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“Do your children complain about boredom?” Only in America. In fact, parents in foreign countries think that’s a strange question. “How many toys did you have growing up?” Middle-age parents say 0 to 10. Today, typical 5-year-olds have 250 toys. But, kids are bored today.
Guess what? Children aren’t the only ones in our society complaining of boredom. High tech toys often masquerade adult boredom.
A thin line separates the godly use of possessions and pursuits from the ungodly. Are we walking in the Spirit of God or the spirit of this world? Missing the target of “godliness with contentment” by an inch has the same result as missing it by a mile (1 Timothy 6:6, 9-10). Close isn’t good enough. We need to take a good look at our lives.
The Haves and the Have-Nots
Let’s picture a thin line that separates contentment from discontentment. The line is a street—Gratitude Avenue—the main road into Anywhere Acres. This could be your neighborhood. Turn into Anywhere Acres and drive down Gratitude Avenue. There’s something strange here. On the right side of the street, there’s a sense of peace and contentment that’s missing from the left side. People on the right side are thankful, and therefore content. Those on the left side aren’t. Let’s call them the “Haves” and the “Have-Nots.” Though everyone seems to have the same stuff, the Haves think they have all they need. The Have-Nots never think they do. It’s the difference between being content—or not. How’d this difference develop in a neighborhood where you’d expect everyone to be about the same? The Haves …have the right attitude.
They decided that discontentment is destructive. Maybe they had experienced the negative effects of being discontent—greed, jealousy, arguing, and indebtedness. The more they tried to satisfy their kids’ appetites for entertainment, the more bored and ungrateful the kids became. So the parents said, “We’re going to learn to be content” (Philippians 4:11). An attitude of gratitude—thankful for what they have instead of resentful for what they don’t—seems to permeate their homes. …have the right perspective.
God has promised always to provide what we need, not what we think we need. We didn’t always see the difference (Philippians 4:19); it all belongs to God anyway. We decided to focus on managing instead of accumulating (1 Chronicles 29:11, 14; 1 Corinthians 4:2). …have the right balance.
They were hard-working and diligent, wanted the best for their families. But there are certain lines they won’t cross; certain sacrifices they won’t make just to move up society’s ladder. Home seemed more important than house, family and faith more important than fun, and memories more important than money and material (Philippians 3:12-16). The Have Nots …feel left behind.
The grass always looks greener elsewhere than in their own front yard. That’s because most of their looking is done in the slick magazines that arrive in the mail, at the fantasy shows they watch on television. They’re missing the green pastures and still waters where God makes provision for His people (Psalm 23:2). ...feel left out.
They are so insecure about who they are that they look to others for total affirmation. And it’s always those who have more, do more, and go where they can’t go that they look at. They haven’t yet discovered that true friendship and fellowship is a by-product of mutual professions, not material possessions (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). …feel left over.
The Have-Nots shudder at leftovers: hand-me-down clothes, leftover meals… But they use leftovers because their credit cards are maxed out from spending on the “image” parts of their lives. However, they don’t like it and don’t want anyone to know. They think they deserve better than they’ve got (2 Corinthians 9:15). My question for you, dear friend, is this: If you moved into Anywhere Acres and chose to live on Gratitude Avenue, which side of the street would a realtor say is best suited for you—with the Haves or the Have-Nots? May you and I grow more grateful, and thereby more content, from this day forward.
Let’s picture a thin line that separates contentment from discontentment. The line is a street—Gratitude Avenue—the main road into Anywhere Acres. This could be your neighborhood. Turn into Anywhere Acres and drive down Gratitude Avenue. There’s something strange here. On the right side of the street, there’s a sense of peace and contentment that’s missing from the left side. People on the right side are thankful, and therefore content. Those on the left side aren’t. Let’s call them the “Haves” and the “Have-Nots.” Though everyone seems to have the same stuff, the Haves think they have all they need. The Have-Nots never think they do. It’s the difference between being content—or not. How’d this difference develop in a neighborhood where you’d expect everyone to be about the same? The Haves …have the right attitude.
They decided that discontentment is destructive. Maybe they had experienced the negative effects of being discontent—greed, jealousy, arguing, and indebtedness. The more they tried to satisfy their kids’ appetites for entertainment, the more bored and ungrateful the kids became. So the parents said, “We’re going to learn to be content” (Philippians 4:11). An attitude of gratitude—thankful for what they have instead of resentful for what they don’t—seems to permeate their homes. …have the right perspective.
God has promised always to provide what we need, not what we think we need. We didn’t always see the difference (Philippians 4:19); it all belongs to God anyway. We decided to focus on managing instead of accumulating (1 Chronicles 29:11, 14; 1 Corinthians 4:2). …have the right balance.
They were hard-working and diligent, wanted the best for their families. But there are certain lines they won’t cross; certain sacrifices they won’t make just to move up society’s ladder. Home seemed more important than house, family and faith more important than fun, and memories more important than money and material (Philippians 3:12-16). The Have Nots …feel left behind.
The grass always looks greener elsewhere than in their own front yard. That’s because most of their looking is done in the slick magazines that arrive in the mail, at the fantasy shows they watch on television. They’re missing the green pastures and still waters where God makes provision for His people (Psalm 23:2). ...feel left out.
They are so insecure about who they are that they look to others for total affirmation. And it’s always those who have more, do more, and go where they can’t go that they look at. They haven’t yet discovered that true friendship and fellowship is a by-product of mutual professions, not material possessions (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). …feel left over.
The Have-Nots shudder at leftovers: hand-me-down clothes, leftover meals… But they use leftovers because their credit cards are maxed out from spending on the “image” parts of their lives. However, they don’t like it and don’t want anyone to know. They think they deserve better than they’ve got (2 Corinthians 9:15). My question for you, dear friend, is this: If you moved into Anywhere Acres and chose to live on Gratitude Avenue, which side of the street would a realtor say is best suited for you—with the Haves or the Have-Nots? May you and I grow more grateful, and thereby more content, from this day forward.
This article was excerpted from Turning Points, Dr. David Jeremiah’s devotional magazine. Call Turning Point at 1-800-947-1993 for your complimentary copy of Turning Points.
