In the United States, the day after Thanksgiving is known as "Black Friday". It is the day where people rush to retail stores to start purchasing gifts for the upcoming holidays (usually at a big discount for early risers). It is known as black Friday because it is supposed to bring stores from a negative profit ("the red") to positive profit "the black". My question this morning...no matter what deals are out there today...will any of that make people truly happy?
Do you think God sees it differently?
GOD'S CONCEPT OF HAPPINESS - Neil Anderson
Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6 NIV)
The world's concept of happiness is getting what we want. All
merchandising is based on this idea. To really be happy, we need a
flashier car, a sexier cologne, or any number of items that are better,
faster or easier to use than what we already have. We watch the
commercials, read the ads, and pursue all the latest fashions, fads and
fancy doodads. We buy into the lie that we're
not really happy until we get what we want.
God's concept of happiness is summed up in the simple proverb: "Happy is
the man who wants what he has." As long as you are focusing on what you
don't have, you'll be unhappy. But when you begin to appreciate what you
already have, you'll begin to experience the joys of life.
Paul wrote to Timothy:
"Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the
world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and
clothing, we will be content with that" (1 Timothy 6:6-8 NIV).
Actually, you already have everything you need to live a joyful life. You
have Christ. You have eternal life. You are loved by a heavenly Father who
has promised to supply all your needs. No wonder the Bible repeatedly
commands us to be thankful (1 Thessalonians 5:18). If you really want to
be happy, learn to be thankful for what you have and not covet what you
don't have."
I know that this is something that I struggle with at times. In fact, by the time that you read this...
I'll be at some mall somewhere trying to cross some items off my Christmas lists. God doesn't tell us
that "things" are the problem...gifts are fine...it's the spirit of "what's next" rather than "what's here"
that is the problem. Let's work on thankfulness together...I am looking forward to a great weekend
here on campus!
Pastor Brian
3 comments:
Sometimes when you have it all or all you want It still brings lonelyness , anxiety, depression maybe even worse.. Money will not bring you happiness for more than short while. Drawing closer to God will bring that feeling back to you..I found a quote that said.. Do what makes you Happy, Be with who makes you smile. Laugh as much as you breathe and Love as long as you Live.. God does all the above for us..
Well said..
Have a great weekend!
Pastor Brian
Saturday 24th.
You are a special one of God's special ed kids. I must have taken to some of the lessons that my parents taught because I dislike spending hard earned money for things that are not of lasting value. That's why I kept a pickup truck 22 years & stayed married for 21. I finally donated the truck (hopefully) to bless someone else & I am trusting God to take care of the latter in a state 1200 miles away. Yeah, I've wanted & ended up buying things & when they weren't a lasting value I was disappointed, but I don't believe that I have looked for satisfaction or peer acceptance through the purchase of some consumer good. My favorite place to shop is the grocery store.
God has touched my life life, but each person has choices to make whether they are receptive or not to the touch of God. Margaret & I are both thrifty spenders (in general) & for us it has a lot to do with being tithers. We usually don't have a tremendous amount of money left over after we tithe and that has contributed to our spending patterns. God has been a marvelous teacher & even though His lessons can be deadly (dying to self) I am so grateful to be one of His adopted sons. I have other sins that plague me that cause separation from God. I know it is by God grace that I am accepted & not by my spending habits. We will all have areas of strength & areas of weakness; that why we need loving brothers & sisters that will encourage, support, & walk with us through life. Sometimes they will even rebuke us when they see us go the wrong direction.
Those of us who are Christ followers can fail to receive the fullness of Christ when we fail to respond to the touch or the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
I love you & your whole bunch in Christ & I want to encourage you & everyone out there to continue to believe in those seeds of faith that have been sown (or are being sown)in your life. I know that God will use the pitiful amount of faith that we can muster to create a God Master Piece.
Written from His marvelous Master Piece in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Stan
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