Been studying Paul's first letter to Timothy lately. Was smitten by 6:8 - "And having food and raiment let us therewith be content." One of my favorite journal entries by Jim Elliot applies: "I have been musing lately on the extremely dangerous cumulative effects of earthly things. One may have good reason, for example, to want a wife, and he may have one legitimately. But with a wife comes Peter the Pumpkin-Eaters proverbial dilemma---he must find a place to keep her. And most wives will not stay on such terms as Peter proposed. So a wife demands a house; a house in turn requires curtains, rugs, washing machines, et cetera. A house with these things must soon become a home, and children are the intended outcome. The needs multiply as they are met---a car demands a garage; a garage, land; land, a garden; a garden, tools; and tools need sharpening. Woe, woe, woe to the man who would live a disentangled life in my century. II. Timothy 2:4 is impossible in the United States, if one insists on a wife. I learn from this that the wisest life is the simplest one, lived in the fulfillment of only the basic requirements of life---shelter, food, covering, and a bed. And even these can become productive of other needs if one does not heed. Be on guard, my soul, of complicating your environment so that you have neither time nor room for growth!" Even though I am far from having a wife, the same principle that he presents applies to every area of life. Once you first "mind earthly things," however small a thing it might be, you start your fall on a slippery slope that ends in spiritual destruction for you and those you might have impacted for Christ. "But Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." This statement according to the context is in direct relation to serving others, specifically others in authority to us, but the same heart attitude will serve those equal or subject to us. When we put others aside for however short a time, we become earthly minded and cannot be content with "food and raiment." "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, Godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life. . ."