“Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” (Prov. 30:8-9)
We are to remain content with what we have been blessed to receive from the Lord, we are not to seek for the offerings of this world to fulfill our happiness, if it is a temporal item, we are not to desire it.
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7)
There are those who say that the Almighty will not answer our prayers concerning certain things of this world, and our receiving of them, because they would be detrimental to our walk with Him, but I beg to differ, because I personally believe that sometimes we need to learn a lesson.
The father of the prodigal son knew full well the intent of his son’s heart, what his desires were, yet he still not only allowed that young man to leave, but gave him the wherewithal to do so.
Sometimes my friends we need to be taught lessons the hard way.
The Almighty knew beforehand what David would do once he saw Bathsheba, he knew that Peter would deny Him three times. He knew Adam would fall.
“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33)
Not one of us has ever been or ever will be fully content in this life, even Paul, who knew the truth of what he was blessed to write, asked that his coat would be brought to him because he was cold. It is the denying of certain items, certain things in our lives that is expected of us, and the acceptance of all that our Father in heaven brings into our lives at the same time.
Those of the race of Adam who serve the Living God, who have been born again will know every desire of their heart one day in glory, but until that day, each of us are to be content.
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1st Peter 5:7)
When those who were present with our Savior that day heard Him say that the riches of this world given to a person did not necessarily mean that person had found favor with the Lord, they were amazed. They thought upon Abraham and his incredible wealth, Isaac and Jacob’s earthly rewards, not Elijah eating locust and honey or John the Baptist in the desert.
And far too many do the same today, incredible, unimaginable wealth compared to some of our brothers and sisters in poor nations, because the proof of the love of God is receiving more of this world in their minds. And of not having any of those items removed from them.
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” (Job 13:15)
At best, if all is taken from them, they believe He will replace it all, and with better, sevenfold more.
Was Lazarus at the rich man’s gate content?
Could you be content sitting beside him?
Striving to attain more, fearing to lose what we have, and calling ourselves content. And to tell you the truth my friends, far too many who profess to serve the Living God think more on those streets of gold, of those pleasures forevermore, than on being in the presence of joy.
I think you should know this truth as well, contentment is a state of mind, and the more you allow your mind to be transformed by the Holy Spirit, the more you will honestly, and without any reservations, be able to say, “Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.”
I know it’s difficult, we all struggle with these truths, just remember, He who has promised is faithful.
