We know a little bit about contentment and why we should learn it, but what will true contentment really bring to our lives? Christians aren’t expected to give up all dreams of ever having nice things, nor should we expect ourselves to deal with broken, outdated appliances or vehicles, and so on. Home repairs must be completed, repairs made, and sometimes new items are a better investment than fixing an old one. True contentment does not mean that we can’t ever have or want anything to be better than it is right now, simply that we are happy where we are at in life. We are prepared to wait until God provides a means to get new things or improve old ones instead of going into debt unnecessarily.

What is Important

1 Timothy 6:6-7 (NIV) reminds us: “…godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” Instead of focusing on what we want out of life, focus on discovering what God wants for your life. Be content with what you have until He makes a way for you to have something better, especially if it means going into significant debt or draining your savings/emergency account.

It’s important to remember that, contrary to what some Christians believe and teach, we are not called to be poor. God blesses us with many things, and as I mentioned in the last post, this includes financial blessings meant to enrich our lives and improve our families. Be happy with your life, but be willing to do what it takes to improve it, and that means making rules for yourself regarding spending, budgeting, saving, etc. Stick to the plan and wait for new purchases until they are essential, such as replacing a refrigerator that isn’t working or repairing a vehicle used for going to work. These things are necessities, and if you have to incur some debt that is what savings accounts are for, never credit cards.

Be at Peace

One of the most special things that God gives us is peace, and while it is tempting to become overwhelmed by debt, sticking to a budget, and trying to save money, just let the peace of God flow through you until you can rest. A part of being content is being at peace, without worrying about what’s going to happen tomorrow when it comes to your money. If you’re doing what’s right, working hard, paying bills, and sticking to the budget, all it takes is peace and patience to start seeing improvement in your life.

Overnight Turn of Events

It’s dreaming to believe that your circumstances are going to change overnight, as evidenced by the fact that you didn’t get into the debt overnight. Unless yours is a very rare case in which all debt was incurred in days, chances are good that it took months, years, or even decades to get to where you are today. It’s going to take months, probably years, to turn everything around and see a big difference. You’ll achieve small goals regularly, so it’s important to learn to be content with the fact that things are changing, albeit slowly. Being content is lesson that’s often learned the hard way, but its importance cannot be overlooked during the struggle to become more financially independent and stable. You can do this, through Christ’s help, and you will succeed!

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