Being Content in a “I Want it Now” World

In today’s society, it is easy to fall into the envy and greed all around us. It seems everyone is wanting more and more and joy is lost in the process.  This is not what God intended for us as Christians. Worldly riches do not mean anything to Him.  In fact, Jesus Himself spoke on this in Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and riches.” Also in Luke, Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Wait, you say, shouldn’t we want to succeed. Of course we should, but we should always put God before what we desire. If we depend on Him, He will help us to succeed.  Even after God has blessed us we are danger however of forgetting to put Him first as it is written in I Timothy 6:9 “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”

So what are we to do?  Everyone wants nice things right?

 Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

What this verse says speaks in so many ways to my heart. First it is saying do not even talk about the desire for wealth and riches.  Covetousness literally means: inordinately or wrongly desirous of wealth or possessions; greed.  Then it goes on to say, to be happy with you have.  Remember, there are others who have less than you.  Being content is something people these days don’t understand. Contentment is rarely seen in today’s world. Most people have no clue what it even means to be content.

The definition of contentment is a state of satisfaction or in a state of peaceful happiness.  Today, we hustle and bustle around so much that this state is almost impossible to achieve. To actually sit back and look around you and say, “Hey my life is pretty good.” just isn’t in our vocabulary.

Contentment is really a state of mind.  Just like happiness and positive thoughts are. We have to train ourselves to be this way. Here are some suggestions to become content.

1. Every morning, say a prayer of thanksgiving to God for what you have.  Say the Lord’s prayer to start your day.
2. When envy or desire comes into your mind, pray.  If you ask God to show you how to be happy with what you have, He will.
3. Look at what you do have and praise God for it.
4. Read the Word of God. I have always found the Bible brings me peace which brings about a state of joy.
5. Always pray before meals in thanksgiving.
6. End your day thanking the Lord for it.

Remember attitude is everthing.  God commands us not to worry. Worry will eat up your happiness. In Matthew he clearly states, Matthew 6:33-34

Do Not Worry

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Philippians 4:12-13 says

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 

13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Here again in I Timothy 6:6-7

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 

7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

Psalm 37: 4

 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

There are so many verses I could add. The Lord wants you to be happy. He wants you to seek Him and put Him first. God is good all the time. We need to show him how thankful we are by being satisfied with what we have and look towards the riches in Christ Jesus on the other side.

God bless each of you. I hope I helped in some ways.