Thought of the Day !!

Give me neither poverty nor riches!
Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?"
And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God's holy name.
Proverbs 30:8b-9 (NLT)

Some people believe that God wants us all to have everything we want. They look to passages in the Old Testament that speak about the faithful like Father Abraham and Job who were blessed by God with wealth. They also look to where the New Testament speaks of asking and therefore receiving. Other people look to passages like the one where Jesus tells us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow him to support the belief that we shouldn't have the things of this world.

No matter where on the theological spectrum you belong, how is it that you will find contentment?

The word proverb means to have a truth that is condensed into a few words and stated in a memorable fashion. And I believe that if we look to the book of proverbs (or you could say the book of truths), we can find the truth about contentment when it comes to wealth.

Our passage this morning teaches that contentment comes in having just enough. The author shows us that there are dangers with having too much, as well as dangers of having too little.

Notice that it doesn't say that if we are rich, we WILL deny God. It also doesn't tell us that we WILL steal if we are poor. But temptation is much easier to fall into when we have so much that can make us prideful or too little that can make us desperate.

Think about how much you have and be honest with yourself about the temptations that what you have can bring to you. Hit those temptations head on and bring the battle to the devil. If you have much, use it wisely, beginning with giving to God as a thanksgiving for all He's given you. If you have little, use it wisely as well so that you do not come into a desperate situation. And remember that contentment doesn't come with what you have, but whose you are.

In the love of Christ,
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