During a Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals last summer, a man named Steve Monforto caught a foul ball as he sat in the bleachers. Since fans are allowed to keep balls hit into the stands, Monforto handed the prize catch to his 3-year-old daughter Emily. But instead of treasuring the gift, she innocently tossed the ball back on the field!
As fans gasped and laughed, Steve simply hugged Emily and let her know that “she didn’t do anything wrong.” Fortunately for the smooth-fielding father, a Phillies representative brought him a new baseball to take home.
Just as little Emily didn’t see the value in the baseball, you and I sometimes don’t value what God has given us. Paul addressed this issue in 1 Timothy 6 as he implored his young protégé to be content. After warning Timothy about false teachers who are more interested in making a buck than blessing others (vv.3-5), he wrote, “True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth” (v.6). The word contentment in this context literally means “a perfect condition, not lacking anything.”
Does that describe you and me? Instead of being grateful for the gifts our heavenly Father has placed in our lives, sometimes we toss them away and grasp for useless stuff that we think we need. Paul nailed it when he wrote, “If we have enough food and clothing, let us be content” (v.8).
If we keep seeking stuff that “we can’t take” out of this world (v.7), we’ll only end up being “trapped by [our] many foolish and harmful desires” (v.9). There’s only one thing Paul tells us to “hold tightly”—the eternal life we have in Jesus.
Today, instead of moaning about your meager lot in life—tossing God’s good gifts back in His face—thank Him for all He’s given you.
More:
• Philippians 4:11-12
• Hebrews 13:5
Next:
What’s the difference between being content with what you have and simply being lazy and lacking motivation? How will you work on being more contented with what God has given you?
pjack4 on July 3, 2010 at 5:35 am
Thank you for this word today.
It reminds me that I should be thankful for all God has given me. Each day I do pray and thank God for all I possess. For I do know that what I have he has allowed me to possess. Because I can take nothing away with me when he calls me home. My children, home, job and all other good things he has allowed me to possess while here. and I am truly thankful.
Amen
HT on July 3, 2010 at 7:05 am
With my husband deployed half the year, every year, I find my “lot in life” very difficult to bear at times. Materially, we have more than I could hope to dream for, but I often find myself “hating life” because it is such hard work and I fail so often.
This message brought tears to my eyes as I realize, I have thrown my life in God’s lap and said, “I want a different one, an easier one.”
It isn’t just things, possessions, with which we should be content. Our “dead-end” jobs, the “difficult” people, our tedious chores. We should be thankful for them all, as they can be used to grow us more like Christ, if we allow them.
Thank you, LORD, for all of life’s hardships and trials and interruptions. Help me in my discontent. Cause the difficulties to grow patience, endurance, and steadfastness in me and my children…
rubymcgilvery on July 3, 2010 at 3:42 pm
when trials come they can either make us, or break us. that’s why we have to stay with GOD.when we’re with him our trails will make us strong.we’ll look back on them later on, and wonder how we made it over. then we’ll know it was nobody but JESUS.
Mil on July 3, 2010 at 7:31 am
Did anyone else have to say “Ouch!” this morning? I have been talking about my diminished circumstances because my new business hasn’t taken off as I thought it would. But in actuality I have been tremendously blessed. What do I have to complain about when each day God is working on my behalf? My income may be reduced, but I have lacked nothing. When things have seemed impossible, God has brought an unexpected blessing which has allowed me to endure and persevere. The troubles have come, but I am still here and God is still with me.
I thank God for today’s devotional. For the reminder to give thanks and be content wherever I find myself. For the God who loves is the One who sustains me. He has promised me a hope and a future. How dare I toss it back because right now it doesn’t look like I expected. And yet, He STILL loves me…
R R Kelkar on July 3, 2010 at 7:42 am
Tom, a good post. When I reflect upon my past, I can see that God has given me much more than I have ever deserved!
Invisible on July 3, 2010 at 9:32 am
Wow, what a different take on life’s difficulties. Curious but I find all of your posts pretty amazing.
Hey, HT, I’d like to extend a thank you to you and your husband for your service and sacrifice for our Country. One of my sons has recently enlisted in the military and ships out in five weeks. While my heart worries over him some, I am proud so proud of him. Thank you.
HT on July 5, 2010 at 7:02 am
Invisible…(as we should be–“I must decrease and Christ must increase”)
I will respond as my husband always does. “It is my pleasure to serve.” And, it is my privilege to serve as a military wife and I am learning to thank God for the blessing of this difficult task.
I wish you and your son the best.. God bless you.
unionwife on July 3, 2010 at 11:44 pm
Thank you for a timely post! After 3 years of being out of work, my husband recently landed a “gig” on one of the biggest construction jobs in the area. Although I am ecstatic that he’s working again, I have to guard myself against frivolous spending as the over the past years my paycheck wasn’t even enough to cover the bills. Now that there’s more than enough coming in, I feel like I have to catch up!
Lord, give me the wisdom to know the difference between what we need and what we want. Help me to be content with what you have given me. Thank you for teaching me patience over the last years. Help me to focus my attention on You each day. Amen
alanmross on July 5, 2010 at 9:16 am
Great devotional Tom. Reminds me of when I taught my youngest how to catch a baseball. He had his brand new glove which barely fit and I used a soft rubber ball to lob to him. every time I did, he thrust out the glove, turned his head away in fear and of course the ball hit the glove and dropped.
I brought him close and asked him if he thought I wanted to hurt him when i threw the ball? He smiled and said, “no dad.” I said then I will toss it softly to you and you let the ball come into the glove. Don’t stick it out and knock it away. He did and of course he caught his first ball.
I heard God, my Father say to me, “Alan, do you think I am sending anything on your life to hurt you, even what looks hard today?”
My Father has taught me how to let it come to me and to catch what he tosses ever so gently my way.