An Ibo adage says " When the Goat is eating the yam it should remember the kid is close by watching it."
The last of God's Ten Commandments--and probably the most difficult to obey--deals with the sin of covetous. "Thou shalt not covet . . . any thing that is thy neighbour's" (Exodus 20:17). "Take heed, and beware of covetousness" warned the Lord Jesus, "for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15). This warning introduced His parable of the rich man whom God called a fool. "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21).
But how does one attain this in a consumer driven society such as ours.? Some might even think that with all the money companies spend on advertising, buying that brand new car is a form of commercial responsibility. Riding a car or jet is not a sign of covetousness or not being contented. What God sees is our hearts, there lies our true purpose and intention. And how does one become rich toward God? "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. . . . Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. . . . seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:20, 25, 33). The things that are important to God should be important to you. It is a recipe for a life of peace and inner joy. Guided by this precept,a Christian will not be drawn to the unending quest for material wealth at the expense of family or time he/she ought to use in serving God. What's d point of it all anyway?
Contentment simply means a state of being physically, mentally and spiritually stable in the place or position God wills for you at any point in time. It has nothing to do with dreams and aspirations, plans and progress. It just says you are not anxious about what you don't have nor call to question the place or position you have not acquired.
People who are not contented cannot do the will of God nor follow him because He will always appear too slow, too daft or too old-fashioned for them. That is one extreme. The other is that the lazy and slothful hide under this scripture and cover their failures with it. They should know this: God desires the very best for His people in EVERY aspect of life and good living. He just wants it at His own time, at His own pace and for His own purpose. If that is good enough for you, then you wouldn't err.
We all too easily fall into the trap of being possessed by our possessions and may even think these possessions are somehow God's reward for our "godliness." But Paul says those who suppose "that gain is godliness" are "destitute of the truth." We need to remember that in God's sight "godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:5-6). And with Paul, we should strive to be able to say sincerely that "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11).
God has promised to supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19), if we are faithful stewards of what He has entrusted to us. Therefore, God's Word commands: "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).
(Job36vs11) 'If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in Prosperity, and their years in Pleasures'.'
Ijeoma Olujekun.
I totally agree, those lazy ones would use being content as an excuse. Some People are actually afraid to go for their dreams and aspirations, so they use being content as a cover up... well said dear, God actually wishes above all things that we prosper.
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