Contentment Cannot be Found Through Worldly Means
Last week the Kentucky powerball jackpot was at 112 million dollars, which is kind of
low considering that the jackpot on the 13th of January was at a whopping 1.5 billion dollars.
Wow, that is a lot of money and in our current economy I can see why people are so willing
to throw their money away on chance. When I worked at a grocery store during my college
years I remember some people coming into the store and spending milk money on powerball tickets and unfortunately I saw this a lot when I would work customer service on the
weekends. Why were they willing to risk and take that chance?
If you talk to anyone who takes the lottery seriously they will tell you that they are
playing the lottery in the hope that they will get rich quick. Some might even say it is for the
good of the state. I know the ads say that the state lotto money goes toward schools and
roads but let’s face it, most people who buy tickets are buying them to get rich even though
some might say it is just for fun. There is that hidden desire to hit the jackpot and win big
money. Why is something like this so alluring for some people? It is because instead of
going about life with a feeling of contentment they live a life needing something to make
them feel satisfied and happy.
When we think about true contentment notice what the inspired Augur wrote in
Proverbs 30:7-9, “two things I require of thee; deny them not before I die; Remove far from
me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food allotted to me.”
Notice Augur’s want in this life and it was neither to be rich and have the best of everything,
nor to be poor and have nothing at all. His request was that he could live life comfortably in
the middle. His reasons are seen in the following, “Lest I be full and deny you, and say who
is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of God.” What a request!
The reason Augur wanted to be somewhere in the middle is so he could focus and keep his
faith directed toward where it needed to be directed to. For most of us here in the United
States, we live just as Augur is asking for and yet we live in one of the most discontent
societies in the world. Sometimes we even find ourselves joining the unhappy throng and
gripping about what we don’t have instead of praising God for what we do have.
The inspired Paul in Philippians chapter four verses 16-19 is thanking the Brethren
at Phillipi in regard to how they helped him in his time of need. Even though Paul was
having struggles he was still thankful for what was being provided, “indeed I have all and
abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet
smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God, and my God shall supply all
your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Notice that Paul’s contentment
led him to not only appreciate but to ask for blessing on those who were attending to his
need. Whenever we find ourselves in a state of discontent let’s think about what we do
have and ask God’s blessings on those who have helped us in the past, as well as pray for
those who don’t have and are struggling. If we can keep our mind focused on our blessings
we will be happy, contented, and free from the troubling thoughts of not having which is the
very definition of vanity.
Have a great week,
Russell Crawford