Mom Heart Moments #354

If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

OUR CULTURE PRAISES MATERIAL POSSESSIONS as a source of happiness. Those who have more are supposedly happier, and those who have less are somehow unjustly struggling. We believe a new house, a better car, or a larger salary will bring us happiness. Often, the longing for more things and money leads us to idolize wealth, work long hours to the detriment of our families, and seek a way to provide for ourselves instead of trusting God with our humble circumstances.

It is not sinful or wrong to have desires for something more in various areas of life. Our hearts can actually perceive a better world and more wonderful circumstances than we presently have because we were made for a better place. We were made for perfection, love, joy, and great blessing. It was in the heart of God to provide us a magnificent life.

The only way we will ever be able to be content, though, is to realize the nature of a fallen world. This earth is not heaven. We must cultivate a level of thanksgiving and contentment in the life we have been given, now. God calls us to find our contentment in Him, not in our circumstances or our material possessions. To choose to look beyond material possessions, to seek His fingerprints every day in our lives, to have an eternal perspective —this is the only way we will be able to be content.

Contentment is a heart issue. We cannot change our emotions and selfish desires by force. Our only hope is to look to God, to ask Him to teach our heart to be content, to want to trust Him and not live in ungratefulness or in looking to what others have.

As long as we covet what we do not have, we will never be at peace.

When you look into your heart, do you find covetousness there? Ask God to take it away and determine to rest in what He has provided for you.