Hebrews 13:5b "Be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'.
What an encouragement and challenge is given us in this verse. So often I am tempted to be discontent. I focus my gaze upon things I desire that will not ultimately satisfy. We as humans are hard wired with three core desires:
Love- This includes needing approval, respect, authentic relationship, etc.
Joy- Think about it all of our decisions are motivated by our desire to be fulfilled. We are geared to want to be happy.
Peace - Behind this word is the Hebrew idea of Shalom. This word does not just mean absence of conflict, but wellness, wholeness, abundance.
We are all trying to meet these desires and fulfill our needs for these three things. The question is where are we trying to fulfill them. Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." God wants us to experience love, joy, and peace. The key is He wants us to have these desires met in Himself. We are called to be content with what we have, that is to be content in Him. It is in our relationship with Jesus Christ where we find contentment, because "he will never leave us or forsake us." He is our "emmanuel", meaning God with us. Jesus is where we find love, joy, and peace. Be contented in all of who Jesus is today.
