Are we using our religion for gain in some worldly sense? Or are we using our worldly gain for the sake of religion? The love of money is the root of all evils because it is love misdirected. It is love which tries to make absolute and permanent the things which are of this world and therefore temporary. Because it is thus mistaken it clings to things which it cannot hold and grasps at things which it cannot have. It surrounds itself with things, with experiences, with states of mind and body which it believes will make it happy. At the center is pride, the ego, which has to believe itself to be the most absolute of these absolutes. If it cannot keep this influx of experience flowing it cannot be happy. Since it is up to the ego to ensure this flow it feels the need to be the most absolute among these imagined absolutes. If the ego cannot be God how can it possibly remain happy? No wonder it is so given to "envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions, and mutual friciton among people with corrupted minds, who are deprived of the truth".
But if we remember that "we shall not be able to take anything out of" this world we discover the way in which "religion with contentment is a great gain." It teaches us the way to the one thing which lasts. It teaches us to chase the one thing which endures, to seek first the Kingdom.
But you, man of God, avoid all this.
Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion,
faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith.
Lay hold of eternal life,
to which you were called when you made the noble confession
in the presence of many witnesses.
We are then able to use our gain for our religion and our wealth for the kingdom of God just as the women do for Jesus.
Accompanying him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others
who provided for them out of their resources.
We discover that the poor in Spirit are truly blessed. It isn't just words or sentiments. It is the only way to peace in this world and lasting joy in the next.
Yet in no way can a man redeem himself,
or pay his own ransom to God;
Too high is the price to redeem one’s life; he would never have enough
to remain alive always and not see destruction.
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