August 11

Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. 1 Timothy 6:8.

The unbelieving children of this world have their minds fixed on nothing but the things of this world. Their sole desire is to enjoy this life, to have a good time, to eat, drink, and be merry, and to obtain wealth, to acquire an abundance of earthly possessions. These are the things which occupy their minds day and night. And how restless are they in the chase after riches! How do they scheme in order that they may obtain this world's goods and enjoy them! How often are they led by their craving for wealth and pleasure to deviate from the path of honesty, to resort to unlawful means, to trickery and fraud, to burden their consciences, and to make themselves miserable! They are ensnared in the cares of this life. And where does this earthly-mindedness lead to? The apostle says: "Whose end is destruction." Eternal damnation is the goal for which they are making.

Oh, beware, then, of the cares of this life! Provide for your immortal soul! Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness! Christians must not be earthly-minded; their hearts and hopes are to be fixed above. Heart and mind should ever become more loosed, disengaged, from the things of this world, and our longing for the world to come should continually increase and grow. It is true that we must to a certain extent occupy our minds also with earthly things, inasmuch as we must live and provide for our own temporal welfare and that of others; but our true home is in heaven. There are things of much higher

importance than the things of this present life — the things that are above, the things that can make us truly happy. Earthly things cannot make us truly happy. True happiness surely cannot dwell in the hearts of those who have no higher aim than to receive their good things in their lifetime and occupy their minds with nothing but earthly things. Truly happy are they who are in the world, but not of the world. Happy are the faithful Christians who are heavenly-minded.

Prayer.

Almighty God, teach us that our labor is in vain except Thou bless it in order that we may ask Thee for Thy gifts. Preserve us from fears springing from lack of trust in Thee and from worldly anxieties, that we may labor for our necessities in this life, like the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, without care. Let us be diligent in the work of our calling, and yet not from covetousness or the desire to gain wealth, but from obedience to Thee, that we may so pass through things temporal that we shall not lose the things eternal. Amen.

Now is the time of grace; Now heaven's gates stand open; Now every sinner has Eternal life before him. Who lets this time pass by And not to God doth turn, Let him bewail himself When he in hell must burn.