LEARN TO BE CONTENTED.
TEXT:
"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." (Hebrews 13:5, King James Version).
The Bible calls contentment great gain (1Timothy 6:6). Covetousness is the bane of many people in Christendom. Simply put, it's an inordinate desire for something or for what belongs to another. This ungodly character is fueled by the insatiable nature that's innate in humanity. Human nature is insatiable and seeks to have more than it possesses.
The Scripture reading for today tells us not to let our conversation be with covetousness, but that we be content with such things as we have because God, our Provider, is ever with us. The ability to be content with those things that we have is one that is given to us by the Lord. It's the fruit of temperance (Galatians 5:22). It's the ability to be moderate or to be restrained from excesses. Contentment is a noble character and like I said, the Bible calls it "great gain" (1Timothy 6:6).
The reasoning here is that "we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 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." (1Timothy 6:7-9).
For the Christian, this is very instructive, warranting that he takes heed to live with contentment. Nevertheless, we should not allow our contentment to be dictated by good conditions of life, when everything about us seems good and rosy.
Apostle Paul's life in this regard is worthy of note and emulation. He says, "I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have. I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little." (Philippians 4:11-12, Contemporary English Version).
In actual fact, Christ in us is the Secret behind the Christian's ability to stay content in life. Truth is that as a child of God "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).
Is lack of contentment not the reason for most of the vices, corruption and profligacy that we witness in our present day generation? How many in our time are ready to be patient to wait upon God Who has vouched in our Scripture reading for today saying,
"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."? (Hebrews 13:5).
If He will never leave us or forsake us, isn't that to us an unflinching and steadfast assurance of His providence and good-naturedness? Given that assurance of His being with us, shouldn't we wait patiently for Him to show up for us at the appropriate time, knowing that He cares about us and that He will not suffer us to lack the good things of life? Let's learn to be content with such things as we have in life, believing that He will not leave us or forsake us in life.
PRAYER:
I receive grace to be content in life and to wait patiently until the Lord shows up on my behalf, in Jesus name.