I’ve been thinking about what Jesus said in Matthew 19:23, “it
is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of God.” Wow, that is pretty heavy stuff. Most of
us have all of our needs met daily. We are rich compared to the rest of the world. I rarely give it a second thought that we
have shelter and delicious, healthy food on the table every meal and the only
time I go hungry is when I’m taking care of my kids… but that is at the most
an hour and I can eat pretty much whatever I want.
Often, I am so busy entertaining myself, entertaining my
kids, making plans for entertaining myself or my kids and the list goes on. We
are a rich society and I don’t want to be so caught up in this life and all the
luxuries that I have that I lose sight of the Kingdom of God. This life is a
vapor compared to the life waiting for us.
I want to be a humble person and be thankful for all God has
given me. He has given me so much! I am blessed! I don’t want to keep comparing
myself to my friends and neighbors, feeling envious that their car is 5 years
newer than ours or that they get to buy the latest fashions. I don’t want to
lose my worldly possessions, though if God called me to do that, I want to be
okay with it – I just want to live a life glorifying to God and take those
things he has blessed me with and use them for His glory. And I don’t want to take
what He has given me for granted!
I don’t want to be so distracted by my worldly possessions that
I put God to the wayside. I want to be content in every circumstance. In Philippians
4:11-13, Paul says this:
“I am not saying this because I am
in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know
what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned
the secret to being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or
hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him
who gives me strength.”
A few weeks ago I was pondering this verse and the idea of
contentment. I think I’ve had the definition of true contentment wrong. I’ve
always thought it had to do with being happy with all your STUFF… like I am
feeling happy that we have been blessed with our old minivan. Basically, being
happy with what God gave you and not worrying about what other people have. It
may have a little to do with that, but I think true contentment has to do
mostly with finding satisfaction in God, in being content with Him. And when
that really happens I don’t think worldly possessions matter.
God, I want to find my satisfaction in you! And I want my
true desire to be for those who don’t know you, not when can I replace my
dishes.
