Being Content is Enough.
We don’t have to be enthusiastic about Life’s circumstances. We do not have to be striving for this or that. There are times in life when to practice contentment is enough.
I was impressed this week with Paul’s counsel to young Timothy. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (I Timothy 6:6-10)
In this year, many are struggling financially. And all the latest news about the financial fortunes of the presidential candidates has gotten us thinking….and lusting with envy. The American Dream is out there, enticing us to work harder, to keep rowing, to struggle forward, to sacrifice to get the kind of life we want. It is not enough to have a roof over our head, or food on the table. We want a big roof, that shelters a large, stylish house in a nice neighborhood. It is not enough to have beans on the table; we want shrimp & steak & variety.
We want what we want, when we want it! It’s our right as Americans! And we are told that if we work hard enough & smart enough, we can get it!
But at what sacrifice??
The love of money (& what money can buy) is a root of many evils. Lust, pride, strife, greed, pettiness, manipulation…the list is endless. Evils that pierce our hearts thru with many sorrows.
My internet friend, will you consider your ways today? Are you striving after the Almighty Dollar for the lifestyle that you think it can give you? If so, you are sowing for yourself a bed of sorrows.
I encourage you….be content with godliness. Practice thankfulness. Train yourself to gratitude. Focus on simplicity of living.
Why? Because you have Christ, and He is worth millions times more than all the money in the world!