Coming home at Christmas time is brutal. #1 It's cold. #2 Christmas means an obnoxious amount of consumerism and poor financial decisions.
I have always struggled with contentment. I love stuff. I've been conditioned to loved stuff, targeted since I was a child to want the newest, latest, greatest. To be the first, the only one, the target of much jealousy. This thinking is in complete opposition to my surroundings in Uganda. Encompassed with poverty, I try to live a simple life, but I am far more comfortable than most. I know many who eat one meal a day. I see people wearing the same clothes every day. I see people exemplify patience and incredible financial discipline. I am surrounded by sacrifice and devotion. I know many people who can make $10 last for 2 weeks.
As we ended 2011, the SP team in Moroto went through 1 Timothy and one verse proverbially smacked me in the face. Chapter 6 details, " But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content."
If we have food and clothing, we will be content. Paul, what you mean to say is food, clothing, cash, cars, idevices, big screens, etc. Right? I don't think so. The Lord's prayer reads, "give us this day our daily bread." Not, give us cash, stuff, etc. Every day we need to rely upon the Lord for his provision.
I've never been poor. Well, I was in college once, but the bills still got paid. Now, I am debt free, employed and I get a nice paycheck every 2 weeks. There is a comma in my bank account balance. Blessed is all I can say. I can't really relate to the poor I am surrounded by.
This week I spent a good amount of money, and it bothered me. I still spent it, but I easily justified it. I "need" tougher, new jeans for another year of rigorous handwashing. I "need" a new pair of Nike runners- because, well I am bored of my old ones. I "need" an iPad. Think of how much easier it will be to travel and how much more productive I will be.
Of all people, I should be financially disciplined to avoid the material temptation malls and websites offer, but I failed miserably at this. How does one find contentment and simple living in a world of consumerism and dissatisfaction? Those hippies who live off the grid may be on to something.
Ugh. "We can't take anything out of this world."
2012- live simple, give away more money, say no when I want to say yes. Figure this contentment thing out.
Apple- please don't launch any new products.
I have always struggled with contentment. I love stuff. I've been conditioned to loved stuff, targeted since I was a child to want the newest, latest, greatest. To be the first, the only one, the target of much jealousy. This thinking is in complete opposition to my surroundings in Uganda. Encompassed with poverty, I try to live a simple life, but I am far more comfortable than most. I know many who eat one meal a day. I see people wearing the same clothes every day. I see people exemplify patience and incredible financial discipline. I am surrounded by sacrifice and devotion. I know many people who can make $10 last for 2 weeks.
As we ended 2011, the SP team in Moroto went through 1 Timothy and one verse proverbially smacked me in the face. Chapter 6 details, " But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content."
If we have food and clothing, we will be content. Paul, what you mean to say is food, clothing, cash, cars, idevices, big screens, etc. Right? I don't think so. The Lord's prayer reads, "give us this day our daily bread." Not, give us cash, stuff, etc. Every day we need to rely upon the Lord for his provision.
I've never been poor. Well, I was in college once, but the bills still got paid. Now, I am debt free, employed and I get a nice paycheck every 2 weeks. There is a comma in my bank account balance. Blessed is all I can say. I can't really relate to the poor I am surrounded by.
This week I spent a good amount of money, and it bothered me. I still spent it, but I easily justified it. I "need" tougher, new jeans for another year of rigorous handwashing. I "need" a new pair of Nike runners- because, well I am bored of my old ones. I "need" an iPad. Think of how much easier it will be to travel and how much more productive I will be.
Of all people, I should be financially disciplined to avoid the material temptation malls and websites offer, but I failed miserably at this. How does one find contentment and simple living in a world of consumerism and dissatisfaction? Those hippies who live off the grid may be on to something.
Ugh. "We can't take anything out of this world."
2012- live simple, give away more money, say no when I want to say yes. Figure this contentment thing out.
Apple- please don't launch any new products.
love this heart of simplicity. Ecclesiastes has so much to say about the need to enjoy life. helps me rest from all my striving.
ReplyDeleteEcclesiastes 3
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
I love this post Adam! What a great refresher and smack in the face for me too! I love the end- "Apple, please don't launch any new products."
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. Also, praise God for your heart of simplicity! May He continue to bless you!