[b]Three worms which often breed in prosperity[/b]
(Thomas Watson, "The Lord's Prayer")
"Give us this day our daily bread." Matthew 6:11
To make us content with "daily bread," though God straitens us in our allowance, think seriously of the danger there is in a high, prosperous condition.
Some are not content with "daily bread," but desire to have their barns filled, and heap up silver as dust; which proves a snare to them. "Those who will be rich fall into a snare." 1 Tim 6:9. Pride, idleness, and lust-- are three worms which often breed in prosperity.
Prosperity often deafens the ear against God. "I spoke unto you in your prosperity, but you said--I will not hear." Jer 22:21. Soft pleasures harden the heart. In the body, the more fat--the less vitality. Just so, the more outward plenty--often the less piety.
Prosperity has its honey--and also its sting! Anxious care is the evil spirit which haunts the rich man--and will not let him rest. When his chests are full of money--his heart is full of care, either how to manage or how to increase, or how to secure what he has gotten.
Should this not make us content with that allowance which God gives us--if we have daily bread, though not dainties? Think of the danger of prosperity! The spreading of a full table may be the spreading of a snare! Many have been sunk to hell, with golden weights!
"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!" 1 Timothy 6:9.
The world's golden sands are quicksands, which should make us take our daily bread, though it be but coarse, contentedly. If we have less prosperity--we have less snare. As we lack the rich provisions of the world--so we lack their temptations. "If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." 1 Timothy 6:8.
If God keeps us to a spare diet--if He gives us less of temporal things--He has made it up in spiritual things. He has given us the Pearl of great price--the Lord Jesus, who is the quintessence of all good things. To give us Christ, is more than if God had given us all the world. He can make more worlds--but He has no more Christs to bestow. Christ is such a golden mine, that the angels cannot dig to the bottom! His riches are unsearchable! Ephes. 3:8. From Christ we have justification, adoption and glorification!
Consider that it is not having an abundance, which makes us content. It is not a fancy cage which will make the bird sing. Having an abundance may make one less content. One staff may help the traveler--but a bundle of staffs will be a burden to him. A great estate may be like a long trailing garment--more burdensome than useful.
He who can say, "My God," has enough to rock his heart quiet in the lowest condition. What can he lack --who has the all-sufficient God for his portion!
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5
_________________ SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
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