Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
I grew up in Houston. I lived in a nice, respectable three bedroom brick home. We weren’t wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, but we had what we needed. Sometimes, as we drove through the wealthy parts of town, I would dream about living in one of those houses one day.
So far, it hasn’t happened. Oh, don’t get me wrong. God has been good to us! We have always had more than we needed. We have never been truly hungry, we’ve never gone without needed clothing, and we’ve always had a roof over our heads. I still wouldn’t mind living in one of those houses, but it’s not that important to me. I can’t imagine being more blessed than I am right now.
You see, Jesus knew that living the good life had nothing to do with our stuff. It has to do with our hearts. And no matter how much stuff we acquire, it will never give us the peace or the joy we all want. It will only give us bigger credit card payments and bigger headaches.
If we want to find true happiness, we need to let go of our desire for things. The only way to true fulfillment in life is through a relationship with God, and serving Him and others.
But how can that be?
I don’t know the answer to that, but I know it’s the truth. I can tell you without hesitation that my stuff has not brought me contentment. Helping a friend in need, on the other hand, has filled my heart with something intangible, something that causes a spring to my step and puts a smile on my face.
Joy. Peace. A smile on my face and a spring in my step.
That’s what I call the good life.
Dear Father, Thank You for warning us against greed. Help me to find contentment in You, and not in things.
Amen
“my stuff has not brought me contentment. Helping a friend in need, on the other hand, has filled my heart with something intangible”…AMEN to that!!!
Isn’t that a great feeling, Bello, knowing that we made a difference in someone’s life?
From what I can tell through your blog, you’ve helped a lot of people. Thanks for being so faithful to pray for those in need, and for all the countless other things you do.
Excellent thoughts, especially this week, Renae!
Thanks, Jeanette! Merry Christmas!
Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas!
Thanks, Lillie! Merry Christmas to you, too!