Being "content" means that you're satisfied-- that you are happy with what you have. It means you're not looking out there for things that will make you happy- but you're looking at how #blessed you are.
Have you ever met someone who was content? Those kinds of people are quite rare. The reason for that is that every corporation that puts out every bit of advertisement you see online, in a magazine, in the mall, or on TV, tells you that you can't live without their product. In fact, do you know what corporations call you? They call you CONSUMERS! A consumer is a mindless machine that constantly consumes. It eats, and eats, and eats...wants more and more and more....and is never EVER satisfied. Kind of insulting isn't it? Sadly, most of us ARE consumers, we keep buying new things and upgrading from our old things and never seem to be content with what we have. We have become what corporations want us to be become-- big dumb animals that eat whatever is put in front of us as long as its marketed as the next cool thing that we can't live without.
Of course, all of those big corporations are just telling us lies. Who can blame them? They want to take our money! The richest people in the world definitely aren't the happiest. Lives of celebrities look pretty cool, but when you notice that their marriages and relationships barely ever last, and that they are overwhelmed with addiction problems, their lives don't look quite as exciting. Despite all of the wealth and material things that are available to us in North America, we're more screwed up than we've ever been. Are there less troubles than there were 100 years ago? Are people nicer?
King Solomon, the Donald Trump of the Bible (just as rich but even more wise) said, "Those who love money WILL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness." (Ecclesiastes 5:10)
The richest guy on the planet coined the phrase, "money can't buy happiness"! While it's certainly not wrong to have stuff and enjoy material things, we need to understand that if we look at those things to fill us up with happiness and fulfillment, it's not going to happen.
"Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless--like chasing the wind." (Ecclesiastes 6:9)
Solomon is reminding us not to be consumers. He says that consumers are chasing the wind--that happiness will always slip through our fingers. So, how can we stop ourselves from being CONSUMERS? How can we prevent ourselves from becoming SCROOGED- only caring about our own wants and needs?
REALIZE THAT YOU ARE RICH, AND FIND CONTENTMENT
If you are reading this, you are among the richest 10% of the people living on this planet. When our perspective changes-- when we realize how much we have compared to most of the world, it helps put our "wants" in their place. There are times when I've been tempted to get bigger and better things-- to own my own home-- to spend more on myself, but when I realize that my 2 bedroom apartment is a PALACE to 90% of the people on this planet, when I recognize that all of my NEEDS are met, I start appreciating how blessed I really am. And when I start appreciating all of the things I have, I find that I don't care as much about the things that I don't have.
In Acts 2, it tells us that early church would actually sell their property and give things up for themselves to help others in need. They probably weren't starving themselves to help others. They probably weren't wearing tattered rags, but they also weren't caught up in chasing after bigger and better things. They were content with what they had, so they decided that, instead of spending more on themselves, they would actually do what Jesus wanted them to do-- to use their money to love others.
Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:6-8 that "True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth". When we love and follow God, when we're happy with what we have, than Paul says we are truly wealthy.
Staying content is a real battle. Everything around us tells us that we need more and won't be happy without it. There is a lot of pressure for us to be like everybody else, to have what others have. There is a lot of pressure for us to become consumers. FIGHT AGAINST IT. That doesn't mean throwing your Christmas wish list out the window, but it might mean thinking harder about whether or not you REALLY need the things that you want. Before you look at all of the things you don't have, recognize how rich you are-- recognize that you have everything you need! When you hear that little voice (SCROOGE) telling you that you can't live without what the corporations are selling you- start thinking about people who are less fortunate. Think about ways you could be generous with that money instead of getting the upgrade or the new gadget that will be obsolete in a year.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. While watching commercials during your favorite TV show or looking at ads in a magazine, make a list of what products are being advertised. What are the messages that those ads are trying to deliver? Think about how why they are spending money to advertise the product. What do they want from you? Think about how corporations NEVER want you to be happy with what you have.
2. Go on an expedition around your house. Find something that you once REALLY wanted-- maybe an old toy or some electronic device. Do you still love it? Are you happy with it, or have you moved on to wanting something else? Have a conversation about how we will never stop wanting bigger and better things. It's ok to enjoy and even want new things, but we need to recognize that we'll have something else on our wishlist tomorrow, and those desires for more will NEVER be satisfied.
3. Think about ways that you and your family can fight the spirit of consumerism. Think about ways that you can deny yourselves so that you can help others. Maybe that means that instead of upgrading your phone, you could give the money that you would have spent to a charity? Maybe that means instead of eating out this week, to use that money that you would have spent to benefit others? Let Pastor Ben know what you decide to do!
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