What's So Wrong With Wanting More In Life?

Can we ever have enough? Is there ever a point where we say "I am content with what I have?" It just seems we are always looking at that supposed greener grass on the other side of the fence. Instead of being thankful for what we have we long for what we feel we are missing. It is hard to be happy, to find contentment when we think life, or maybe God, is holding out on us.

Christianity isn't suppose to be like that. Jesus brought us to a different perspective, mentality, place of existence. He first told us to stop putting our priorities in the temporary things of this world. He taught us that the Kingdom's values are different. Then he transformed us into a new creation, filling us with his Spirit, and making us capable to live as he had lived. What he taught was not suppose to be an outside edict conforming our behaviour but a heart transformation that provoked the fruit of change. The problem is, this fact is not always explained to Christians as they struggle with the pull of this world and their changed heart.

Listen to this wisdom from Proverbs:

Give me neither poverty nor riches—
Feed me with the food allotted to me;
Lest I be full and deny You,
And say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or lest I be poor and steal,
And profane the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:8-9)

There is much wisdom here. Just imagine if we could apply it. Imagine accepting to live with what we have. Imagine being able to resist the temptation of credit cards. Imagine being able to live with Yahweh as our provider, recognizing him as a good provider and not longing for things he has not provided.

It is not a matter of money being evil, although it is a root of evil. Jesus told us to use money as a tool, to control it, use it and not become enslaved to it. We get off track when we think we are suppose to provide for ourselves. Yahweh opens the doors of opportunity and closes them as well. He provides through the harvest but he also sometimes has to send manna. When we go searching outside of his provision we are disrespecting him, telling our Father he is not a good provider.

Maybe someday perhaps we will understand this but as long as the system of the world continues to dominate the Kingdom in us, we will continue to struggle to be content. Jesus should be sufficient and most of us claim that he is. It takes real honesty with self and the conviction of the Spirit to know the real condition of our hearts.