DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 9 August 2023
Financially free but spiritually bankrupt

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, andwe cannot take anything out of the world.” 1 Timothy 6:6-7

One of the things that disappoint us parents is the discontent of our children. Often, we hear fellow moms complain about their okid not appreciating what they have given them, and the things that they provide. But have we ever thought of what the Heavenly Father feels whenever we, adults complain?

Discontent after all is not just felt by kids and teenagers, because adults like us are more likely to fall into the trap of wanting more, needing more and working for more. Amplified by social media, the cycle of commercialism, envy, toxic negativity, and greed has become endless. The bible reminds us to practice contentment and be at peace. In St. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews he said  “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” (Hebrews 13:5)

When we make idols out of material possessions our tendency is to accumulate wealth regardless of the consequences. We no longer care if we rarely spend time with the kids as long as we could fatten up our bank accounts and justify it by saying we are working for their future and financial security. But is this really the kind of future we want our children to have? Financially free but spiritually bankrupt?

We forego spending time with them, molding their character to be Godly people, only to find out from their teachers that they are depressed, and that what they really need is our attention and love. We forget that we could rely on the Lord that we abuse our minds and bodies to make ourselves self-sufficient, and model this lifestyle to our children. 

There is nothing wrong with wanting to provide the best future for our kids but maybe, just maybe we can take a cue from the Holy Bible on when to stop amassing wealth and start living a God-centered life. In the Gospel of St. Luke, he told us about Jesus’ saying that life is not just about wealth “And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

So if you are thinking of how much is enough, maybe this popular quote on minimalism could help you too: “enough is a decision, not an amount.”

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to read 1 Timothy 6:6-11 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: Can you honestly say that you are content and at peace with your life right now? If not, how do you plan to reach that point and what could an intimate relationship with the Lord do to help you get to this?

Conversation with the Lord:  Dear Lord, I thank you for all the blessings you have bestowed upon us. I pray that I will complain less, and appreciate more. Allow me to model contentment to my own children, and tell them that there is a God that takes care of us. Help me intentionally teach them about You, so that they will know that spending eternal life is more important than all the temporary riches this world has to offer.