Daily Devotional, Year 2 – NOVEMBER 24 (How To Find Perfect Peace, Part 5: Seekest Great Things? Seek Them Not!

By admin On May 30th, 2024

.

Daily Devotional, Year 2 – NOVEMBER 24

.

How To Find Perfect Peace,

.

Part 5:

“Seekest…Great Things…? Seek Them Not!”

To read part 1, click here…March 6th (How To Find Perfect Peace!)

.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,

where moth and rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21

.

This above passage is the counsel of Jesus as He sermonized on that infamous Mount.

.

And these words, along with all the rest of Bible counsel, together make up the prescription for perfect peace.

.

Jesus – by H. Bloch – Sermon On The Mount – Wikipedia – Public Domain

.

SEEKING AFTER THINGS OF THE WORLD

.

Yes, we live in a world in which God has allowed humanity to seek after the things which might bring happiness.

.

But like an ancient prophet, the Bible sits in the gate of the world crossroads, calling out to passers-by…“Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.” Proverbs 8:4-6

.

Yes, the Bible has been given to mankind to show us the right way to live.

.

New York Times Square – terabass – Wikipedia – Share-alike License

.

WILL WE LISTEN?

The question is, will we listen to the Bible’s counsel, or will we spurn the wisdom offered to us from Heaven?

.

Ear – Wikipedia – Share-alike lic.

.

PAUL SAYS, “BE CONTENT”

.

The Apostle Paul gave a very clear warning against riches…“And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1st Timothy 6:8

.

Now if ever there was an ignored Bible verse, this is it!

.

Especially in this affluent cornucopia society we now live in, Christians totally ignore this wise counsel…

.

Paul Tentmaking – La Vista Church of Christ – Creative Commons License

.

PAUL’S FAMOUS COUNSEL ON RICHES

.

Listen to the entire warning from Paul…

“But 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 raiment let us be therewith content.

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.

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.”

1st Timothy 6:6-10

.

In this above passage, God speaks through Paul, warning us of the misery, heartache, sorrow, and destruction, which is sure to come on those who seek after and find earthly riches.

.

Paul the Apostle – Artist – Valentin de Boulogne or Nicolas Tournier – circa 1500s – Wikipedia – Public Domain

.

SOLOMON SHOULD KNOW

.

Now if ever there was a human who could speak first-hand about the troubles that accompany earthly riches, it is Solomon… “Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.” Ecclesiastes 4:6

.

So, with this kind of Bible counsel, why would Christians insist on pursuing earthly riches?

.

Why wouldn’t Christians simply be content with food and raiment?

.

Dore – Solomon – Proverbs – Wikipedia – Public domain (2)

.

BE CONTENT WITH THINGS YOU HAVE

.

Listen to Paul’s further commentary…“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: Hebrews 13:5

.

Certainly, the shepherd boy, David, was content with what he had…“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1

.

So, if Paul and young David were content with the few things that they already possessed, why are not we? Why are Christians striving to, “move up in the world”? And this is not just the liberal churches! No, even the so-called conservative churches are just as ambitious as the so-called liberal churches!

.

David the Shepherd Boy – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

.

I SHALL NOT WANT? OR SHALL I WANT?

.

Our souls clamor for nicer homes, nicer cars, nicer RV’s, nicer vacation resorts, nicer restaurants, bigger bank accounts, higher social status, more prestigious careers.

.

But according to the Bible, these attainments will only bring us to the condemnation which Paul warns of…“And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 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. 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.” 1st Timothy 6:6-10

.

Now here is a very sad result that Paul warns of, to all those who insist on seeking earthly prosperity!

.

And Paul defines, “rich” by saying… “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” verse 8.

.

In other words, those who will not be content with food and raiment are wanting earthly riches.

.

Mall Market culture – Jakarta – Wikimedia – share-alike-lic.

.

PEACE & QUIETNESS FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONTENT

.

But those obedient ones who decide to be content with food and covering, will find the peace which surpasses all understanding.

.

Yes, these obedient ones will certainly find that, “a handful with quietness is better than both hands full with travail and vexation of spirit!”

.

Paul Shipwrecked – Acts 27:41-44 – www.lavistachurchofchrist.org – Public Domain

.

A HOME IS ALSO A COVERING

.

Now Paul, during his captivity in Rome, lived two years in a rented house. And that house was covering for him.

.

And so, we shouldn’t think it wrong to seek after suitable housing, especially if we have a family.

.

We should strive to make them as comfortable as possible, providing them with the nice things of life.

.

**But if I am truly seeking after the perfect peace which comes with walking “even as Christ walked”, then it is high time that I begin to follow God’s counsels in my own personal pilgrimage.**

.

Paul – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

.

ONE MORE VERSE…

.

Yes, perhaps this last verse will be sufficient to convince the reader that having an abundance of possessions is not the way to have peace and quietness…

.

Listen once again to the “Wise Man”…“The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.” Proverbs 5:12.

.

In other words, those of us who desire so many of the world’s riches and goods, will probably end up living without that “perfect peace” which the Lord offers us.

.

Sleeping Soldier – Wikimedia – Public Domain

.

TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Help me to find the perfect peace that I am desiring. Help me to be content with food and covering. But give me wisdom and strength to know how to provide adequate housing for my family members…

Child at Prayer by Eastman Johnson circa 1873 – Wikimedia – public domain

.

THE END

.

TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

.

***THE FLOWER OF* HEAVEN *CONSTELLATION***

REVELATION 12 WOMAN ON ALTAR AND FLOWER OF HEAVEN

In The West

This constellation almost appears as a vine, as it projects out from the Altar/Ark Constellation . This constellation appears in mid-winter through late-spring. As you can see in this sketch, the Altar/Ark Constellation is also known as Leo Major , and the stem or vine of the flower is made of stars of the Virgo Constellation, and the flower itself is made of the Corvus Constellation.

.

TOMORROW…

November 25 (A 3-Fingered Judgment-Day, Part 2: Bible For Me, Not Others!)“

US Navy – Chaplain Lt. Jason Gregory reads Bible on weather deck – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

.

EXCERPTS FROM THE OPEN FORUM QUESTION/ANSWER RADIO TALK-SHOW…

.

ALL ‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) are invited to listen to this Open Forum #20, a small 30 minute sampling of Mr. Camping’s nearly 50 year-long series of 90 minute nightly talk shows…

.

ABOVE PICTURE: HAROLD CAMPING

Click on image credit links below each photo, for licensing names, details, and tags, etc.. Most Images cropped & reduced in size.

Posted in Uncategorized |

Devouring Fire.com