“Because you have been trustworthy.” Luke 19:17 NIV
“Contentment is learning the distinction between plenty and more.”
My thoughts today ask, “when is more enough?”
The problem is not usually about what people have; the problem is the insatiable appetite to have more. There is a faulty belief that if a little bit of something is good then a lot more of that would be great, but that is not necessarily true. Success and happiness in life is recognizing when more is enough.
I have watched my wife, Gayle, take a bite of a dessert so tasty and then push it away, explaining to my amazement, “No bite ever tastes as good as the first.” I think I am more the opposite. That first bite just leads me to want more, sometimes until I wish I had not. But I have learned she is right; the last bite after too many certainly is far less delicious than the first one. Has that ever happened to you? I believe they call that overindulging. It would seem we all do that in too many things.
There are a lot of things – good things – that money can buy, but more money is not the answer to everything, if anything at all really. Some one has reasoned this way: money can buy you a bed but not sleep, books but not learning, delicacies but not an appetite, a house but not a home, medicine but not health, luxuries but not happiness, company but not friends, and influence but not integrity.
That is not to suggest that money is of little value, nor that you are not meant to have it or enjoy it. See 3 John 2 NKJV. I do suggest to you that money – and more of it – will not give you what it cannot provide. Appreciate it for what it can do, but understand its limitations. Contentment is learning the distinction between plenty and more. Money is not always worry-free, and more of the same is not the solution. “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and He adds no trouble to it.” Proverbs 10:22 NIV. Ever heard anyone refer to “ill-gotten gain?” God’s blessing is never ill-gotten gain. The Bible teaches three ways to be blessed with more, which will always be enough and for your good.
Be faithful with what you have, and God will give you more – “because you have been trustworthy.” Being responsible in someone’s trust brings you greater trust and added responsibilities. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” Luke 16:10-12 NIV.
Be generous in serving God and others with what you have, and God will give you more – “because you have been trustworthy.” “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but it comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed . . blessing crowns him who is willing to sell . . he who seeks good finds goodwill . . (but) whoever trusts in his riches will fall . . the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:24-28 NIV.
Be obedient to do the will of God with what you have, and God will give you more – “because you have been trustworthy.” “By faith, Moses . . esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the great reward that God would give him.” Hebrews 11:26 NKJV/NLT.
My prayer for you today is: enjoy what you have and trust God for all you need.