Patti Burris

1 Timothy 6:6-7

But Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

When Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, he addressed the greed of the Ephesians. He wanted to warn the Ephesians about the consequences of  their greed. Their greed was the root of their problems and Paul knew it needed to be addressed.

I admit that I have been guilty of letting envy get the best of me when so and so gets new furniture or so and so gets a new car. There are times when I cry out to God, “I work, and do what I’m supposed to do. Why do I never get these things? Why do I always have to struggle?” This kind of attitude breeds bitterness. I have needed an attitude adjustment more than once!

In today’s society, materialism and consumerism has led to greed. Greed is a sin and it leads down a very dangerous path. We all want the newest vehicles, the newest and biggest houses, the newest and most expensive smart phones. You name it, we want it! No one is satisfied with living simply anymore and we have suffered the consequences of  living with our discontentment. Those consequences include: living a life apart from God, always wanting the next best thing, continual dissatisfaction with what we have and with life itself.

If you have fallen into the trap of materialism, I encourage you to meditate on the following questions and answer as honestly as you can. Begin a dialogue with God and ask Him to show you where you may need an attitude adjustment.

1. Has my materialism produced an attitude of greed within me?

2. If so, what consequences have I suffered as a result of my materialism?

3. Am I really satisfied with my life, or am I in a constant state of dissatisfaction?

4. What is God telling me about this materialistic attitude?

5. What steps is God leading me to take to change this attitude of materialism?

6. What steps is God leading me to take to live more contently in my life?

7. How will I implement those steps?

8. What is my timeline in making these changes?

Living contently in our lives is an ongoing and sometimes painful process. It is a heart issue and sometimes we may find ourselves subject to undergoing the  pruning process of our heavenly Father, in order to rid us of the hardened areas of our hearts. This is a process, friend. Don’t get discouraged if the process is taking longer than you expected. Take one step at a time. Open your heart to our heavenly Father and find joy in the simple things in life.