A Devout Life, Part 1: The Sufficiency of a Simple Life

-

A Devout Life: Part 1

The Sufficiency of a Simple Life

A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough. (1 Timothy 6:6-8 MSG)

What is a "devout" life?

"Devout" at its root means to revere or adore, to feel deep respect or admiration for something, to love and respect someone deeply. The Greek root word is translated as "devout", "religious", or "worship".

A devout life, then, means a life lived reverently towards God, deeply respectful for His character and work, enjoying and adoring Him as Creator, Master, Savior, Companion, and Lover.

Paul is challenging an epidemic of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors, backstabbing and lies among people who claim to be Christians, including leaders who claim to speak on behalf of God. This sin-sick trend has at its root the business of getting money, and things that money can buy.

Paul's argument is that a pile of money is a poor imitation of what real wealth is. A life of business, in the sense of earning more money, cannot compare with the results of living a devout life.

Looking back at my life, I can recognize little that would qualify as devout. I've spent years enjoying His creation, but ignoring, even intentionally spurning, any notion of a Creator.

I can't say that I've lived a life of business. My treasure has not been in the form of cash or cars, but in recreation. I've invested heavily in hobbies, crafts, skills, arts, books, movies and study. I've hungered for emotional and intellectual comfort in learning and knowing. Were my intangible treasures heaped in a pile, they would tower over my home and threaten to overwhelm me under tons of weight.

But more and more I feel the need for devotion for God.

My hobbies and books have become tiresome and insufficient. My art and craft appeals to me less and less. My treasure is beginning to rust.

I know without a doubt that recreation in itself is not at all wicked. All of our earthly pursuits, including business and art, are innately human attempts to regain what we once had in Eden. We are all responding, usually perversely, to the deeply hidden, dimly darkened image of God that is stamped within us all. So, business and recreation are not wicked, but without God, without devotion to God, they are sadly insufficient.

How might I submit to God, allowing him to create within me a devout life?

  • Daily remember the definition of "devout"
  • Daily imagine a pile of treasure, rusty and moldy, of no value without God's providence and sovereignty.
  • Daily look for opportunities to remind myself, and others, that God is our Creator, Master, Savior, Companion, and Lover.

Thanks!

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Ali Eminov, for "Sharing a sacred meal", https://flic.kr/p/ac8563, Creative Commons license, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Plausible Arguments

-
Image
"In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments." (Colossians 2:3-4) WHO CAN YOU BELIEVE? Politicians, preachers and peddlers are some of the most persuasive people we may meet. I can listen to an argument or sales pitch and be completely sold on it, and then listen to a different, contradictory presentation and be equally persuaded...who is right? Competitive debate or rhetoric is based upon the art of persuasion, the forceful, charismatic use of words and appearance to move people towards action or emotion. Truth and objectivity are optional for a peddler (or politician, preacher or lawyer). Facts are tools that can be modified, exaggerated, obscured or concealed. The goal is to capture the affections, emotions and minds of the audience. Have you ever met someone who consistently disagrees with you, always arguing against your opinions? That shows a hea
Read more

Isaiah 5: The Parable of the Vineyard

-
Image
Isaiah 5: The Parable of the Vineyard Isaiah sings. His beloved had a vineyard, planted with vines, provided with a watchtower. But the vineyard yielded only wild grapes. Now the Beloved takes up the song: Why did my vineyard yield only wild grapes? He plans to destroy his vineyard, trampling the vines, commanding the rain to withhold its rain. The vineyard is the nation of Israel. God had made the nation his people and he had looked for justice and righteous, but got only bloodshed and outcry. Through Isaiah God pronounces judgement upon his people. Their haughty affluence would become desolate. Their disregard of the LORD will bring them into exile, hunger, thirst and death. God will exalt himself as holy when the land is broken and empty. Those who are wise in their own eyes, those who treasure their lies and wickedness, those who reject the law of the LORD and despise his holiness will be struck by the LORD's anger. Invaders from far away will lay siege and bring dark dis
Read more

Isaiah 18, Part One: Paper Boats and Whirring Wings

-
Image
Isaiah 18, Part One: Paper Boats and Whirring Wings What's gone before... In chapter 17 Isaiah described the end of Damascus, capitol city of Syria, Israel's ally and hope of glory in their fight against Judah. God would bring Damascus down because of their idolatry and pride. In this passage the God's sovereign control over all nations was seen. God can raise entire kingdoms up, and he can bring them utterly low. We could identify ourselves in this passage, people who easily forget the God of our salvation, the Creator and Sustainer of our life. We stand condemned by our sin in the same way as Damascus and Israel, and our only hope lies in the kindness of God. Now, in chapter 18... Isaiah greets ambassadors sent by a land "of whirring wings, beyond the rivers of Cush". He urges them to go to a nation "tall and smooth, to a people feared near and far". All the world is called to watch as God destroys the impending threat, clearing the might
Read more