The pastor asked, "How much stuff is enough?" He challenged his congregation to really look at their lives and figure out how to live "below their means" and to give away what they don't need or use.
"If you haven't used it in a year, you don't need it."
It's not easy to give away stuff. More for some than others. I have a friend and her love language from her husband is not giving her a gift but telling her he tossed something out!
But really, how much do we need? And if we need something materialistic, think we absolutely can't live without it, are we filling a need that God alone wants to meet?
"Godliness with contentment is great gain," Paul wrote to Timothy in 1st Timothy 6:6.
If we are content with God, we have GREAT gain. I'm for that. How about you?
Maybe you are satisfied with your lifestyle and you don't need any material thing, but your "stuff" is more emotional and soulish.
Do you need people to approve of you? Affirm you all the time? Do you have to be the center of attention? Emotional affection is part of needing "stuff." Even our heart needs we submit to Godliness.
I'm not very materialistic. My 9-year-old car and my husband's 10 year-old-truck is fine with me. We are happy and content with our house. I'm even at deep peace with being childless.
But lately, I've been restless in other areas of my life. Saturday night hubby and I sat out on the front swing, talking and praying, and God tapped my heart. "You're not content."
What I felt Him whisper to me is that I have to be content with all aspects of my life: things, money, relationships, career, spiritual and emotional life.
All of those things are His provision. I'm 95% content with my life. I have the best husband. A fabulous church. My dream career. But honestly, some things have not materialized like I thought. I'm disappointed thus discontent at my progress.
As I listened to this message today, I understood all aspects of my life and career are from God. What I have. AND what I don't have. Okay, I can roll with that truth. I can lean back and trust God to comfort me.
Godliness with contentment is great gain.
Being in deep gratitude with what I have helps me stay content. But I have dreams I strive for, and if I don't see the fruits, I become discontented. I must sometimes question who is driving this swing I'm in. I think it's time to stop pushing and let the wind of God swing me.
ReplyDeleteThose are the thoughts that flowed from me after reading your post. Thanks for this.
I can relate to what you're saying, Lynn. I was thinking I'd posted prematurely. I should wait until I have a testimony! Ha. But already I feel God moving in my heart.
ReplyDeleteRachel
Thanks for sharing Rachel... God's been speaking a lot about this in my own heart as well.
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