Home Tools for your Journey July 24

Friday, July 24

I have learned to be content with whatever I have.
—Philippians 4:11b

Can you imagine living in a world where people had no desire to shop with borrowed money? In other words, people would spend only the money they had rather than making purchases on credit. Can you imagine if we suddenly realized that the latest or the greatest new gadget no longer defined us as a person? 

The most niggling problem of consumption is that we are never really satisfied with the goods or services that we have already purchased. We always want more. When the next version of an electronic gadget hits the stores, we are suddenly dissatisfied with our model. This dissatisfaction is increased when we see that others spent the same or less on the new item than we did on our old one. So, why can’t we be satisfied with what we have?

Surprisingly, this is not really an issue about goods and services. It is an issue about our soul. When we feel dissatisfaction descending like a cloud , it is time to sit in silence and find where our soul feels empty or in need. That time of stillness also offers us an opportunity to ask ourselves questions that may help.

Is my soul feeling the fullness of God? Have I been spending time with God? Am I feeling loved, or am I feeling neglected by heaven? When am I so content that going shopping doesn’t seem all that attractive?

When we settle ourselves in God, the goods and services of this world seem somehow less important. The latest iPhone just can’t compare with the inward peace that contentment with God can bring.

Gracious God, when what I have doesn't seem to be enough, help me feel your presence filling me.