1 Timothy 6:6-11  |  But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 

I love the story Steve Brown tells,

    Someone tells of a king who was discontented.  In fact he was so anxious, he couldn't sleep, rest, or think.  He called his wise men and asked them what he could do.  One very old and very wise man said, "Find a man in your kingdom who is content, then wear his shirt for a day and a night, and you will be content."  That sounded like a good idea to the king, so he ordered some of his servants to search for such a person.  Days blended into weeks before his servants returned.  "Well," said the king, "did you find a contented man?" "Yes, sire," his servant replied. "Where is his shirt?" asked the king.

"Your majesty, he didn't have one." [hurdles, glitches p. 162]

I've always been a bit of a hippie at heart.  Through more than one experience I have learned to almost hate money and what I've seen it do to people... the way I've seen it change people, anger people.  To be honest, I've always fantasized about living in a commune.  Okay, maybe that's extreme.  But is it?  How great would it be to only worry about the things that mattered?  Survival.  Love.  Life. 

Ironically, I've been South America twice and seen more poverty than America will ever see.  What's more, I saw people with more joy in their eyes then I've ever seen in America.  People living with next to nothing, and with what seemed to be contentment and love.  

My last night in Paraguay the youth of the church we attended showered us with gifts.  They loved that we came to see them, despite the fact that we had far more then them.  One girl in particular I will never forget.  She had nothing to give.  Everyone else gave small bookmarks, stuffed animals, and even plastic jewelry.  She cut off her hair and gave the locks away.  Her hair was her only gift to give.  I've never seen such an act and probably never will again. 

Contentment is being completely absorbed in the present.  It's understanding that material things are given as tools and not as an end in themselves.  Discontent comes from focusing on what could have been or what should be. 

Much love,