A lion was just going to devour  a hare which he had found asleep, when he saw a deer go by. So he left the hare to pursue the deer, and the hare awakened by the noise, ran away. After a long chase, the lion found that he that he could not catch the deer. And when he went back to get the hare, he found it had taken flight. “It serves me right,” he said, “for letting go the food that I had in my grasp, in hope of getting something better.”

Aesop concluded:Men are sometimes like the lion. Instead of being content with moderate gain, they are attracted by some more alluring prospect. And are surprised to find that they lose even what they could have been sure of having. (source: Fables of Aesop-Penguin Classics-”A Bird in the Hand)

The aging apostle Paul, fierce persecutor of Christians and known as Saul. Until he bumped into Christ and was knocked to the ground. To be told that the old days were over. A new day had arrived in which he would serve, him whom he had persecuted. The account of this chosen vessels life life changing experience is found in Acts 9:1-19.

And over the years, Paul no doubt encountered lots of lion like behavior among those whom he served. Maybe even the young Timothy to whom he wrote a fatherly epistle. Saying, “But godliness with contentment is great gain; for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain, we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therefore content,” 1 Timothy 6:6-8.

Why such good advice to Timothy? Most likely from experience because maybe Paul chased that illusive deer too. Because he wrote, “Not that I speak in respect from want; for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, in this be content,” Philippians 4:11.

posted by girish at 6:54 am & filed under General |