After I read 7 by Jen Hatmaker, it left me challenged for well over a year in ways that I never would have thought possible. I am currently working through the study workbook by the same title & one would think it would be a “safe” journey 🙂 How wrong I was to ever have that thought. It is once again, challenging me in ways, well, that I wish it didn’t.
I am coming to realize that the purpose of marketing is to create within us a discontent which continually gnaws at us. We hear ads every day that encourage us to try a diet, go on vacation, buy this make-up, lease a car, get our teeth whitened, buy a new phone, get faster internet, more cable channels, new sneakers, & even will find us a date or spouse. Can I just throw in something here that drives me crazy??? Have you noticed that there is a dating service for every possibility known to mankind – Asian, Christian, Jewish, Black, etc. I do not think we have ever had such a dating market before. OK, back to the main point now….
To further add to this dilemma, much of what we buy & own will become obsolete or lose value fairly quickly. Think of it – even a new car loses value the very minute you drive it off the lot. If you think you are not prone to want the “new”, let me share that all I needed last night was a moment where my phone went blank & I immediately began to wonder about a new replacement. Thankfully, it was only a second & my phone will be around till it dies. But here is what I realized…..The manifold wisdom of God to give us this commandment:
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17 NIV84).
It is when we see what someone else has that we think, “I want that too!”.
Yes, we truly do need to learn contentment with the things we already have. But this morning as I thought on this, I questioned myself….
- How does one become content with what they have?
- Can one be SATISFIED with what they already have?
As I sat wrestling with the questions in my heart, the words of Jesus came to me:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6 ESV)
He will never fade away or diminish in our lives. It is when we chase after that which completely fills that we will truly be satisfied.
** I linked up at The Cozy Book Hop.
Isn’t that so hard! The world is a constant MESS of “buy me!” or “i will improve your life!”. The ONLY One True Thing that can improve my life is JESUS!
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