It’s a nasty looking word in my opinion. I think words have personalities. This one is sly, seeping into your mind when you’re not aware of it, taking root from innocent observations or situations. It poisons the past with regrets, the present with dissatisfaction and taints the future with disillusionment, lack of hope, envy and a risk of chasing after the wrong goals for a lifetime. I don’t like it.
I found it hiding in me recently, which was an unpleasant surprise. There I was, merrily observing the splinter in my husband’s eye, only to realise that he didn’t have one – the rotten great plank in mine was obscuring my vision. I had been reading a book called ‘Affluenza’ by a man called Oliver James – he travelled the world for 9 months to see if his hunch that being rich didn’t make you happy was true. It was. In fact if being rich is your aim it makes you miserable. On the other hand, if doing what you love makes you rich then you’ll probably be fine. It’s about your motives and goals. Hubby does what he loves, leaves the past where it belongs, accepts present reality with contentment and looks forward to the hidden delights of the future. I regret decisions which mean we don’t have a huge garden, wish I had a big garden now and wonder if we will ever get a garden worthy of bike rides before the kids get old. The kids like playing outside in our current garden. I also woudn’t mind another bedroom. And a dining kitchen. Oh and a big driveway – for two cars. Don’t get me started on shoes….
Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
In the Western World we have so much that it is never enough…
1 Tim 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
These words are words I love – their personalities are warm, yet strong; they demand the better side of me and make me want to flee from all the wanting and chase the peace that comes from being content and oh so thankful for what I have been freely given.
1Tim 6:6-8 “But 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.”
