If only I had more money, I would give more to the poor, or give more to my church.
If only I had more money, I would spend more time with my kids, buy a larger house, or a nicer car.
Maybe you’ve said these things before, or maybe you’ve thought about them.
The truth is, God knows our heart.
If we aren’t spending time with our kids now, having more money isn’t going to solve that problem.
If we can’t learn to give God 10 cents on a dollar; there is no way we can give him $100,000 of a million.
That’s why we’re told in James 4 that sometimes our prayers go unanswered because we ask with wrong motives.
Sure, we might pray for more money to do more in the Kingdom. The truth is, only God knows if He gave you more what you really would with it.
“Or you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.” ~ James 4:3 (AMPC)
To be honest, we struggled with this years ago.
It was in times of great challenge, when we discovered that we were actually living in abundance in the midst of what appeared to be “lack.”
*If you haven’t read our story you can read it here.
Realizing We Had More Than Enough
When we downsized from the home we lost in 2008, we moved into a home that was over 1200 square feet smaller.
Needless to say, there were a lot of things we had to get rid of.
While we were moving into the new home, we realized that we didn’t discard enough. As we were having trouble finding a place for all of our things.
I remember getting frustrated that there was just not enough room for our “stuff.”
In the midst of my complaining, the wife of one of the couples who was helping us move, came to me and said:
“We only have one bath towel. If you’re not going to use the extras that don’t fit, can we have them?”
At that moment, the Holy Spirit convicted me that in our so-called “lack,” God was still abundantly providing for us.
We were too blinded by our own desires, to see that God had already given us all that we needed.
Content With More Than Enough
Paul tells us in Philippians 4:11-12 (AMPC);
“Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
12 I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.”
Like Paul, the only way we can learn to be content in every situation is to be in a situation that causes us to be content.
We learned to be content. And I must admit it wasn’t easy.
There were many days we experienced severe lack, but we learned to praise God through the struggle.
As a result, we found that those prayers of praise and thanksgiving, got us through everything life had thrown our way teaching us to have true contentment in God.
Identifying Your Abundance
How many of you have closets filled with clothes you don’t wear?
What about a garage filled with stuff that you don’t use?
Better yet, do you have pantries and refrigerators filled with food you don’t eat?
God has provided an abundance for all of us; we just have to be content and thankful enough to go find it!
The Bible tells us in 1 Timothy that if we have food and clothes we should be content.
“But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (satisfied).”
~1 Timothy 6:8 (AMPC)
When we begin to live with contentment in the basic needs God has provided, we will see ourselves living an abundant life without the need for more money or things.
In The End
We are already living an abundant life and when we begin to believe it, our life will reflect God’s goodness even in the worst circumstances.
As a result, we will be the witnesses we’re called to be in this world. A tangible example that God is good all the time and all the time God is good!
PIN FOR LATER
~ Timberley Gray
I needed to hear this today as I keep asking God for more mor and more, and He gently reminded me to appreciate what I have now. So powerful.
Thank you Brittany for stopping by to read, and isn’t God good to always give us what we need? ~ Blessings