07 August 2007 Devotion for Today “Get a Life!” I Timothy 6:6-10
One of my children once teasingly said to me- “Dad, why don’t you get a life?” We hear that phrase used a lot today. I am not certain of the origin of the phrase or its precise meaning. I take it to mean that it is addressed to those who are “not cool” or “not with it;” folks who are so focused on themselves or their problems or agendas that they are not open to the ideas or concerns of others. It is not a complementary term at all- kind of a mild put-down toward those who are wrapped up in their work that they cannot possibly consider a vacation or a day off. One of the reasons why we are stress out so much in our postmodern world is because we don’t know when to say “enough.” We don’t know how much is enough. When Walmart is open “24/7” and Sunday has become just another work day for many people, we have fostered a mentality that is never satisfied and unhappy. Even when we get what we want, it never seems to be enough.
Even as hard as the Apostle Paul worked to bring the Gospel message to people, even he knew what was enough. He said to Timothy:
Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1 Timothy 6:6-10.
Godliness with contentment. That’s a good place to start when we talk about getting our margin back. Going back to the time when we had time to visit, and to get to know each other. Back to a time when we were all not under some kind of medication. To a time when our children weren’t so involved with so many things that we actually got a chance to know them and enjoy them. What Paul is saying here is, when we refocus our priorities back on God, as opposed to the worldly mindset that so clamors for our attention, we end up with the margin that we began to lose in
Look at where you are now. Can you see where you are overextended and overloaded? Our bodies and our minds are so frazzled don’t feel good to even focus. Jesus Christ can give us that margin back. We can show us what is really worth living for. Only Jesus can restore the joy and give us the meaning that we strive to achieve through material things! Only Jesus can give us the love that we are missing. Get a life…everlasting life!
Have a blessed day!
Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@embarqmail.com
jcrussell@liberty.edu
Church website: http://25621.lifewaylink.com
Devotion Archives: http://www.msnusers.com/DevotionforToday
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