Exhortation Station

The other day my Dad, brother, and I were discussing the topic of contentment.  I’ll start by sharing a passage in Luke 12.  This passage is Yahshua’s response to a man that said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”

Luke 12:14-21 — ¹⁴ But He [Yahshua] said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵ Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” ¹⁶ And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. ¹⁷ And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ ²¹ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

When reading this passage, verse 15 particularly sticks out to me — the reminder that even if you have an abundance of possessions, your life does not consist of those possessions.  We see this verse played out all around us.  It is amazing and saddening to me how many famous musicians, who seemed to have “had it all” from a worldly standpoint, admitted themselves that they were miserable. 

If the abundance of possessions is not “where it’s at” so to speak, what really makes for true fulfillment in life?  Living in a way that is “rich toward Elohim (God),” plus contentment, is the key.   1 Timothy 6:6 says, ” ⁶ But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.” 

As my Dad, brother, and I got to talking more about contentment, we were freshly reminded of how “golden” contentment is.  Perhaps the most golden thing about contentment is that it’s a free choice!  The problem is that most people in our day are deceived into thinking you have to “earn” contentment by gaining earthly success and possessions.  My brother put it this way:  “It’s like people think they need to have riches as a “middle-man” before they can have contentment, but why not just “skip the middle-man” and go straight to contentment!”  Just think of how much trouble and heartache you can save by choosing to be content. 

Paul says in Philippians 4:11-13,

^“11  …I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. ¹² I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. ¹³ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

To conclude, contentment isn’t about constraining you; it’s about freeing you to turn what you have into great riches!  Let’s remember to be content and to be rich toward Yahweh, storing up for ourselves treasures in Heaven (Matt. 6:20).

Note: All Bible passages NASB translation unless otherwise indicated — emphasis added.