I Timothy 6:6 - But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Most of us remember the Wizard of Oz. We remember hearing Dorothy belt out the words to "somewhere over the rainbow." I would hear those words as a child and just dream about a place where all of my problems would be left behind. Dorothy finally realizes that her problems will follow wherever she goes. In the end she understands that there is no place like home.
It is easy to imagine that someone else has an easier lot in life than we do. When I was pushing a broom as a janitor I could hardly wait to have a professional career with a title and an office. Now that I have it, along with its responsibilities, there are days when I wouldn't mind going back to pushing a broom. It seems like, in some ways, there was far less stress.
The tenth commandment tells us not to covet: not to want what out neighbor has. Why? Because the quickest way to become unhappy with what we have is to look at what someone else has. We might covet their car, but they also have a car note. What about the new house? Can I pay that house note every month on what I make? You get the idea?
It is in the nature of fallen humanity to be dissatisfied; the quickest way to be happy is to learn contentment. But how do we learn to be content? We must learn to see what we have and where we are as blessings and not curses. If we are unhappy in our present circumstances, we can rest assured that it will not last forever. Nothing in this life is forever. If we are content where we are, let us remember when we weren't as blessed and do something to help someone else if we can.
Contentment is the key that opens the treasure room of life. Thank God for where you are now. Ask him to show you how you can make the most of it. You might be surprised when you realize just how much you have to be thankful for.
God Bless,
Sullivan Jones
