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Philippians
4:12, 13
"I
know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret of 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."The
Bible teaches us many life lessons. One of the most useful of those
life lessons is that of being content with what you have.
We
live in a material world. Hollywood tries to instill in us the belief
that it is what you have that counts. According to the media you
need the right clothes, the right car, the right shoes, the right
hair, the right "look" to be a worthwhile person. We often
spend much of our time striving to obtain more and more of the luxuries
that this world offers. We want all the gadgets and all the latest
fashions. We want the best cars and houses and our kids want all
the latest toys. It is so easy to get caught up in all these "wants"
to the degree that we spend all our spare time working toward obtaining
"things" instead of investing our time into making this
world a better place.
We
need to remember that it is not our outward appearance that really
matters, but it is what we are inside that counts. It doesn't matter
what you have, but WHOSE you are. Are you content with the things
the Lord has given you or do you often complain that you don't have
the newest and latest contraption? Do you spend your time serving
God and others or do you spend your time working overtime to have
extra money so that you can have more purchasing power?
To
be honest, sometimes I struggle with being content with what I have.
A new rug in my entryway would be nice and so would a new living
room chair ... If I am able to earn a little extra to purchase these
things, that's great. But I need to remember my priorities. I need
to remind myself that I've chosen to live a simple lifestyle so
that I could have the time and energy to invest in relationships
with people.So when I look around my house - or in my closet - and
start dreaming of things I would like to have, I need to remind
myself that God is good and he amply supplies for all my needs -
even many of my "wants". I don't always need the latest
gadget and newest clothes. These things don't bring true happiness.
But being content with what you have does bring peace.
***
Patti
Chadwick is a freelance writer and creator of www.parentsandteens.com Visit
the site and sign up for her free newsletter. She is also
in the process of opening a new site, www.homeschoolingteens.com.
To sign up for the free Homeschooling Teens newsletter visit:
http://pcpublications.org/subscribe.htm
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