What is it that we really need? I know people for whom life will be unpleasant unless they buy that third car. The more we have, the more we think we need.
Even so, materialism is not limited only to rich people. Some of the poorest people are the most dependent on their material things and always dreaming of how they can get more.
The problem, of course, is that if we get that thing that we "just have to have," we will soon find that we want something more. What we are missing is not more wealth to buy more things. We are missing the ability to be content with what we have.
Contentment. Yes, I am satisfied with this. Thank you, Lord.
We are all familiar with Paul's wonderful declaration, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13). But have we noticed that he said that immediately after saying, "I have learned to be satisfied with what I have. I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little." (4:11-12)?
I do not get headaches very often, but over the years one thing has very consistently made my head start to hurt: when my bank account gets low and I start to worry about where the money will come from for some particular expense. Yes, God wants us to be responsible stewards of all he has given us. However, when we depend on the money more than we depend on God, when contentment is replaced by worry, then we are not living in obedience to God's word.
"Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have. For God has said, 'I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.'" (Hebrews 13:5)
- 20 MARCH -