How does the phrase “be satisfied with what you have” strike you? I confess that it bothers me.
I might be a pretty content guy, but the idea of being satisfied with what I have implies that I shouldn’t be hoping for more … a nicer house or a more dependable car or even a fancier cell phone.
Could this satisfaction be an indictment against ambition or a mandate for lethargy? I wonder.
Yet scripture says very clearly that we are not to love money but bet satisfied with what we have (Hebrews 13:5 NLT). Because I believe that God’s word is always true, whether I like it or not, I have been digging to better understand the “whys” and “hows” of this command. Follow along for what I have been learning.
Why we should be satisfied?
- It’s an antidote to the love of money (greed)
If you are struggling with this concept, let me ask you another question: “Do you think it is okay to love money?” I am guessing most of you are saying, “Of course not! We should love God and each other … not money!”
But read Hebrews 13:5 again (here in the NLT): “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have.”
The problem is this: being content with our current circumstances is directly linked to not loving money. Stated differently, if we are not satisfied with what we have, we evidently have a love for money. The good news is this: When we develop a satisfied mindset, we are liberated from loving money. It is the antidote.
Read the full story at SeedTime.
Photo: Fernando Brasil, Unsplash