We Are to be Content with What God Has Given Us

     Discontentment with what have leads to complaining, strife, and envy. It may even break up relationships. Sometimes it is easy to forget where our treasure should be. We must remember: “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7). With this in mind, we can experience contentment in all situations, knowing that there is only One who can meet all of our needs. As Christians, when we recognize our worth in Christ, worldly goods will seem less and less important. We need to be totally dependent on Him for all areas of our lives.

The Lord has met all of our needs in Christ, so praise Him for His faithfulness and love: “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is the great God, and the great King above all gods… Oh come, les us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand (Psalm 95:2-3, 6-7).

In order to march onward, to persevere, to keep your life free from sin, pray this affirmation to the Lord and moemorize it for times when you may be tempted: “No temptation has overtaken me except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that I may be able to bear it” (personalized from 1 Corinthians 10:13).

Confess any personal sins that the Holy Spirit has brought to your mind today. Agree with God’s will and voice your faithfulness toward His Word: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

• Greater insight into the Scriptures,
• Greater personal faith,
• The hungry around the world.

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:6-10).