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Message Friday, December 2, 2011 ![]() Yesterday we passed these beautiful willow trees on a farm along Rockvale Road. (Click here for larger version) "The Trap Of Greed" "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:9,10). Yesterday in the course of our chaplain work I visited with Rick, who was making some design improvements to a small animal trap the Safeguard Company manufactures and sells. He showed me how the trap was intended to work and a key component of the trap's effectiveness is the bait, intended to attract the animal into the trap. Later in my visit I also saw Jeff and Isaiah, two young men who assemble these traps by the thousands day after day. It seems there is no shortage of nuisance animals. Speaking of traps I'd like to consider a different type of trap we need to be wary of, the trap of greed, as we share our fourth point in our series on contentment. We experience contentment when we conscientiously and diligently avoid the trap of greed. We marvel at the timeless relevance of God's Word. In 1 Timothy 6 Paul has warnings to both the rich (1 Timothy 6:17-19) and those who desire to be rich (verses 6-10 which we have been studying this week). We surely benefit from the warnings that Paul gives to the rich. You may say, "Well, that's sure doesn't include me!" Yes, it probably does include you. Most of us have far more of this world's goods than the vast majority of people on a worldwide economic scale. We also need the solemn warning in our daily text that Paul gives to "people who want to get rich." You see, it seems no matter how much we have, we always want more! The progressive bait in the trap of greed begins with the devil putting troubling notions in our minds that tempt us with "many foolish and harmful desires" which in turn "plunge men into ruin and destruction." Thomas Brooks who served the Lord in the late 1600's writes of "the plague of unsatisfiedness". Wow, imagine what he would see today! William S. Plumer who lived in the mid 1800's wrote, "A right view of the perils of wealth would, with the divine blessing, have a mighty efficacy in curing our covetousness and discontent." ![]() Let us heed the Scripture's warning today, being careful to see money for what it is and using it for what God intends! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber ![]() ![]() ![]() Yesterday in the course of our chaplain work we visited with Stephen who works in a company that does laser cutting and often does programming work at a desk. He was teased, "When working at your desk you should be wearing a tie." So he complied, wearing this tie! ![]() Yesterday we passed this little pony and cart turning on to busy Newport Road. These conveyances do not strike us as being safe on busy highways ![]() This boy was having a great time harness racing through a field as we passed by. Are
you Christmas
shopping online? ![]() Today's
Suggested Music
and Supplemental
Resources "Godliness With Contentment Is Great Gain" Video A song based upon 1 Timothy 6:6 written and sung by our friend Mike Book. We find it helpful when Scripture is set to music and in many cases this becomes the basis for memorization. "I'd Rather Have Jesus" Video Dallas Holm I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold; I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands; I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand Refrain: Than to be the king of a vast domain And be held in sin’s dread sway; I’d rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today. I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause; I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause; I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame; I’d rather be true to His holy name He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom; He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb; He’s all that my hungering spirit needs; I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead. Writing today of sordid greed making news in our area is a lady that killed her grandmother by poisoning her after stealing moeny from her. (See here) Please
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