Beyond the Weekend

February 17 | What You Need

February 17, 2021

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Timothy 6:8

Read: 1 Timothy 6:7–8
Listen: 
1 Timothy 6

TODAY’S MESSAGE

Ephesus was a city of great wealth. The temple to Artemis attracted people from around the Mediterranean world to offer sacrifices of gold and silver. Coupled with its prime trade location, this wealth boosted the Ephesian economy. It boasted a 25,000 person theater, a road made of marble and a marketplace the size of two football fields. It would be easy to look around and think if only you had what they had—you would be somebody and have it made.

To the people living in this culture, Paul reminds them they have what they need. They have food, and they have clothes. That’s all they really need. It’s a good thing for us to remember as well. We don’t need a bigger house, nicer car, new iPhone, or more social media followers. That doesn’t mean we can’t faithfully save for it—but we don’t need it.

More stuff won’t lead to real contentment or real wealth. Often accumulating money and stuff is a desperate attempt for finding value and worth. The relationship between wealth and worth isn’t what our culture tells us it is. Real wealth is finding worth in God. It’s the simple math equation: Godliness + Contentment = Real Wealth.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Throughout this series, we’ve returned to the concept of IT—the thing you desire that you tell yourself will provide worth, value or prestige. Identify your IT again. Offer your IT to God using a prayer like this, “God, I know this will be something I need to do over and over. There are times my heart tells me ________ will make me feel valuable or of worth. I know that isn’t true. I know only you can fulfill my deepest needs. Thank you for loving me and the gift of life through Jesus. Thank you for the food and clothing I have. Help me to be content with what you’ve given me.”


NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN

Join us this year as we read through the New Testament.

Today’s reading is Mark 5.

You Might Also Like