Have you ever said, “My life would be better if …?” “I would be happier if ….?” Have you ever hear some one say that if they had this or got that, they would be happier? Have you ever desired something thinking that it would satisfy your need and make you live life better?
Just think about it. Are you having problems today? Are the things you are experiencing causing your life to be miserable? What things would you eliminate or want to get rid of to make you happy? Would you want a certain person to be assigned to another place, so that you won’t have to deal with them?
What is it you feel would make you happy? Take a good look at your life? What do you see? Is there anything you can find in your life to praise God for? If you have been born again and cannot regularly praise God then the problem lies in your heart. Psalms 33:1 says. “Rejoice in the lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.”
God delights in believers praising Him; it is beautiful to Him. Discontent in your life will always lead to eliminating something or always wanting something. Problems in your life only reveal the condition of the heart. If praise to God does not come forth in every situation in life then perhaps there is discontent in your heart for what God is doing.
Paul says in Philippians 4:11, that we should learn to be content in whatever condition we are in. Mature believers that are trusting God are content regardless of their situation. The nearer we are to God, the more we will feel like praising Him. Our heavenly Father loves praise, just as we live to hear our children tell how much they love us. Praise is speaking well of our great God. Praise is the product produced by all mature believers, read Hebrews 13:15.
Psalms 146:1; 147:1; 148:1; 149:1; 150:1, all open with the statement, “Praise
the Lord.” So when things happen we should realize God has not forsaken us. We should immediately say with our heart and mouth, “Praise the Lord!”
I have found that strong believers that are financially poor and in bad health can still regularly praise the Lord. Many who are suffering can endure the discomforts because they have found the secret of heaven. Their soul is full of the love of God and full of gladness because they know God is with them. They would never exchange their place with others with more things or health, if it would mean being without God.
The problem just might be that we are not aiming at the same things in our life that God is aiming at. If you think things and health and wealth are the answer to contentment then you are aiming at the things that can never bring true happiness. You will continue to think and say, “My problem would be better if ….? My life would be better if ….?”
The solution can be found in three words let, be & for. Hebrews 13:5, “Let
your conversation(Behavior) be without covetousness and Be content with such things as you have; For he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- Let-Your Behavior
- Be-Content
- For-God is with You
Let your behavior show Godliness, Be content with what you have, for God will be with you. If you would apply this principle you will learn to be satisfied with what God is doing in your life.
Have you ever thought that God has placed you where He wants you in life? If God were to give us more things, most of us could not handle it. Like a minister was asked to inform a man with a heart condition that he had just inherited a million dollars.
Everyone was afraid the shock would cause a heart attack and the man would die. The minister went to the man’s house and said, “Joe what would you do if you inherited a million dollars?” Joe responded, “Well Pastor, I think I would give half of it to the church.” The minister fell over dead.
Discontent in your life will always lead to you thinking things would be better only if you could change something. 1 Timothy 6:6-8, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”