Wednesday Reading: 1 Timothy 6 6-10
 
Key Verse: 1 Timothy 8
8  But having food and clothing, we will be content.

Devotion:
I wonder, have you ever dreamt about winning the lottery or some other great monetary prize; have you ever thought that doing so would take all your troubles away? We only have to look back on a few people as examples to see that so many people cannot cope with having a whole lot of money because they allow that money to rules their lives rather than continue on in being content with their lot. But it is not just money that does that to us...

As soon as we start to lust after anything in our lives we will find that that thing will take a hold of our lives and start to run our lives rather than just being a desirable thing in the background. If we allow ourselves to start coveting after such things, even before we have them, they will still run our lives without us realising it. When we allow ourselves to be caught up in wanting more than we have, we find that we are always wanting and no longer happy; whereas if we find contentment with what we do have, we will have a much happier existence. If we are content with what we have, we will find that we are able to enjoy things more and will lead a less stressful life too.

It is not to say that we should plainly accept anything that comes our way but rather to be content with what we do get. It is not the be all and end all to have the biggest and best because that will only give us momentary happiness. We must rather aim for happiness that is eternal and that is certainly not going to be given to us through any physical means! We may be able to build up enormous wealth but unless we are able to use that wealth to its fullest extent we will always find it lacking in some way... and then we die, leaving it all behind. Being content does not mean giving up on building things up, it means being happy with what you are able to achieve and sharing that happiness with others whilst seeing that God has given you what you have...

Points to Ponder:
Are you trying too hard?
 
Are you working with God?