For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry no thing out.
We brought nothing into the world and can carry nothing out at death, so lands, money, and all earthly possessions are temporary and cannot be taken into the eternal world and God's kingdom. Because nothing is carried out, godliness with contentment is great gain, calling for satisfaction with simple food and clothing rather than pursuit of riches. Wanting to be rich leads into temptation and a snare, into foolish and hurtful desires that drown people in ruin and destruction, draw them from faith, and pierce them with many sorrows. Money has value only as a trust from heaven to bless humanity, becoming a curse when used to indulge self, so trust is to be placed in God rather than in uncertain riches. Its lasting use is in doing good, sharing generously, and giving to advance God's work and help those in need, for while money is not needed in the next life, good done in winning souls to Christ is carried to heaven and lays up treasure for the future.
Nothing Brought, Nothing Taken
People enter this world bringing nothing with them and leave it at death able to carry nothing out, so lands, money, earthly treasures and every possession are temporary and cannot be taken beyond death into the eternal world and God's kingdom. Because nothing can be carried out, godliness with contentment is great gain, calling for satisfaction and contentment with basic food and clothing rather than the pursuit of riches. Covetousness and the pursuit of wealth are therefore warned against as seeking no lasting gain.
Having riches is no proof of godliness, superiority, lasting gain, or happiness, and the pursuit of wealth cannot secure what it promises. To suppose that gain is godliness dishonors God, and to make material gain into a god and to use religion to get wealth are dangerous, as seen when professed poverty is used to grow wealthy. Having the whole world without God's blessing still leaves a person as poor as a beggar.
Wanting to be rich and wanting to be first leads into temptation and a snare, into foolish, harmful and hurtful desires that drown people in ruin and destruction, draw them from faith, and pierce them with many sorrows. Spending a lifetime to acquire wealth cannot preserve it beyond death, for the rich must leave behind what they labored to acquire. Gaining property at the cost of faith and eternal interests means losing both worlds, staking eternal interests for earthly gain and forfeiting this world and the next.
The love of gain makes people proud and full of envy, strife, evil surmising and dispute, scheming and planning for earthly possessions that have no value with God. Loving and idolizing the world is a snare of Satan aimed especially at those looking for Christ's second appearing and keeping all God's commandments. Placing affections on lands, money and earthly treasures that must be left at death, and caring more for money than for the success of Christ's kingdom and the spread of truth, holds a person in Satan's power.
Fixing mind and soul on worldly business, honor, wealth and pleasure dwarfs spiritual life and turns ability and influence from serving Christ to serving self. The one who idolizes the world becomes dazed and blinded, drunk with cares, a worldly businessman and a slave to mammon. Keeping means in Satan's ranks, withholding support and driving ministers to want and distress, weakens courage and zeal, destroys love for one another, and causes salvation and grace to stand back. It produces a grudging disposition that gives sparingly, and by example leads the family to love and serve worldly things instead of advancing in the divine life and striving to enter the strait gate.
Stewardship for Eternal Gain
Money has value only when held in trust as a gift from heaven to bless humanity, while when used to indulge and glorify self it becomes a curse, an encumbrance and a temptation. Trust is therefore to be placed in God rather than in uncertain riches, since earthly possessions are temporary.
Instead of seeking wealth, believers are to pursue godliness and other virtues, fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life. This means seeking purity of heart, love and unity, the bread of life, and a meek and quiet spirit rather than wanting to be first. The pleasure and power of this world pass away, but a life spent doing God's will abides forever.
The lasting value of wealth lies in doing good, sharing generously, and laying up lasting treasure for the future. Its value lies in using entrusted gifts for God's work and for those in need rather than spending selfishly, to save souls and bless others and to advance God's work. Money is not needed in the next life, but good deeds done in winning people to Christ are carried to heaven, and their results will be seen in God's kingdom.
As pictured in the rich man, death ends stewardship. He leaves his wealth behind, and his riches cannot save him. They have not made his account right with God or clothed him in Christ's righteousness, and expose him as spiritually poor.
No matter how carefully wealth is acquired and guarded, none of it can be carried into God's kingdom or benefit its owner after death or when Christ appears. Earthly riches can also be destroyed suddenly, so they are no lasting security. Worldly honor and wealth gained while neglecting spiritual life leave a person lower in moral worth before God's judgment, as illustrated by friars growing wealthy despite professing poverty and using religion to gain riches. The verse therefore appeals for turning from worldly attachments to choose God rather than mammon, and not making obedience depend on personal or temporal advantage.
We brought nothing into the world and can carry nothing out at death, so lands, money, and all earthly possessions are temporary and cannot be taken into the eternal world and God's kingdom. Because nothing is carried out, godliness with contentment is great gain, calling for satisfaction with simple food and clothing rather than pursuit of riches. Wanting to be rich leads into temptation and a snare, into foolish and hurtful desires that drown people in ruin and destruction, draw them from faith, and pierce them with many sorrows. Money has value only as a trust from heaven to bless humanity, becoming a curse when used to indulge self, so trust is to be placed in God rather than in uncertain riches. Its lasting use is in doing good, sharing generously, and giving to advance God's work and help those in need, for while money is not needed in the next life, good done in winning souls to Christ is carried to heaven and lays up treasure for the future.
Nothing Brought, Nothing Taken
People enter this world bringing nothing with them and leave it at death able to carry nothing out, so lands, money, earthly treasures and every possession are temporary and cannot be taken beyond death into the eternal world and God's kingdom. Because nothing can be carried out, godliness with contentment is great gain, calling for satisfaction and contentment with basic food and clothing rather than the pursuit of riches. Covetousness and the pursuit of wealth are therefore warned against as seeking no lasting gain.
Having riches is no proof of godliness, superiority, lasting gain, or happiness, and the pursuit of wealth cannot secure what it promises. To suppose that gain is godliness dishonors God, and to make material gain into a god and to use religion to get wealth are dangerous, as seen when professed poverty is used to grow wealthy. Having the whole world without God's blessing still leaves a person as poor as a beggar.
Wanting to be rich and wanting to be first leads into temptation and a snare, into foolish, harmful and hurtful desires that drown people in ruin and destruction, draw them from faith, and pierce them with many sorrows. Spending a lifetime to acquire wealth cannot preserve it beyond death, for the rich must leave behind what they labored to acquire. Gaining property at the cost of faith and eternal interests means losing both worlds, staking eternal interests for earthly gain and forfeiting this world and the next.
The love of gain makes people proud and full of envy, strife, evil surmising and dispute, scheming and planning for earthly possessions that have no value with God. Loving and idolizing the world is a snare of Satan aimed especially at those looking for Christ's second appearing and keeping all God's commandments. Placing affections on lands, money and earthly treasures that must be left at death, and caring more for money than for the success of Christ's kingdom and the spread of truth, holds a person in Satan's power.
Fixing mind and soul on worldly business, honor, wealth and pleasure dwarfs spiritual life and turns ability and influence from serving Christ to serving self. The one who idolizes the world becomes dazed and blinded, drunk with cares, a worldly businessman and a slave to mammon. Keeping means in Satan's ranks, withholding support and driving ministers to want and distress, weakens courage and zeal, destroys love for one another, and causes salvation and grace to stand back. It produces a grudging disposition that gives sparingly, and by example leads the family to love and serve worldly things instead of advancing in the divine life and striving to enter the strait gate.
Stewardship for Eternal Gain
Money has value only when held in trust as a gift from heaven to bless humanity, while when used to indulge and glorify self it becomes a curse, an encumbrance and a temptation. Trust is therefore to be placed in God rather than in uncertain riches, since earthly possessions are temporary.
Instead of seeking wealth, believers are to pursue godliness and other virtues, fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life. This means seeking purity of heart, love and unity, the bread of life, and a meek and quiet spirit rather than wanting to be first. The pleasure and power of this world pass away, but a life spent doing God's will abides forever.
The lasting value of wealth lies in doing good, sharing generously, and laying up lasting treasure for the future. Its value lies in using entrusted gifts for God's work and for those in need rather than spending selfishly, to save souls and bless others and to advance God's work. Money is not needed in the next life, but good deeds done in winning people to Christ are carried to heaven, and their results will be seen in God's kingdom.
As pictured in the rich man, death ends stewardship. He leaves his wealth behind, and his riches cannot save him. They have not made his account right with God or clothed him in Christ's righteousness, and expose him as spiritually poor.
No matter how carefully wealth is acquired and guarded, none of it can be carried into God's kingdom or benefit its owner after death or when Christ appears. Earthly riches can also be destroyed suddenly, so they are no lasting security. Worldly honor and wealth gained while neglecting spiritual life leave a person lower in moral worth before God's judgment, as illustrated by friars growing wealthy despite professing poverty and using religion to gain riches. The verse therefore appeals for turning from worldly attachments to choose God rather than mammon, and not making obedience depend on personal or temporal advantage.