Our Prepare the Way campaign represents a strategic opportunity that will require great sacrifice. We are all praying about what God would have us give toward this goal. We all desire to be generous people and I think it starts with a contentment with what we have. We need to settle on a simple lifestyle and look to allocate our additional resources for the good of others. But of course that is the trick! We never feel like we have enough.
This week’s daily prayer guide reminded us of Hebrews 13:5— “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have. For he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’” When it comes to money, one of the great challenges is contentment. Money has a way of getting ahold of us. If we are not careful, we become fixated on getting more. We need to reach a point where we say, “I have enough.” R.G. LeTourneau was a great example of this. LeTourneau made his fortune inventing earth-moving equipment. But he chose to maintain a simple lifestyle. By the end of his life, he was living on 10% of his income and giving away 90% of his income.
I believe Hebrews 13:5 also uncovers fear as one of the biggest obstacles to contentment. We don’t ever feel that we have enough. What if the stock market takes a plunge? What if I outlive my retirement savings? What if I lose my job? What if we encounter debilitating sickness and medical bills? Will I have enough to put my kids through college? If we are consumed with these fears, we will never find contentment. We must remember that God has promised to always be with us. He is committed to providing for our needs. That promise allows us to be content.
No one sets out to be greedy and discontent. But if we are not careful, the money we possess has a way of possessing us. The apostle Paul warned the believers that the desire to be rich was a dangerous temptation, a subtle trap and a destructive path (1 Timothy 6:9). May God help us to be content with what we have.
Pastor Jeff
Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/daryl_mitchell/2407030202
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