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This Apple Bites Back!
Jon Burgess6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Timothy 6:6-8
Paul's wisdom to Timothy flies in the face of our consumer culture that continues to convince us that enough is never actually enough. In the scope of eternity none of what we spend our lives scraping for will actually last. "Godliness"- a true walk with God + "contentment"- satisfied & thankful for what God has provided = great gain. We will be immune to the siren song of discontent that seeks to dash our lives upon the rocks of hedonism and self-worship.
I was journaling on this scripture with my boys this morning and asking them what they wake up wishing they had. A wave pool, a skate ramp, and a hot tub later I asked them if that was enough. They said, "yes, thats all we need." I laughed and said, "no, it isn't because you'll always want more." They looked at me incredulously and I assured them that people with all of those things and more are still not content. Apart from God we will never have enough. Its in our nature to receive and never be satisfied. Then I confessed, "You guys know how you got me that new Apple Watch for Fathers Day? I was so happy. Didn't think I'd ever get one. Guess what I woke up thinking about the next day? A new watch band, a better charger, and wondering when that next OS update was coming to make my Apple Watch more effective." That's our nature! We bite into the apple and the apple bites back. Were Adam and Eve content after they finally took the one thing they could not have? They were never content again! We always want more when we look to anything else other then our relationship with Christ. The only One who can own us is the only One who can't be owned. It's contentment in Christ or its a discontent life in every thing else. There is no middle ground.
Thank You Jesus for all You have given me. Thank You for this Apple Watch and for all You have blessed our family with! Forgive me for following the mantra of this world that repeats with every commercial that "I deserve more then what I have!" You, Jesus, are all I need. Everything else is applesauce!
