Jeanie Martin Ministries

Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out (1 Tim. 6:6-7 KJV).

In the Greek, the word for contentment is “sufficiency.” God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (2 Cor. 9:8). Those who fear (reverence) God shall lack no good thing convenient for them.

Materialism is defined as “the preoccupation with material things rather than intellectual and spiritual things.” We should never place our happiness in wealth, lest we give satan an opportunity to tempt us. Jesus warned us that those who seek to get rich fall into ruin and destruction. The love of money leads to many evils. Christians are warned “Do not put your trust in wealth” (1 Tim. 6:9-10, 17-18). Our dependency should be on God and not money. Focusing on material wealth and possessions will cause you to neglect the spiritual things of God. Our heart’s desire should be to store riches in heaven and not the possession of things that will eventually rust and decay. Matt. 6:33 instructs us not to worry but to seek God first, and all else will be given to us.

The lust for wealth is an obstacle to living a fully surrendered life. The reason is wealth can become a slave master, and no man can serve two masters (Matt. 6:24; Luke 16:13). Having things is not a sin, but obsessing with acquiring and caring for things can consume a person. Putting other things before God displeases Him. Simply stated this is idolatry. When we overly concern ourselves with the material world, we are easily drawn in by the deceitfulness of wealth (Mark 4:19). Believing that happiness and fulfillment are found in amassing wealth is deception from satan. He knows that things cannot satisfy the soul of a man. God is the only person who can and does satisfy a wanting soul. A person’s life does not consist of the abundance of the things they possess (Luke 12:15).

Those who turn from Christianity to serve this world will be disappointed. Living a godly life submissive to God comes with a promise and a guarantee of every lasting life (Eph. 1:14). A person who lives a godly life is sure to be content and at peace with his life. However, life in this world is temporal. The only part of this life that has eternal value is having a relationship with Jesus Christ. The free gift of eternal life comes only through Jesus Christ to those who choose to believe in salvation by way of Him (John 3:16). The promise of eternal salvation is the only thing that you will take with you at the end of this life.

Much love and many blessings,