A daily, Bible-based message of hope and encouragement.
 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Friday, December 2, 2011  Yesterday we passed these beautiful willow trees on a farm along Rockvale Road. (Click here for larger version) "The Trap Of Greed" "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. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:9,10).  Speaking of traps I'd like to consider a different type of trap we need to be wary of, the trap of greed, as we share our fourth point in our series on contentment. We experience contentment when we conscientiously and diligently avoid the trap of greed. We marvel at the timeless relevance of God's Word. In 1 Timothy 6 Paul has warnings to both the rich (1 Timothy 6:17-19) and those who desire to be rich (verses 6-10 which we have been studying this week). We surely benefit from the warnings that Paul gives to the rich. You may say, "Well, that's sure doesn't include me!" Yes, it probably does include you. Most of us have far more of this world's goods than the vast majority of people on a worldwide economic scale. We also need the solemn warning in our daily text that Paul gives to "people who want to get rich." You see, it seems no matter how much we have, we always want more! The progressive bait in the trap of greed begins with the devil putting troubling notions in our minds that tempt us with "many foolish and harmful desires" which in turn "plunge men into ruin and destruction." Thomas Brooks who served the Lord in the late 1600's writes of "the plague of unsatisfiedness". Wow, imagine what he would see today! William S. Plumer who lived in the mid 1800's wrote, "A right view of the perils of wealth would, with the divine blessing, have a mighty efficacy in curing our covetousness and discontent."  Let's just consider one word in our Scripture text today. The word "trap" has the root meaning "fastened by a noose". Wow, isn't that the case? A noose is loose at first but gets tighter and tighter. Isn't that the nature of sin in general and greed in particular? There's an appeal, such as the bait set in a trap, but going down that road indeed leads to ruin and destruction. "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." Let us heed the Scripture's warning today, being careful to see money for what it is and using it for what God intends! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily Prayer: Father, we consider the Scriptures that warn us of attitudes, desires, and behaviors that lead us on a road to destruction. We want to be faithful to the righteous path that we began the day we surrendered our lives to You. May we seek You wholeheartedly so that our desires, our actions, and our affections align us with the straight and narrow path You walked before us. May we use our resources for Your glory and not our own. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. We regularly see messages with short slogans and Scripture texts on church signs, along the road at farms and even on silos, such as this one we passed yesterday. They are such a blessing! Occasionally I see signs that don't edify me but the all time worst church sign was a church that had bingo for fundraising. The large marquee sign along US Route 219 in New York advertised bingo night with this phrase, "Holy Ghost Bingo". What a shameful witness for the third person in the divine, holy Trinity! Yesterday in the course of our chaplain work we visited with Stephen who works in a company that does laser cutting and often does programming work at a desk. He was teased, "When working at your desk you should be wearing a tie." So he complied, wearing this tie!  Yesterday we passed this little pony and cart turning on to busy Newport Road. These conveyances do not strike us as being safe on busy highways  This boy was having a great time harness racing through a field as we passed by. Are you Christmas shopping online?  Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for considering using these links when purchasing online through CBD! Tip: If you are regular CBD customer consider bookmarking this link and using it whenever you shop. This Christmas many of our readers will be shopping for gifts that have spiritual and lasting value as well as a means of witness and encouraging others.Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Godliness With Contentment Is Great Gain" Video A song based upon 1 Timothy 6:6 written and sung by our friend Mike Book. We find it helpful when Scripture is set to music and in many cases this becomes the basis for memorization. "I'd Rather Have Jesus" Video Dallas Holm I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold; I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands; I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand Refrain: Than to be the king of a vast domain And be held in sin’s dread sway; I’d rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today. I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause; I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause; I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame; I’d rather be true to His holy name He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom; He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb; He’s all that my hungering spirit needs; I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead. Writing today of sordid greed making news in our area is a lady that killed her grandmother by poisoning her after stealing moeny from her. (See here) Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
 Our photo taken at the Bridge of Flowers in Sherburne Falls, MA Fall 2011 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/11)  Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this teaching ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks!See here for details. 2011 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 12/1/11: $13,041.00 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed or as an email subscription through feedburner.Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If you no longer desire to receive these messages you can remove your address from the list by merely using the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Weekly Version: The weekly version is intended for those who may not check their email regularly or who may desire less frequent mailings. It is Friday's message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter:  The daily message and prayer on Facebook. The daily message and prayer on Twitter.Reader Survey: Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this online reader survey. To take the survey click here. Please feel free to pass these messages on! Our other blogs: "A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message! "A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) (Note: This material is satire!) "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!) "Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. All of these songs are also available for download on the site. Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!Personal Mission Statement "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."  How to become a child of God Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. © Copyright 2011 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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