A fruitful tree
Contentment and financial security
“See
the man who would not make God his refuge,
but
trusted in the abundance of his riches
and sought refuge in his own
destruction!”
But
I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.
(Psalm 52:7–8)
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
(1 Timothy 6:6–10, 17–19)
"It would be nice to be financially secure."
Once when we were talking about money with a missionary, she casually reminded us, "You don't need money. You need what money buys." This simple observation seemed wise to me when I heard it.
When we hear the thought “it would be nice to be financially secure", the part we should draw our attention to is not so much the adverb "financially", but rather the adjective "secure". If we break down this thought into its parts, we notice the underlying longing expressed is to be secure. The illusion and trap we want to guard our heart against is to presume that our security is first and foremost financial. Is our sense of security really based on something as uncertain and mutable as earthly wealth? I submit to us that if we are not first secure without considering our finances, we will never be secure when we do consider our finances.
When we look at the longing for security in other contexts, we observe how, quite often, the pressure of feeling insecure pushes us to flee for safety all too quickly in things which are not very secure at all. We are prone to set our hope for security on things, or in people, which ultimately disappoint that longing. The illusion falls apart—the spell breaking—leaving us, quite literally, disillusioned (disappointed).
Notice how Paul directs Timothy to the principle of contentment. This is wise, for the wise heart knows that all things ultimately belong to the Maker of heaven and earth. It knows that the Lord of all the earth overflows with such abundant generosity as to share all good things with those he loves (the children of his Spirit, the brothers and sisters he gave his life for, and even his enemies— oh, how deep and wide is the charity of the Lord's heart!).
Jesus said that the mercy of God the Father is so complete that he gives rain to both the just and the unjust; that the Father knows what we need before we even ask. He said— really he commanded— that we should not worry or be anxious about the basic needs of our body. He taught that if we will only open our eyes, we will see clearly that God clothes his creatures in splendor and beauty, nourishing them fully day by day while they attend to the tasks he designed them for, those tasks which he designed for them to focus on each day. Jesus set the first things first: seek God’s reign and his way of right relationship; all the rest will be added when we rest in knowing God’s goodness and let him govern our hearts.
The godly wisdom of contentment is a solid building material for erecting a sure and mighty tower of refuge. It is a living material that grows organically as it is watered and given light; even as a tree grows, with its mighty trunk becoming more and more secure, one day at a time. Its roots reach down into the earth where it is planted, drinking deep from the life-giving water God stored there for it. Its branches, adorned with vibrant foliage, reach up to the light of God’s infinite life, bathing in the warmth of his goodness.
The tree weathers draught because God has tended to it and provided richly for it; it knows the way to the fountains of life. It weathers storms because its roots have sought out the depths and hold fast; its trunk and branches are strong and dexterous, dancing in the rain, waving and clapping their hands as they worship their Maker’s thundering voice. It becomes a shelter for the birds of the air, where they nest and make their home. It gives its produce to the creatures of the land, the seed of which is spread abroad.
Even to the gardeners made in God’s image, walking upright in humility as his children, the tree likewise provides air fit for breathing, food fit for eating, beauty fit for beholding, and shade fit for resting under. Moreover, the parts which by season and circumstance wither, fall, break and die, these give us fuel fit to burn, keeping us warm when the sun’s distance might threaten us with cold. They give us mulch to protect and blanket all else still planted and living in dormancy, that together we should weather the winter and hope for spring’s new birth. All is given so that all will give way to the time when we and the garden rejoice together in our Maker, knowing his power and purpose to make us flourish. We are secure, seeing a life yet more abundant than the summer whose passing we mourn.
Notice how Paul does not present wealth as security in his letter to Timothy; rather, he presents wealth primarily as an opportunity for generosity and charity. This is to say, true wealth, producing true security, is not inwardly focused on self-preservation, but is outwardly focused to generously share whatever it may have to offer at present. Whether it has little or much, it is supremely rich in thanksgiving, letting gratitude’s courage overflow here and now in loving generosity. The one who is firmly rooted in the prosperity of the Father's love becomes a life-giving tree in God's garden, a source of nourishment and refuge for all who breathe, that, together, all might joyfully breathe his breath in rest, steadfast in the knowledge of our Maker.
Together, let us help each other to rest in the security of our heavenly Father's abundant, life-giving power; in the wealth of wisdom he shares, sharing himself; and in his astounding generosity towards us his children— truly, towards all, for by his will we all exist and in him we live and move and have our being. Let us help each other to courageously obey as Jesus commands, "Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Let us help each other to know true safety and security as we ask for and share our daily bread, giving each other permission (and receiving that permission ourselves) to take it one day at a time. Our true security by faith is eternal and unshaken, whereas security by the wealth of this world is as unsteady as the ways of this world and, ultimately, will pass away in this world.
We can be sure of this: what worldly wealth our bodies in this world produce is sure to pass away, for the fullness of the world-to-come comes to be embodied fully, even now and even here— especially today.
There is enough today to know contentment. May today’s contentment give us God’s rest and bear its fruit: the courage to share what God has given.
The Tower Strong
The name of the LORD,
The tower so strong,
There run the righteous,
Kept safe from all harm.
The fear of the LORD,
Is wisdom indeed,
True honor, true wealth,
From him are received.
The works of the LORD,
Are sung for all time,
The Word that he spoke,
Creation enshrines.
The Lamb on his throne,
The Son that he gave,
His life he poured out,
For sinners to save.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
(Proverbs 18:10)
Know well the condition of
your flocks,
and give attention to your herds,
for riches do not last
forever;
and does a crown endure to
all generations?
When the grass is gone and
the new growth appears
and the vegetation of the
mountains is gathered,
the lambs will provide your
clothing,
and the goats the price of a field.
There will be enough goats’ milk for your
food,
for the food of your
household
and maintenance for your
girls.
(Proverbs 27:23–27)
Why Should I Fear in Times of Trouble?
To the choirmaster. A Psalm
of the Sons of Korah.
Hear this, all peoples!
Give ear, all inhabitants of
the world,
both low and high,
rich and poor together!
My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart
shall be understanding.
I will incline my ear to a
proverb;
I will solve my riddle to the
music of the lyre.
Why should I fear in times of
trouble,
when the iniquity of those
who cheat me surrounds me,
those who trust in their
wealth
and boast of the abundance of
their riches?
Truly no man can ransom
another,
or give to God the price of
his life,
for the ransom of their life
is costly
and can never suffice,
that he should live on
forever
and never see the pit.
For he sees that even the
wise die;
the fool and the stupid alike
must perish
and leave their wealth to others.
Their graves are their homes
forever,
their dwelling places to all
generations,
though they called lands by
their own names.
Man in his pomp will not
remain;
he is like the beasts that
perish.
This is the path of those who
have foolish confidence;
yet after them people approve
of their boasts. Selah
Like sheep they are appointed
for Sheol;
death shall be their
shepherd,
and the upright shall rule
over them in the morning.
Their form shall be consumed
in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
But God will ransom my soul
from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me. Selah
Be not afraid when a man
becomes rich,
when the glory of his house
increases.
For when he dies he will
carry nothing away;
his glory will not go down
after him.
For though, while he lives,
he counts himself blessed
—and though you get praise
when you do well for yourself—
his soul will go to the
generation of his fathers,
who will never again see
light.
Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
(Psalm 49)
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