supposing religion to be a means of gain.
Religion can be twisted by those without understanding to be a mere status symbol, or tool to subjugate others. It can be used, as we are all too aware, merely as a scheme to make oneself rich, such as the scandals of past TV evangelists whose miracles were manufactured solely for the money have demonstrated.
Even those of us with some understanding are still at risk of twisting religion to be a means of worldly gain, though in less obvious ways which wear masks of spirituality. Religion is not primarily a tool to give us lives in this world which are necessarily comfortable, cushy, or convenient lives in this world.
For we brought nothing into the world,
just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.
If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.
God wants our religion to be directed toward lasting things, the things that truly endure for eternity, above all for our relationship with him and for the souls of others. We love others in this temporal order, not as though we could eliminate poverty, suffering, and death permanently. But rather, we eliminate those evils with acts of love in ways that, though we realize them to be temporary and not exhaustive, nevertheless point to a hope which is finally unshakable. What we need to avoid is the spiritualizing of our desires for a happiness which is this world only. Paul tells us exactly how such temptations can be avoided, how we can stay focused on heaven, and it seems at first a bit paradoxical.
Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.
What we need is contentment with regard to passing things. This will not cause us to become disengaged or quietistic. On the contrary, only then will we be free to care anything about eternal things. Only contentment will save us from making rash moves, desperate to preserve forever that which can only last for a time. Contentment also keeps us free from the illusion that if we just had a little bit more of this world's goods we could finally rest and be at peace. We can be at peace already.
We are called to begin with the peace of Christ already in our hearts, since it is a gift of the Holy Spirit. We are called to act from a place of rest, the rest that is the shared yolk of Jesus. Otherwise we will be subject to manipulation by our desires, manipulation by the world, the flesh, and devil. With contentment, with peace, we can make genuine progress.
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.
When we compete, we are able to run with endurance (see Hebrews 12:1) precisely because the peace guarding our hearts (see Philippians 4:7) prevents us from exhausting ourselves all at once or running off on trails that are only detours. The contentment that makes religion profitable for us makes us profitable for others in turn.
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.
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