Seeking to be content in God’s eyes is a deliberate move to rearrange our priorities and change our source of security from what we have to what God promises.
My focus on materialism as a young CEO chasing success was driven by an overriding desire to live the “good life.” But I quickly learned that my cravings would never be satisfied.
Coveting “things” messes up our need to be content. It doesn’t have to be the “big stuff” like the mansions and sports cars I was chasing earlier in my faith walk. It could be an MBA degree; joining an exclusive country club; or remodeling your kitchen and bathroom.
Covetousness is anything tangible or intangible that diminishes our joy and ability to live out our purpose in Christ.
If we depend on something we can lose for our security–our possessions, our talents, our looks, our friends, our retirement, our spouse, our hobby, our car, or anything else we covet–we will never be at peace.
God wants us to focus on what we have, not on what we want.
I ask God to help me resist the temptation for things I “have to have” in order to put him first and have him direct my life in every respect.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
How would you assess your score on the “Contentment Meter”? Low? Medium? High? What one thought could you focus on today that would give you a higher score?
“But Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” 1 Timothy 6:6-7
