By Paul Chappell
"And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of
covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things
which he possesseth."
Luke 12:15
According to a poll published in USA Today some years ago, a
majority of Americans believed they could have a comfortable life if they had
$8,000 to $11,000 of additional income per year. The reality is that, if most
people did get an $8,000 raise, they would say at the end of the next year,
"If I just had $8,000 more a year!" When our income increases, the
tendency is for our spending to increase at least as much as—and sometimes even
more than—our income was increased.
There is nothing wrong with having nice things. If God has
blessed you, give Him thanks and glory for what He has done for you. But if
your thoughts and interests are focused on getting more and more “stuff,” you
will never be truly happy. The popular bumper sticker says, "He who dies
with the most toys wins." That worldly philosophy does not lead to true joy.
The person with a mentality of materialism will never be
content. Someone who is materialistic will always want more and more and
more…and will never be satisfied. But while the world promotes that attitude,
God offers His children an alternative—contentment based on our relationship
with Him and His presence in our lives. Hebrews 13:5 says, "…be content
with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee."
All of the things you have today could vanish in a moment.
Great fortunes disappeared overnight during the recent economic turmoil.
Companies that had been successful for decades went into bankruptcy. Those who
were driven by materialism had nothing left to cling to. But those Christians
who were trusting in the promises of God and finding their happiness in a close
relationship with Him still had everything they needed.
Today's Rooted Principle:
The foundation of true happiness is built on contentment,
not possessions.
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