's On Free Choice of the Will and came across this passage:

Therefore, the very same things [physical things, i.e. money, tools, material items] are used in different ways by different people; some use them badly and others use them well. Someone who uses them badly clings to them and becomes entangled with them. He serves things that ought to serve him, fixing on goods that he cannot even use properly because he is not himself good. But one who uses these things rightly shows that they are good, although not good for himself. For those things do not make the one who uses them good or better; in fact, they become good by being put to good use. And so someone who uses them well does not become attached to them. They don't become limbs of his soul, as it were...so that when these things begin to be amputated he is not disfigured by any pain or decay. He is completely above such things, ready to possess and make use of them when there is need, and even readier to lose them and do without them. Since this is the case, you must realize that we should not find fault with silver and gold because of the greedy, or food because of the gluttons, or wine because of the drunkards, or womanly beauty because of the fornicators and adulterers, and so on, especially since you know that fire can be used to heal and bread to poison. Book I, 15

What got me thinking is how often we say that certain "things" are bad. We say it's "bad" if someone is rich. We say it's "bad" if someone has a nice car. We look at the item and determine if it makes the person bad or not.

It seems that both the Bible and early Christians looked at things differently. They saw items as morally neutral that could be used for good or evil. Thus, when Paul says we're free to eat the meat sacrificed to idols, he's saying there's nothing inherently wrong with the meat; what matters is our intentions.

This seems to be the overall view. Thus, when Christ says "lay up treasures in heaven," this isn't a command against getting a nice television, getting a car, having money, or having material things. Rather, He is saying lead a virtuous life so that you can use these items for good.

Augustine seems to be echoing this. We master things. We have them, we use them, but we do not love them. If we lose them, so what? If we gain it, great. But we don't pursue them, we don't make them our master; rather, we make them our slaves.

What do you think?

What matters is what is in our hearts. Christ taught that we are not to love the world or anything in the world. Well, what did He mean by that? That we should not have any interest in anything but studying the Bible and going to church? I don't think so. I think He was saying that we should not love our things so much that we feel like we can't live without them. We should not love our things more than Christ. The things themselves are not bad in and of themselves. It is how we look at those things that matters.

Do I love sports cars so much that I spend all my money on them while ignoring the plight of the needy? That would show a problem in the heart and a lack of having the right priorities. The sports cars themselves aren't bad. What if I gave to the needy but also bought a sports car? Is that bad? Not really. Think of Job. He was one rich dude. Then he lost almost everything. In a sense he even lost his wife for a time there because she told him to curse God (oh, thanks for the support!). Was Job so attached to his children and his possessions that it was enough for him to curse God? No. He loved God more than anyone or anything. That is what matters.

Jesus said that if we don't hate the members of our own family and even our own lives then we are not worthy of Him (Luke 14:26). Of course, He wasn't talking about literally hating our families or our lives, but that we should love Him more than we love them or our own lives, otherwise we are not worthy of Him. We are not worthy of Him if He is not first in our lives over our families, our possessions, and everything else. That is what really matters.

[ZAB]

One of the words translated as "prosperity" in the Bible is "shalom"... which means, "safe, well, happy, at peace". Psalm 35:27 for example.
hmmm, that would do a deal on some 'word of faith' preachers!

[apothanein kerdos]

The definition of "rich" is always $1.00 more than a person has.
The definition of "enough" is always $1.00 more than a person has.

Many, many Christians have an unbiblical world-view of money and stewardship and live in relative poverty as a result, then condemn other believers whom they consider "rich" or "wealthy" for having more.

My wife and I have a number of rental properties. People she used to work with often, frequently, consistently berated her because "she was married to a rich lawyer" and "you've got all those houses."

They failed to understand that the law degree was earned while working 45+ hours a week at another job, and that they too could have a rental property is they were willing to put in the sweat, blood, effort, and sacrifice that was required to obtain such an investment. They had nothing because, in many cases, laziness was easier.

The church has, in general, done a very poor job of teaching Biblical economics and stewardship over the centuries.

A young believer in our church is from Haiti. His wife and child are still in Haiti. He is working 2 jobs to try to save enough money to emigrate them to the U.S. A couple in our church has a business, and is getting ready to close a rather lucrative deal. From their increase, they are going to bless this young man and his family by providing the funds for the legal work and the airfare to get this family reunited.

Filthy rich people...

I was thinking about this and it also deals with Augustine's quote; too often we let our view of "things" be shaped by those who misuse those things.

Thus, a lawyer who makes a six figure salary is an easy target - but we never stop to think what he does with that money. What if, for whatever reason, one of your rentals opened up and you knew of a family that needed a house (due to the husband losing his job). If you let them stay in one of your rental properties for a discount, for free, or even just gave them the house, would that stop the lawyer jokes? Would that stop the stereotypes? Probably not because we equate "rich" with "greedy," never thinking that God has just blessed some people financially so they can be a blessing to others.

[crossnote]

Nothing wrong with having things as long as the things don't have us.

This is true and we should remember to be careful because those 'nice' things often come with velcro attached.

[Firefighter]

Thus, a lawyer who makes a six figure salary is an easy target - but we never stop to think what he does with that money.

Pretty much ANY lawyer makes an easy target...

Next thing you know, he is going to try to convince us that he is a preacher too.