Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Content with what I own!


                                                                                                       How often do we (especially in America) consider covetousness a sin? Or how often do we place it in the same category as fornication? Yet, both are a desire for more than what God has given.


Therefore be followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.  But fornication and all uncleanness or COVETOUSNESS, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints...Ephesians 5:1-2


COVET:  "covetousness," lit., "a desire to have more" (pleon, "more," echo, "to have"),
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)


To covet is to have a desire for MORE. Does that sound like Americans? Even those of us who follow Christ? I can certainly give an 'amen' for myself. Even though the Lord has 'downsized' us and even though my 'wants' have been GREATLY diminished due to the size of our current home .. frankly because there just isn't anywhere left to place something (we live in less than 300 sq. ft.)... I still find myself wanting more... just one more new top for summer .. or my greatest temptation which is 'just one more book' ... even though I have a box of new books next to my bed which I haven't read. 

The size of my home has helped narrow my temptation quite a bit. I no longer come to a sudden stop for garage sales. I no longer cruise the isles of Target or Walmart for something new to place in my home. My little studio is full to the brim (along with my garage and a small storage unit) which helps diminish the temptation to buy more.  Also, the fact that the Lord has reduced our budget to nearly 1/3 of what we used to live on has helped greatly in my fight against the temptation of wanting more STUFF!

God says in His Word that GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT is great gain. Not the things of this world.


God continues to teach me His lessons in the school of contentment. I wish I wasn't such a slow learner.


Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 
 1 Tim 6:6-10
NKJV

12 comments:

  1. It's interesting isn't it, how contentment is next to godliness and covetousness with fornication. And it's not money that is the root of all evil; it's the love of money. Good thoughts for today.

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    1. Yes, the love of money is the sin. Hope your day is going well!

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  2. I remember my gramma would not accept gifts. She had a very small apartment and kept it neat as a pin and did not want anything new. She was frugal about things and that was good. Eventually as she aged she had to live in half of a room in a nursing home with someone else. She had her little table and chair and her bed and and bedstand,her bible and that's almost all. I don't think she minded that too much--but she wished she could live with one of her children and they did not want to do that. She wanted to be useful and about once a week she did come and do cleaning and cooking for my working mom, I don't think she ever stopped that, my last memory of her is doing dishes with her, she died about a week later while shopping.

    You know-- I saw her content with her 'stuff' but I always wonder do we come to learn to be content with the really hard disappointments in life? Not things like not being able to live in a house--but things like our children or husband not walking with the Lord.

    Well I guess we're not perfect for sure.

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    1. Your grandma sounds like a special woman. Even though her children did not care for her in her old age.. she still cared for them. So sad in a way but such a beautiful example of a mother's heart!

      I was thinking about your last paragraph. Do you think if we were content with loved ones not walking with the Lord that we might not pray as fervently for them? As long as their is breath their is hope. We will never know until they take their last breath that maybe the Lord will save them. And even then we'll never know for sure on this earth if possibly they drew near to the Lord and accepted Christ in their heart that last moment.

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  3. Lately I'm struggling with being content with the number of "hours" in a day. Always wanting one more to complete a project so I often stay up way too late. The next day I really feel it. Your comments are making me see this in a new light. I need to be content in this area of my life, and trust that God has given me enough time to do what is important, and the other things can wait. Calling it what it is... Coveting...This shall be good for my soul.

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    1. Oh Laurie! You and me both! Elisabeth Elliot had some WONDERFUL articles on 'do the next thing' and the 'gift of the present moment'. Psalm 16:5 is a favorite of hers regarding our 'assigned portion'. I learned so much from her but I still fight it daily. I'm learning to stop at a certain time at night even though my work may not be done. That is my time with my husband and I don't want to give it up. :-)

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  4. Our society is always pushing for more, bigger, better. I think many people do not have God in their lives and they continually try to fill up that empty spot with material items, or they eat too much, over exercise, become addicted to porn, or whatever. Satan is very clever and and magnifies our weaknesses so we fall for whatever it is. My hubby and I finally figured it out. We are so much happier now.

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    1. I hope I won't fall for the enemies traps, too. I know how weak my flesh can be at times. Thankfully the Lord is committed to conforming me into the image of Christ.

      Nice to hear from you!

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  5. This was such a great post. I have had to live with family for almost a year to help out with my mom before my dads passing. Then went back to AZ and am now living in a 16 ft camp trailer (that was meant for camping only) at my Son's place. This Post is so true and I feel like someone else understands how we want to please God, but sometime we are just SO TIRED OF THE TRIALS. God knows whats best, but we do not always like the way we get there!

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    1. We lived in a very small motor home once while our home was being put together. I pretended I was a missionary. :-) At about the 6 week point we went into town and spent the weekend at a nice hotel. :=) Learning contentment.

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  6. Good Evening! I just found your blog and feel such a relief after reading every post. I have feel an incredible urge lately to change my life to a more simpler one...simpler in every way. We've started to make changes and due to a family crisis, we now have the opportunity to make this desire happen. Unfortunately, it's taking a crisis to make this change but I am determined now that I really see where God is leading me.
    I hope you post again soon! Your posts have been such an inspiration and just what I need right now.
    Sarah xo

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    1. Hi Sarah and welcome! Life is VERY full right now. Lots of changes. I hope to write about it soon! So nice to meet you!

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