Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying “And what shall we do?” So He said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.” Luke 3:14
The desire for more fills the hearts of nearly every person on the planet. This rises even higher when one sees someone else with more things. In order to have more, people will work more or search for jobs with more and more pay. As the pay rises and the number of items rises, the desire goes even higher and greater, never being satisfied.
Luke records some soldiers asking Jesus what they were to do, and He told them not to intimidate or falsely accuse anyone and to be content with their wages.
Being content is something that is rarely seen. Having more, doing more, seeing more, being more continually consumes the hearts and minds of people everywhere. There is never enough in the search for satisfaction from the things of this world. All the stuff in this world brings satisfaction for only a short time, then dies off wanting more.
Not being content is a sign of greed. Being greedy is putting self before God and others. Self is put on the throne when there is no contentedness.
God is a God who loves perfectly and is willing to provide each and every person with exactly what is needed each day. This is done through the job God provides at the wages that He provides.
One needs to focus on who God is and what He provides rather than desire a greater paycheck. This will cause one to be able to be content with what God provides, knowing that it is always what is best.
As one is content with what God provides, one puts God back on the throne and allows Him to have complete control.
The world will try to tell you that you need more than what you have. This will put seeds in your heart of greed, removing God from the throne of your heart.
Resist the temptation of greed for more pay to get more temporary things that will not last nor truly satisfy. Put God on the throne and be content with what He has already given you. Do not fight for more temporary things that do not give true life and will fade away.
Are you content today with what God has blessed you with?
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will reveal areas of your life in which you are not content; that you will be content with what God provides for you; and that you will put your full trust in God’s provision for all you need.
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This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Insights from Tom
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