Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Contentment

Contentment on a regular basis is pretty hard for most of us to have. We do well at times, but not so well at others. Some people have chronic illnesses that keep them from having the energy and strength they need for their daily tasks and they long to be healthy like others. Some people live in small modest homes and if they would admit it, they would love to have a larger, more beautiful place.

When our daughter and her family lived in the Florida Keys and we would drive by a large, beautiful home that probably cost over a million dollars, we would slow down and gawk or more honestly, covet. I remember one time as we were looking at a place like this, our daughter said "But we have the Lord." It is true, the people living in that place may have known the Lord and had the joy of owning a home like that. However, my daughters point was well taken.

In Hebrews 13:5, Paul says "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have, For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you." Paul is wanting us to understand that knowing the Lord and Christ whom He sent is where true contentment is. Jesus said,"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul" (Matthew 16:26)?

If you belong to the Lord, you already have the best thing you will ever have - in this life and the next. What is perfect health or a million dollar home if He is not with us. These things can never bring the lasting peace and joy that having Christ will. When we allow the hope of worldly things to influence us, it causes us to behave contrary to the commitment we have to the one who says "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

If you have a chronic illness, find some peace knowing He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will sustain you. If you find yourself, as I did yesterday morning, coveting a beautiful home, remember He will never leave your nor forsake you. Let us learn to be content with exactly where the Lord has us today.

1 comment:

Trish said...

I meant to leave a comment on this post, but left it on the next post by accident. Sorry! :) Thanks for the encouraging words.