Today's devo focuses us on wealth and contentment. I will never forget a time over 25 years ago when I was visiting with a man who made more than ten times what I made in annual salary and He simply could NOT find any contentment. He mistakenly thought that if he could purchase all those "things" he would be happy. He purchased them and he was not happy. It was a heart issue.
Several years ago Dawn Marie and I, with several friends, visited Mozambique Africa. We visited villages where families lived in huts smaller than our home bedroom. We also visited people in Croatia who lived in the bullet riddled remains of a home. In both cases we observed people learning to have contentment in spite of wealth.
In my pastoral responsibilities I have done a wedding that cost the father about $75,000 and the couple simply couldn't get enough. No contentment in possessions or life relationships. It was a heart issue.
Wealth doesn't make us happy or content. I have seen a content and happy heart in simple lifestyle and opulent lifestyle, because the happiness or contentment is in the heart.
It is vitally important for us to see our wealth as a tool to use for the Kingdom of God and not a prize for us to obtain and show off like a trophy.
Is your wealth a tool to use for God or do you see it as a possession to hold for yourself?
God bless you,
PJ
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It is a constant struggle to balance the desire to have more money and the desire to take care of oneself and family properly. Where is that fine line? I don't know. When I read the word, it tells me to trust in God for everything and He will take care of me. But I believe He still expects me to do my best in my job, save for the future, and plan for retirement. What do I really need here? Proverbs 30: 8-9. ...give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, "Who is the Lord?" Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. What is true wealth? Father help me to trust in you for wisdom to know the difference between worldly wealth and heavenly wealth.
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