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šŸ¤‘ The Wealth Trap ... and how I fell into it

šŸŖ Will the busy holidays make you fit or fat?

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Good morning, brothers - When compared to ā€œThou shalt not bear false witnessā€ and ā€œThou shalt not murderā€, ā€œThou shalt not covetā€ seems out of place. With Christmas and the season of giving and getting stuff around the corner, I thought now would be a good time to share a story. Itā€™s about how God allowed me to recklessly chase ā€œsuccessā€ so I could be ā€œthe bestā€ to teach me a critically important lesson ā€¦ a lesson that will change your life. Letā€™s go!

This weekā€™s manly topics:

ā›‘ļø MIND SET We learn how to stop the chasing after the mirage of ā€œsuccessā€ and learn the secrets of contentment - 3:00 reading time
šŸ“°  NEWS We are officially in Christmas season so letā€™s get prepared to stay fit in the midst of the celebrations, travel and time with family and friends - 2:00 reading time
šŸŽ OFFER This weekā€™s sponsor, mobile app BetterSleep, has a special offer that will help MTM subscribers enjoy peaceful, rejuvenating sleep.

MIND SET
The Wealth Trap ā€¦ and how I fell into it

IIn 2003, I was like the wealthy man who approached Jesus in Mark 10 - outwardly successful and sincerely trying to live a life that pleased God. Like him, I had many possessions: a beautiful family, a thriving family business, a strong faith community, and a lovely home. I taught Sunday school, was active in church, and participated in an enriching discipleship group.

But like that rich man, I had a problem: I loved my stuff. More accurately, I loved the idea of acquiring more stuff. Despite all my blessings, it wasn't enough. I needed more.

The Grip of Covetousness

That hunger for ā€œmore'ā€œ led me to start flipping houses with my best friend in Wilmington, NC. We were successful, turning over 4-5 properties every few months. But success only fed my appetite. I expanded to my hometown of Youngstown, OH, then to a third market, then a fourth. Eventually, I owned around 50 houses ā€“ until the 2008 mortgage crisis hit and everything collapsed.

Jesus said it's ā€œeasier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.ā€ He wasn't condemning wealth itself ā€“ after all, the passage tells us Jesus ā€œfelt genuine loveā€ for the rich man. Rather, He was warning about how wealth can grip our hearts, making us trust in riches rather than God.

You Are Enough

Contentment is defined as being in an inner state of happiness and satisfaction. Itā€™s deep, in our core being, inside of us. Itā€™s about the inner man, not the outward man that we try to project to others.

Contentment, as a Christian man, is about being happy and satisfied with who God is, trusting that He has our eternal best in mind (Romans 8:28) and that He knows best (Luke 22:42). 

Contentment is about recognizing that we are complete in Christ and need nothing else. Paul writes to the church at Colossae:

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

You have been brought to fullness in Christ when you came to know Him as Lord and Savior. You lack nothing ā€¦ in Christ! You are already complete in Him! You are enough, with Jesus on your side!

No need to strive. No need for that next thing. No need for one more house. Iā€™m complete. Youā€™re complete. Weā€™re complete but only in Christ.

Finding Freedom in Christ

Why wasn't I content with my already blessed life? Like the rich man who ā€œwent away sad,ā€ I had allowed possessions and the pursuit of more to become my source of security and identity. I sought satisfaction in worldly achievement rather than Christ. Through financial ruin, He showed me a better way.

The apostle Paul wrote to a group of Christians in the city of Philippi:

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances ... I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

This reveals a profound truth: contentment isn't found in accumulating more, but in knowing Christ.

The Secret of True Contentment

If you feel trapped on life's hamster wheel of ā€œmore, more, more,ā€ there's hope. His hand is reaching out to you. He wants to take your exhaustion and replace it with rest. He wants to tell you that you are enough, that you are complete, that you are the man He created you to be, that what you have doesnā€™t define you, and that you are defined by Whose you are.

No more striving needed. He has done it. It is finished. All He asks is that you focus on Him, place your eyes on His word, and your trust in Who He is. True contentment comes through:

  1. Recognizing that contentment is learned, not natural

  2. Understanding that circumstances don't determine contentment

  3. Finding your security in Christ, not possessions

  4. Letting His achievements and His strength, not your own, define you

Unlike the rich man who walked away from Jesus, you can choose differently today. Your worth isn't defined by what you have, but by Whose you are. The peace you seek isn't found in the next achievement but in Him.

This weekā€™s action plan:

  1. Read Philippians 4:11-13, asking God to make you teachable and then to teach you how to live a life of contentment, regardless of circumstance

  2. Meditate on Colossians 2:9-10 and 2 Peter 1:3-4 and celebrate the fact that you are enough and have been given all you need to live the life He has called you to

  3. Worship as you listen to Graves Into Gardens by Elevation Worship

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THIS JUST IN
šŸ“£ NEWS FROM AROUND THE WEB šŸ“£ 

Training
ā€œFor physical training is of some value ā€¦ā€ 1 Timothy 4:8

  • The holidays are good times to make bad fitness decisions ā€¦ like skipping gym trips. With holiday overtime, travel and entertaining, exercise gets the squeeze. But you do not need a gym to stay fit. You just need a body ā€¦ and no excuses. Here is a body weight training crash course to help you take care of your temple and make us proud. Courtesy FITTR

  • This just in from Japan: Exercise triggers the development of new brain neurons while suppressing the potency of traumatic memories. Substantiates an MTM maxim: Being fit makes you formidable which makes you less fearful. Courtesy ScienceDaily

Nutrition
ā€œā€¦ your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit ā€¦ā€ 1 Corinthians 6:19

  • Big Pharma has brewed some potent concoctions to tame your big appetite but they inflict big side effects and big costs. Training your appetite is like building a habit that takes time, practice and knowledge. Here is a nutritional rundown that will give you the knowledge you need to be the master of your appetite instead of being mastered by it. Courtesy MedicalNewsToday

Culture
ā€œYou are the salt of the earth.ā€ Matthew 5:13

  • We are citizens of Christā€™s heavenly kingdom but we are also called to be good citizens where God has placed us on Earth. Theologian Daniel Darling shares a helpful perspective on this moment in American history and how we can fulfill the obligations of our heavenly and earthly citizenships. Courtesy WORLD News Group

Finances
ā€œHe who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much ā€¦ā€ Luke 16:10

  • As we approach winter and set 2025 goals, how about using the ā€œDebt Snowball Methodā€ to get yourself on a course for debt freedom? Check out this easy-to-use calculator to put your plan together. Courtesy Crown Financial Ministries

Thanks for joining us for MTM 15 and stay tuned for MTM 16 next Saturday morning.

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