Financial Peace and Contentment

You know what I think about during the holiday season? Money and gifts. I can't rest or enjoy anything else until I have budgeted for the season three or four times over and I know exactly what everyone is getting. Does that seem absurd? Some people actually start saving for next year's Christmas right after Christmas. What about the rest of the year? I know that money can't buy happiness and all that good stuff, but I still seem to hoard and budget myself to death at times, and it's always for birthdays, Christmas, and a few of the other holidays. I never seem to be content with the amount of money in the bank when I know I have to spend some of it.

Money is great, you should have a savings account and retirement fund, but it shouldn't be a priority. More than likely folks out there believe that as long as they give the 10%, maybe a hair more, that they can spend and do whatever else they want to with their money. God gave it to us right? I've been there! Don't twist up what I'm saying here, I do have a point I'll get to in just a minute. I also believe that we are entitled to spend on some of our desires. The hard part is trying to balance it all. If we're raging in our hearts for more, more, more, that doesn't leave a lot of room to be thankful for what we have. Nor does it give us the peace we need to walk out His will.

"Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.  So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life." 1 Timothy 6

Is he saying not to have anything to do with money? No. The point is that chasing after money is a trap. We are counting on our own talents and resources to establish ourselves for a fruitless cause. My favorite part of the scripture is, "Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth." If we're never content we have no peace. If we have no peace we aren't trusting God to meet our needs. God always has our best interest in mind, so we can trust him with everything. My prayer is that  you and I would reflect on those things we have which are of eternal value this holiday season. What if we all woke up tomorrow and our bank accounts were liquidated? What would we have then? Only the things that can't be shaken. Happy Holidays to all!