The Shift From Covetousness To Contentment

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

Sometimes it is difficult to live in true contentment. We live in a cultural context that thrives on advertisement: we are constantly presented with offerings of products and lifestyles that are deemed ideal. If our current circumstances do not fit the ideal, then we might be tempted to focus our attention on the things we don’t have.

Though our world is filled with temporal offerings, God is the ultimate fulfillment. He has given the greatest offering, that of His only Son Jesus Christ, so that we can enjoy abundant life on earth and eternal life in heaven. The abundant life we enjoy is not based on what we own; rather, it is based on Who owns us. Because we have devoted our lives to Christ, we can live every day by the power of His Spirit. He lives in us, He leads us, and He works through us.

We have a choice: we can choose to find contentment in eternal things, or we can burden ourselves by remaining focused on temporal desires. My prayer for all of us is that we will choose to worship God and embrace His attributes. The Lord knows our needs and our wants, and He will supply according to His will and His timetable. When we keep our focus on Him, our unfulfilled desires lose the power to consume our attention.

Where is your attention focused today?

Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart's desires. (Psalm 37:4)

But first be concerned about God's kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well.  (Matthew 6:33)

God said to him, “Because you asked for the ability to make wise judicial decisions, and not for long life, or riches, or vengeance on your enemies, I grant your request, and give you a wise and discerning mind superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you. Furthermore, I am giving you what you did not request—riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation. If you follow my instructions by obeying my rules and regulations, just as your father David did, then I will grant you long life.” (First Kings 3:11-14)