Even if I might sound like I have all of my life figured out and perfect, it’s not so. Don’t worry. I ain’t perfect.
Truth is, I’m not content all the time. Really. I have a tendency to worry about things way too much. And even though my head knows that worrying does nothing, my heart jumps in the way and makes me forget how secure I really am in Christ.
I mean, what if I don’t have enough money to pay for [insert important thing here]?
What if I can’t get the [insert “needed” thing here]?
Although I’ve read this verse in Hebrews before, it stuck out to me this time.
Hebrews 13:5-6
‘Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’”
Sometimes we might let something other than God drive our lives. For example, money.
Here is the worldly life in a nutshell.
You go to school from 5 years old to 18. You’re supposed to get good grades to get into a “good college”. You go to college for a few years and “you better get good grades, or you won’t get a good job.”
So you finally land a good job. How do you know if it’s a good job? (Although this is a little sarcastic, it’s kind of true.)
You ask the following questions:
- Does it pay well, so that I have enough money to both take care of me and/or my family and still have enough money to buy what I want? Really: Can I get what I want out of it so that I’m comfortable?
- Do I like it? Rephrased: Does it make me happy and comfortable?
- Can I imagine doing this for the rest of my life? Meaning: Is it enough to fulfill me?
See, there’s nothing wrong with having a good job. In fact, it is truly a good thing and a blessing. However, we need to be able to say, “If everything was taken away from me: my earthly pleasures, my home, my great job, my best friend, my Starbucks, my phone, my warm bed, and everything else along with it, I would be content.”
I got to hear Leslie Ludy speak yesterday at a conference. One point that she made stuck out to me. (This is paraphrased; so don’t quote her or me on these exact words.)
“If you’re not finding your contentment in knowing that Jesus is all you need, and looking to find contentment somewhere else, you will never be content.”
Am I finding my fulfillment in the amount of cash in my bank account?
Am I finding my fulfillment in my stuff or my circumstances?
Do I really believe that Jesus is enough?
Because Jesus is enough.
Confidently, I will say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?
My last post was about how God is satisfying enough, and I guess that’s what I’m trying to say here too.
This can go another way as well.
How about we chat about love for a moment.
The world says that true love comes from a human relationship that makes me happy. That satisfies me. That gives me the fairytale ending I want.
But – like temporal stuff – it’s temporal, unless it’s an outpouring of the eternal.
Let me explain.
Because I am content with the love of God inside me, and I know He is enough for me, possessions take lesser importance. I can enjoy human love more because I already understand what Real Love looks like.
I can rejoice in all circumstances, because I know that my life is in the hands of God.
What can man do to me?
Whether I live or I die, it’s a win-win.
Keeping our lives contented – not because of possessions or relationships – comes from finding satisfaction in God alone. Because God is enough.
No worries here. Lay ‘em down at the Cross.
By realizing the significance of the love of God, you’ll find your satisfaction.
*aj
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