True contentment is more than a fleeting “happy” feeling we experience when we purchase something new. It’s being grateful to God for all he has given us, and following through on the opportunities He provides for us to share with others.
As the weather warms up and the winds die down I find “Garage Sale” signs popping up on every corner in my neighborhood. It’s amazing how much stuff we seem to accumulate. Rarely do our garages have room for our cars, instead they are filled with items we have purchased and can no longer fit in our house because something “newer” has displaced it. And, as quick as we sell or give away the old we are out purchasing something new to replace it.
There is something satisfying about buying something new. I don’t know exactly what it is but I experience it each time I make a purchase. Maybe because it’s all about me–“I will look good in this new outfit,” “My home will look better with this new item in it,” or “I will buy this movie so I can enjoy it with my family.” The funny thing is this “happy” feeling doesn’t seem to last long.
Looking back now I can see my parents weren’t like this at all. They bought things when they needed them, not when they wanted them. As my sister-in-law pointed out when my Mom died she had the same dishes for 30 years. The cars they drove were far from new and had been paid off for years. Their house wasn’t cluttered, instead it was filled with items they used or things that had special meaning to them. When something was worn out it was replaced, otherwise it was good.
So, how do we turn away from our love of money and the things it can buy for us? How do we find true peace and contentment? The Apostle Paul, in Hebrews 13:5, says we are to “stay away from the love of money, be satisfied with what you have.”
There are many ways we can learn to be satisfied with what we have.
First, we can strive to live with less rather than desiring more. If you face this problem, like I do, a good place to start is to ask God to remove the desire for something new. In the process He will have the opportunity to teach us contentment in every circumstance.
Second, we can give away out of our abundance rather than accumulating more. Mary Hunt, author of Debt Proof Living writes, “The very act of giving is an expression of gratitude. It is a tangible way I can say ‘Thank you for everything I have and for every way I have been blessed.’ Without gratitude operating in my life, more is never enough, and nothing brings genuine satisfaction”. She also goes on to say, “Giving keeps me from being self-centered. It opens up my eyes to the big picture—to the needs of others. It allows me to see the world through the eyes of compassion.”
And finally, the secret to contentment is to draw on Christ’s power for strength. By doing this we will come to realize that He is in control of our past, present and future. We will come to be grateful for everything in our life that has brought us to this place. We will be able to give Him first place in our lives today, and we will realize that He is in control of our future and we can trust Him with our needs.
True contentment is more than a fleeting “happy” feeling we experience when we purchase something new. It’s being grateful to God for all he has given us, and following through on the opportunities He provides for us to share with others. When we do this, we will find ourselves truly content and at peace with who we are, and how God graciously provides for us.