Stay at Home Mom of Teens
 | Being Content By Patricia Chadwick |
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.
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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
