Sunday Rewind

 

Yesterday Andy continued the second week in our Financial Freedom series with a message about contentment. He started off with this video:

South Bay Cribs from South Bay Church on Vimeo.

After watching the video someone asked me, "Is that really your couch?" Ummm, yes. And, "Do you really only get 3 channels?" Also true. But you know what? That is just where we are. Would we like nicer stuff? Sure, but "our stuff" is certainly not limiting our happiness or contentment. And, in my mind, it feels much nicer to sit on a couch that I own verses one I'm paying off. Same with our cars. If you wanted to see a really funny video, then they should make one of our cars...maybe next time!

Andy's message was about moving from a heart of greed to a heart of contentment. He said that it is possible to possess everything, yet have nothing. It is equally as possible to possess nothing, and yet have everything. We can get so caught up in desiring the next "best thing" or wishing we were in the next stage of our lives (or the previous stage of our lives) and totally miss all of the blessings that God has put in our lives right now.

As we looked at 1 Timothy 6:6-11, Andy said that the solution to contentment is living with an eternal perspective. If we really wrapped our minds around the fact that we are here on this earth for about 80 years but we will be in eternity forever, it would change the way we view these 80 years. We wouldn't make decisions based on what would benefit us in this moment. We would care a lot less about keeping up with the Jones' and would care a lot more about whether or not the Jones' knew the love of God. We each need to honestly answer the question, "Will I PURSUE what is temporal or will I PURSUE what is eternal?" Do not be deceived into thinking you can pursue both.

God has put unbelievable blessings in my life, but I have to choose today to receive them. Today, I will spend time with my son whether or not I receive it as a blessing. I will eat food whether or not I receive it as a blessing. I will sleep in a warm bed with a roof over my head whether or not I receive that as a blessing. There are countless blessings in my life. I just have to make the choice to receive them. It's all a matter of perspective.