Said the robin to the sparrow,
"I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so."
Said the sparrow to the robin,
"Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no heavenly Father,
Such as cares for you and me."
But the sparrow was wrong, believer. Humans have a heavenly Father, but they do not trust His almighty love and care for them, so they "rush about and worry so."
But not only does covetousness produce restlessness of soul and worry; it so hinders quiet happy communion with the Father and the Son that joy is lost, and there is no strength for either worship or service except perhaps in a legal way. And the Christian becomes dull and cold and shows little sign of life. Such are seldom heard to open their mouths either in the worship meeting or the prayer meeting to God the Father or the Son. Yet the Son says,
"Let Me see thy countenance, let Me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely" (S. of Sol. 2:1414O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. (Song of Solomon 2:14)). If the Christian goes on indulging this spirit of greediness for gain God tells us that such a one falls "into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.... But thou, 0 man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life." 1 Tim. 6:9, 11, 129But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. (1 Timothy 6:9)
11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11‑12).
But does not all this need power, spiritual strength? Certainly it does, and it is to be found in the risen, ascended One, to whom we are united, as well as in whom we are accepted, and to whom we belong. For all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him, and we are filled full, complete in Him, and His "grace is sufficient" for us—His "strength... made perfect in weakness." So we must neither excuse ourselves nor be discouraged. We "can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth" us, those who look to Him—to Him who loves us as a man loves himself, as part of Himself.
So, dear Christian reader, let us not be misled by a frequent misquotation of those words in Rom. 12:1111Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; (Romans 12:11) as telling us to be "diligent in business." It does not say so. Read it carefully for yourself, and if you have a New Translation, read it there also. For I am persuaded that many of us are, by misquoting this scripture, falling into the snare of covetousness, or greediness for gain, and are not only being robbed of much joy in the Lord, but are injuring the assemblies where we meet and are turning others out of the way by our example.
Our blessed Lord in Luke 12, already referred to, says to us, if inclined to anxiety as to providing necessary things for self or family, don't take anxious thought about these things; and in Matthew, speaking to His own in the sermon on the mount, tells us to seek first the things of God—the kingdom -and all that is necessary—that which we are to be contented with—that which the ravens and lilies get from Him—shall be added unto us. And that precious expression of His loving care for us comes in to encourage us.
"O to trust Him then more fully, Just to simply move
In the conscious calm enjoyment Of the Father's love;
Knowing that life's checkered pathway Leadeth to His rest,
Satisfied the way He taketh Must be always best."
Just here let me notice again the scripture that is often misquoted and is by this means used by Satan to incite God's dear children into this snare of yielding to "greediness for gain." Instead, we are told to go on quietly with God, content with making a living, and "provide things honest in the sight of all men." I refer to Rom. 12:11, 1711Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; (Romans 12:11)
17Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. (Romans 12:17). The 11th verse is generally quoted to say "diligent in business," etc. It is not such thing, but "not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord"—a very different thing from diligently giving all time and energies to making money, greedy for gain, and little or no thought of serving the Lord in business.
Alas! how much we Christians have failed, and are failing in this ensnaring engrossment with our own things, instead of the things of the Lord Jesus! This happens even to the point of forsaking the assembling of ourselves together and encouraging one another in the weekly prayer meeting and the reading meeting, some turning up only at the Lord's day meeting for breaking of bread.
Dear Christian reader, consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. May His great and gracious unchanging love for us, told out on the cross, which still goes on toward us now up on the throne, so constrain our hearts that we may put Christ and God's things first, and live, not only to ourselves, but unto Him that died for us and rose again, enjoying the great gain of godliness with contentment.