Matthew 5:5-9
“You’re blessed when you’re
content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you
find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.
“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
“You’re
blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or
fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in
God’s family.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
When Timothy was little, we
watched a lot of NickJr.™ and PBS. His family does not subscribe to
cable TV…they watch movies and children’s programs via a streaming
service. So in the last few years, the children have had limited
exposure to television commercials. Only lately have they started to
notice ads for toys, cereals, and other products and say, “I want that!”
or “Will you get that for me?” And even so, they are learning that the
quantity of our “things” is not as important as we thought. They are
learning to value relationships…and the concept that we cannot instantly
have everything we want - and that’s more than okay!
I want you
to read this scripture passage again…and again…and again! Let its
message soak deeply into your heart and soul today. You ARE blessed
when you’re content with just who you are – no more, no less. God’s
food and drink IS the best meal you will ever eat.
When you care
for others, you find that others care for you. When your heart and mind
are “right,” you CAN see God in the outside world. Life is not a
competition…when you learn to cooperate rather than compete, you figure
out who you really are – in the eyes of the world - and more
importantly, in God’s eyes.
Because of Jesus, we truly are
blessed. Some of us are just a little too busy watching other people
and the “commercials” of the world…and wishing our lives away. Will
this be the day that you start to operate more fully in God’s blessings and abundance and less in the things of this world? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label learning to be content. Show all posts
Showing posts with label learning to be content. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for March 15, 2014
1 Timothy 6:6-9
Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
One of my former Sunday-school students posted on Facebook this morning that she and her husband are four major bills away from being totally debt-free. She just paid off another credit card balance, and all of her medical bills have been paid. This mother of 2 toddlers is using Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace University” course as her guide, but many have accomplished this successfully with other methods, as well. What makes this achievement so important is that this young couple – and others like them – are putting money in its place! They are managing money instead of money managing them!
I am only remotely familiar with Dave Ramsey’s course. I do know several people who have utilized it successfully to become totally debt-free very early in life…and I commend them for it. Countless folks suffer all kinds of stress on a daily basis because of bills and upcoming payments that loom over them. Let’s be honest, it is inevitable that such strain keeps us from giving our full focus and attention to our family, our studies or our job, and our walk with God.
This passage is about more than paying off your bills and living debt-free. The Apostle Paul is reminding us that everything we have comes from God. Our focus should not be on acquiring more “stuff”…we should be concentrating on using what we have to serve God. There are two points to consider: 1) it’s hard to stay focused on serving when we are mired in bills and debt; and 2) many of us are busy acquiring more “things”, when we cannot adequately manage what we already have.
What does all of this have to do with showing compassion for one another? Here’s the thing…knowing that we are all human – and vulnerable to the devil’s temptations – we can assume that most of us are enticed on some level by “the next new thing”. It may be the latest electronic gadget, a shiny new toy for our kids, the spring fashions now filling the store, another pair of sneakers, or a new house, car or piece of jewelry. We may desire to “keep up with the Joneses” and eat out…go to movies, concerts and sporting events…dress a certain way…participate in extra-curricular activities at school and church…and even go on mission trips with friends and fellow believers (which costs money).
As we interact with others, recognize that their inner struggles with money may be very similar to yours. Also realize that those who cannot afford to “keep up” with others may be struggling with their emotions and temptations. What can you do to “level the playing field”? How can you find ways to interact – and serve others – that are less costly in terms of actual dollars…yet effective in terms of time, energy, and sharing the love of Christ? By learning to be content with less…to live within our own means…can we actually demonstrate to others that it is truly acceptable and okay to be “wealthy” in ways other than actual money and possessions?
My challenge to you today is to get your own “house” in order. This may mean working to conquer your debts and pay your bills as quickly as possible. Or if you are “debt-free”, you may need to do a little “spring cleaning” and survey your “stuff”. Maybe you need to pare down…to “share the wealth” with those less fortunate…or to use what you have before you buy something else. Or maybe you simply need to shift your focus from “What can I acquire next” to “How can I better serve out of my blessings and abundance?”.
Spend some time in prayer and communication with God and see where He leads you. The Apostle Paul is telling us in these verses that there is great peace and satisfaction in being able to truly say, “I have everything I need”…and to live in the contentment of focusing on God instead of things. There is room for all of us to do some work in this area. Will this be the day that you get started?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
One of my former Sunday-school students posted on Facebook this morning that she and her husband are four major bills away from being totally debt-free. She just paid off another credit card balance, and all of her medical bills have been paid. This mother of 2 toddlers is using Dave Ramsey’s “Financial Peace University” course as her guide, but many have accomplished this successfully with other methods, as well. What makes this achievement so important is that this young couple – and others like them – are putting money in its place! They are managing money instead of money managing them!
I am only remotely familiar with Dave Ramsey’s course. I do know several people who have utilized it successfully to become totally debt-free very early in life…and I commend them for it. Countless folks suffer all kinds of stress on a daily basis because of bills and upcoming payments that loom over them. Let’s be honest, it is inevitable that such strain keeps us from giving our full focus and attention to our family, our studies or our job, and our walk with God.
This passage is about more than paying off your bills and living debt-free. The Apostle Paul is reminding us that everything we have comes from God. Our focus should not be on acquiring more “stuff”…we should be concentrating on using what we have to serve God. There are two points to consider: 1) it’s hard to stay focused on serving when we are mired in bills and debt; and 2) many of us are busy acquiring more “things”, when we cannot adequately manage what we already have.
What does all of this have to do with showing compassion for one another? Here’s the thing…knowing that we are all human – and vulnerable to the devil’s temptations – we can assume that most of us are enticed on some level by “the next new thing”. It may be the latest electronic gadget, a shiny new toy for our kids, the spring fashions now filling the store, another pair of sneakers, or a new house, car or piece of jewelry. We may desire to “keep up with the Joneses” and eat out…go to movies, concerts and sporting events…dress a certain way…participate in extra-curricular activities at school and church…and even go on mission trips with friends and fellow believers (which costs money).
As we interact with others, recognize that their inner struggles with money may be very similar to yours. Also realize that those who cannot afford to “keep up” with others may be struggling with their emotions and temptations. What can you do to “level the playing field”? How can you find ways to interact – and serve others – that are less costly in terms of actual dollars…yet effective in terms of time, energy, and sharing the love of Christ? By learning to be content with less…to live within our own means…can we actually demonstrate to others that it is truly acceptable and okay to be “wealthy” in ways other than actual money and possessions?
My challenge to you today is to get your own “house” in order. This may mean working to conquer your debts and pay your bills as quickly as possible. Or if you are “debt-free”, you may need to do a little “spring cleaning” and survey your “stuff”. Maybe you need to pare down…to “share the wealth” with those less fortunate…or to use what you have before you buy something else. Or maybe you simply need to shift your focus from “What can I acquire next” to “How can I better serve out of my blessings and abundance?”.
Spend some time in prayer and communication with God and see where He leads you. The Apostle Paul is telling us in these verses that there is great peace and satisfaction in being able to truly say, “I have everything I need”…and to live in the contentment of focusing on God instead of things. There is room for all of us to do some work in this area. Will this be the day that you get started?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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