What Should Be My Financial Priority?Shembull

Pursue Contentment

One reason we get into financial trouble is a lack of contentment. We have incorrect expectations regarding what will satisfy us or what we deserve. We feel that we would be more satisfied in life with more material possessions. That is simply not true. Our satisfaction should come from internal things. First, we should be satisfied in the Lord. He provides us with relationships that satisfy us. He also provides us with the material things we need.

Sometimes we wrongly believe we deserve more than what God has provided. If we work to the best of our abilities, use our skills and talents the way God wants us to, and have the right priorities, we must take what God supplies for us and be content with it. This requires trust. The Apostle Paul said that godliness with contentment is great gain. We came into this world empty-handed. We will leave it empty-handed as well. Our internal peace and a relationship with the Lord should be our greatest priority.

We need to find our delight in God, not in material things. In fact, Scripture calls covetousness a sin of idolatry. This means that if there is anything you desire to satisfy you in the way that God would, that object or person is an idol in your life. Contentment is about worship. Contentment is about putting God in the right place in our hearts, minds, and desires. Contentment is about making God our number one priority. We only handle our material possessions correctly when we handle them in the light of eternity.

If you know that something or someone occupies your thoughts more than God and His Word, that thing or person is an idol in your life. You need to deal with such idolatry the way you would with any other sin—through repentance. Pray to the Lord and ask Him to cleanse your heart. Ask Him to fill your heart again with the joy of His salvation. David did that. The Lord always hears and forgives us. Then He fills our hearts with His desires that bring us joy, contentment, and peace.