Ground Rules!
‘… PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS …’
O
THE
vercoming
SERIES
1 TIMOTHY 6:11.
If you want to run the race and fi nish strong, here are some ground rules from
1Timothy 6.6: ‘Godliness with contentment is great gain.’ Be content with what
you’ve got, not green with envy over what others have. There’ll always be something
that looks bigger and better. Always! Contentment comes from understanding that
God knows the ‘whens,’ the ‘wheres,’ and the ‘hows’ of blessing you .
1Timothy 6:7 says, ‘We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing
Lord help me develop
out of it.’ Enjoy what you’ve got, but never forget, nothing tangible is eternal. No
a generous heart,
matter what you’ve acquired, you can’t take it with you. v.8 ‘But if we have food
when I see need that
and clothing, we will be content with that.’ Start thanking God for where you are
I know I can meet or
and what you have right now. Ingratitude clogs the pipeline for future blessings.
when faced with a
vv.9 -10 ‘People who want to get rich fall into temptation … For the love of money
situation I know I can
is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the
fix. Help me be the
faith ...’
source of blessing and
God’s not against you having money; He’s just against money having you. Money’s
reach out with an act
neither good nor evil; it simply takes on your personality, and makes you more of
of kindness. Help me
what you already are. If you were a giver before you had it, you’ll be more generous
see that money is a tool
when you get it. If not, you’ll spend your life clinging to it. v.11 ‘Man of God, fl ee
for blessing people
from all this, and pursue righteousness...’ The bottom line is – pursue God! And not
and not just a means of
just His hand, but His face. Pursue a deeper relationship with Him today!
making me feel good,
in Jesus’ Name.
God’s Ideas
‘… IT IS HE THAT GIVETH THEE POWER [IDEAS AND ABILITY] TO
GET WEALTH, THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH HIS COVENANT …’
DEUTERONOMY 8:18. Father today I face the
fear which sometimes
Never laugh at somebody with an idea, for creative ideas come from God, our stops me putting
Creator. Some of the world’s most successful people got to where they are because my future in Your
they’d a better idea for cooking chicken, or writing a computer programme. hands, the fear that
Have you got any ideas? When God gives you the ability to succeed, it usually begins stops me saying that
as a thought. But that thought only becomes a reality when you make a plan and my belongings and
carry it out. resources are tools for
Otherwise, your seed rots in the ground of excuses. The gift God gave you is your Your Kingdom. With
key to success. He didn’t give it to you to be put on display, or wasted on worthless Your strength I know
things, or denied out of a false sense of humility. No, He gave it to you to be I can overcome the
invested. voice of the enemy
Jesus told of three people who were each given money to invest. The fi rst two which says I will loose
doubled theirs. The third hid his out of fear and was called ‘You wicked, lazy everything. Help me
servant!’ (Matthew 25:26 NIV). Look out! Fear is one of your greatest enemies. It to understand what it
numbs your spirit and incarcerates your creativity! Use what God’s given you! Stop means when the Bible
praying for oak trees while acorns are lying all around you! Your ideas are the tiny says to live is Christ to
acorns from which great oaks grow. Money is called currency because it’s supposed die is gain. Lord I want
to fl ow through you. You are meant to be a conduit through which God’s blessing is to die to materialism in
passed on to others, and by which His kingdom is established in their hearts. Jesus’ Name.
Think about it!
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