Dr H Reflections

Fools and the apple of His eye ∙∙

Fools and the apple of His eye ∙∙

For thus says the LORD of hosts, He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. – Zechariah 2:8

Jeremiah 31:35-37

35 It is the LORD who provides the sun to light the day and the moon and stars to light the night, and who stirs the sea into roaring waves. His name is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, and this is what he says:

36 “I am as likely to reject my people Israel as I am to abolish the laws of nature!”

37 This is what the LORD says: “Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundations of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them away for the evil they have done. I, the LORD, have spoken!

Over the years, presidential administrations in the United States, regardless of political affiliation, have embraced the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism. IHRA stands for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

Kara C. McDonald, a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, announced on February 1, 2021, that the current administration would do likewise. McDonald said, “We must educate ourselves and our communities to recognize anti-Semitism in its many forms so that we can call hate by its proper name and take effective action. That is why the IHRA working definition of anti-Semitism, with its real-world examples, is such an invaluable tool.”

The IHRA’s working definition of anti-Semitism serves as a guideline to help the public and government identify both traditional and modern forms of anti-Semitism.

Current examples of criticism of Israel include comparing Israel to the Nazis, labeling Israel as racist, and holding Israel to standards not applied to other countries. Unfortunately, such anti-Israel sentiment often morphs into anti-Semitism.

The ability to recognize subtle forms of anti-Semitism in today’s world is essential for effectively addressing them. However, others strongly disagree. They argue that this approach brands all criticism of Israeli policy as anti-Semitic. Americans for Peace Now, which frequently criticizes Israeli policy, claims that the definition is “already being abused to quash legitimate criticism and activism directed at Israeli government policies.” They assert that criticism of Israel is not inherently anti-Semitic.

The IHRA definition clarifies that it should not be used to restrict legitimate speech. “However, what it does is clearly state the truth, which is that oftentimes criticism of Israel is a proxy for criticism of Jews” (William Daroff).

REFLECT & PRAY

Is it better and wiser to be on the right side of history, whatever that may be, or on the right side of prophecy?

Father, thank You for the choices that You have made. Thank You for considering me precious in Your sight and giving me the right to be called Your child.

INSIGHT

It is essential for each child of the King to thoughtfully consider and take a stand on modern manifestations of ancient anti-Semitism. Four thousand years ago, the Father made an unconditional promise concerning the Chosen People, the Nation of Israel.

Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt.

Nations have disregarded this fact for millennia to their own peril. Nothing has changed!

Zechariah 2:8 After a period of glory, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies sent me against the nations who plundered you. He said, “Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession.”

Zechariah 2:8 Anyone who touches you touches the apple of his eye.

Deuteronomy 32:10 He found him in a desert land and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, cared for him, and kept him as the apple of his eye.

The phrase “The apple of His eye” originates from Deuteronomy 32:10 and uses the term “apple” to refer to the pupil of the eye, which is particularly vulnerable and requires careful safeguarding. This metaphor symbolizes God’s watchful care over Israel, as they are precious to Him and under His protection (BKC). “God is so closely identified with his people that they are precious to him, and he is zealous to protect them and take care of them (cf. Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalms 17:8; Matthew 25:34-45; Acts 9:1, 4-5)” (EBC).

The Hebrew word translated as touches is shalal. Shalal is a harsh, pugnacious word. It has the sense of harming, plundering, insulting, striking, or taking captive. The verb Touches in this context connotes “harms.” Thus, it has the sense that “Anyone who harms my people harms what is most precious to me.”

How foolish to attempt to battle with the Lord God Almighty and do Him harm. Anyone who tries to harm what is precious to Him does precisely that. The Father is so closely identified with His people that they are precious to Him, and He is zealous to protect them and care for them (Kenneth L. Barker).

Is it possible for the Father to cancel His promises and commitment to the Jewish people?

Hypothetically, what would it take? The Father has unequivocally answered that question for all time and eternity. It would take nothing less than the destruction of the natural and physical laws of the universe.

Jeremiah 31:36-37

36 “I am as likely to reject my people Israel as I am to abolish the laws of nature!”

They are secure in the Father’s love, and nothing will ever change that as long as the Father lives. The apostle Paul uses the Father’s unwavering commitment to the Nation of Israel to illustrate that each child of the King is also secure. If Israel is secure, so are we. If Israel is not secure, neither are we.

Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Romans 11:1-29

1 I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this?

7 So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have – the ones God has chosen – but the hearts of the rest were hardened.

11 Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.

25 I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.

28 Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

29 For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.

As the Father called and designated the Nation of Israel as His Chosen People, the Father has called and chosen each child of the King.

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Feeling desperate? ∙

Feeling desperate? ∙

I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. – Psalm 13:5

Psalms 13:1-6

1 O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?

2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

3 Turn and answer me, O LORD my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.

4 Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!” Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love, your lovingkindness. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

6 I will sing to the LORD because he is good to me.

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city, you go into the desperate country and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats. A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind” (Henry David Thoreau).

“Nowadays, most men lead lives of noisy desperation” (James Thurber).

What should you do when you feel desperate?

“When you’re at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on” (Theodore Roosevelt).

David had a better approach. He frequently faced frustration, fear, despair, and desperation, but he persevered and worked his way through it.

Over time, David learned to trust the Father in every situation, even when he felt abandoned and alone. His confidence in the Father’s unfailing love grew. He developed the habit of rejoicing amid his difficult circumstances (Psalms 13:5).

When we find ourselves backed into a corner, weary from life’s relentless challenges, we often start to question everything. We question our own worth and identity. We question the faithfulness and loyalty of those around us. But most of all, we have serious doubts about the Father’s love and involvement in our lives. Is He really there for us? So often, we ask, “Where is God while my life is falling apart? Why has God abandoned me?” (Johnston).

And so it was with David. In Psalms 13, David pleads and challenges four times with the question, “How long?”

How long will you forget me?

How long will you look the other way?

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul?

How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

How long do we ask the Father, “How long?”

David felt ignored and neglected, forsaken and downcast. In his despair, he began to believe that the Father was hiding from him. He alludes to his unseen presence in the private recesses of his heart. He feels separated from the Father after experiencing a sweet, intimate walk with Him. David’s sense of estrangement is so intense that he can hardly bear the anguish. It interferes with his breathing, and pain grips his heart. David cries out from the depths of his soul, “Look at me! Answer me!” His plea is an urgent request for an answer now. David feels like he is on the verge of destruction. In desperate need, he cries out for complete deliverance. He begs to survive now (Terrien)!

This is one of the mysterious ways of the Father. As we grow and develop spiritual maturity, we come to understand it as part of the maturation process. “At times, we might feel as though God has slammed the door to heaven in our face. Yet these times do not last. Often, He is testing us to see if we will continue to follow Him, regardless” (Stanley).

Eventually, many of our questions are answered, and we gain perspective and understanding. We acquire wisdom that can only be obtained through periods of isolation.

REFLECT & PRAY

How do we rise above our doubts, questions, and frustration? David shows the way. David feels frustrated and questions the Father. But then a transformation occurs. Something remarkable happens. His questions turn into prayers, and his prayers become acts of worship. Truly extraordinary!

Father, thank You for allowing us to ask questions. Help me transform my questions into worship, praise, and trust in You.

INSIGHT

Almost everyone can relate to David’s desperation and doubts. Desperation has been part of the human experience since the Fall. It is part of the curse. We live in a fallen world, and we are fallen creatures. However, not everyone has found accurate help by turning to the living God, our heavenly Father. In desperate and lonely situations, David shows us the way to find hope when it seems elusive.

“The Christian life thrives on both memory and hope. We remember how God has shown us mercy in the past, and so we look forward to how He will save us in the future” (Stanley).

No matter how great the pressure, the choice remains ours, not the enemy’s. The Father never changes; His lovingkindness is everlasting. David “entrusts himself to this pledged love and turns his attention not to the quality of his faith but to its object and its outcome, which he has every intention of enjoying. David’s certainty, faith exercised, looks back at the whole way he has been led” (Kidner).

Do not be afraid to ask difficult questions. The Father already knows what is in your heart and patiently and lovingly hears them all, even when you are angry. Often, a miraculous transformation takes place as we transition from doubt to confidence. Voicing our doubts can become a spiritual catharsis, freeing us from desperation and isolation.

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Is integrity selective? ∙

Is integrity selective? ∙

Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people. – Proverbs 11:3

Genesis 39:5-10

5 From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished.

6 So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing– except what kind of food to eat! Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man,

7 and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.

8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household.”

9 “No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”

10 She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible.

People with integrity behave differently from most others. They are consistent, stable, and unwavering. Their actions align with their words, making them excellent role models. When something needs to be done, they show up, take initiative and responsibility, and do what needs to be done.

5 Things People with Integrity Do Differently

(excerpted from https://www.powerofpositivity.com/)

1. They do what they say they will do.

Have you ever failed to follow through on a promise? People with integrity inspire us because they consistently keep their word. They commit to their promises and act accordingly.

2. They stand up for what is right.

They possess an intrinsic sense of justice and strive to balance the scales. When someone in power abuses power, people with integrity defend the powerless, combat injustice, and stand up for those mistreated.

3. They look in the mirror and commit to positive change.

Self-evaluation is crucial, and people with integrity hold themselves to the same standards as they hold others. They acknowledge their imperfections and work to improve areas that need change.

4. They take ownership of solving problems, even when the fault lies elsewhere.

People with integrity often step into leadership roles when no one else will. Even if they didn’t create the problem, like trash left in a hallway, they take responsibility and address it.

5. They act sooner rather than later.

People with integrity don’t wait to take action. They are proactive, often being the first to jump in and help others whenever possible.

Integrity is all about consistently doing the right thing. It means being reliable, dependable, and steadfast. Integrity encompasses honesty, strong moral principles, and uprightness. It is a personal commitment to uphold consistent moral and ethical standards.

Some may claim they possess integrity and transparency, but often, these claims are only acted out when convenient. True integrity is consistent, unwavering, and not selective.

While the Lord Jesus Christ did not explicitly use the word “integrity,” His teachings are filled with the concept of integrity: purity of heart(Matthew 5:8), singleness of purpose (Matthew 6:22), and purity of motive (Matthew 6:1-6).

REFLECT & PRAY

Some character traits and virtues require that we be “all in.” Integrity is one such attribute. Wishful integrity is selective; genuine integrity is unswerving, not selective.

We cannot choose to have integrity only when it is convenient or when we feel like it; true integrity demands unwavering commitment.

Father, I understand what genuine integrity is, and I aspire to it. Encourage and enable me to be consistent.

INSIGHT

Proverbs 12:27 The precious possession of a man is diligence.

Joseph was a man of integrity, intelligent, competent, and well-regarded. He consistently trusted the Father and made the best of his circumstances, whether good or bad. His character and abilities brought him opportunities.

Proverbs 18:16 A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.

But the very same qualities also brought temptation into his life.

Genesis 39:7 Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded.

Joseph’s integrity is evidenced in his response.

Genesis 39:8-9

8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household.”

9 “No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”

Joseph showed unwavering integrity when he resisted daily pressure from Potiphar’s wife to sleep with her. He remained steadfast and never compromised his principles, demonstrating that his integrity was resolute and not selective.

Genesis 39:10 She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible.

Joseph demonstrated courage and determination in living out his integrity. Because of his loyalty and devotion to the Father, he would not capitulate. He recognized that yielding would be a great sin against the Father.

Wishful integrity had matured into genuine integrity. His self-control became a stepping stone to future leadership and the fulfillment of his dreams when he was a naïve, haughty, self-centered young man.

The time you spend alone with the Father will transform your character and increase your devotion. Then, your integrity and godly behavior in an unbelieving world will make others long to know the Lord (Charles Stanley).

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Unswerving constancy ∙∙

Unswerving constancy ∙∙

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward, they will receive the crown of life God promised those who love him. – James 1:12

James 1:2-4

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Life is filled with challenges, and we frequently face obstacles along the way! A wise sage once said, “Cripple a man, and you have Sir Walter Scott. Lock him in prison, and you have John Bunyan. Bury him in the snows of Valley Forge, and you have George Washington. Raise him in poverty, and you have Abraham Lincoln. Strike him down with infantile paralysis, and he becomes Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Burn him so severely that doctors say he will never walk again, and you have Glen Cunningham, who set the world record in 1934 for the outdoor mile. Deafen him, and you will have Ludwig van Beethoven. Call him a slow learner, retarded, and write him off as uneducable, and you have Albert Einstein” (John C. Maxwell).

Is there an effective strategy to deal with life’s vicissitudes and struggles? A shortsighted solution is to try to change your circumstances; many attempt to avoid challenges as much as possible. Yet, trials have a knack for following us wherever we go. A better, more lasting approach is to allow the Father to change us rather than trying to change our circumstances. Our greatest enemy is not adversity itself; instead, it is how we respond to adversity. It’s not difficulties or adverse conditions that mess us up but our reactions to them.

The Scriptures provide a viable way forward: a distinct blend of patient endurance, relentless determination, and hard-charging perseverance.

James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial.

The Greek term translated as persevere, endure, or patience is hupomene. It means to strive, outlast, and resist by holding one’s ground.

The KJV translates hupomene as patience, but patience is far too acquiescent and compliant and a term to represent hupomene adequately. Hupomene isn’t about merely enduring the storm and hoping for brighter days. It doesn’t just passively ride out difficulties and wait for better times. Instead, hupomene responds assertively. Rather than simply tolerating difficult circumstances, hupomene is the ability to transform challenges into opportunities for greatness. Its essence is captured in the phrase, “We shall overcome.” “When Beethoven faced the threat of deafness, the most dreadful affliction for a musician, he declared, ‘I will take life by the throat.’ That is hupomone” (Barclay).

A two-word definition of hupomene is unswerving constancy.

But there’s more. “If Christians meet the testings of life in the steadfast constancy which Christ can give, life becomes infinitely more splendid than ever it was before. The struggle is the way to glory, and the very struggle itself is a glory” (Barclay).

REFLECT & PRAY

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other” (Walter Elliot).

Father, I am so incomplete. I desire to be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Teach and encourage me to respond appropriately to the trials and difficulties You send my way.

INSIGHT

What is the purpose of going through trials?

Trials help develop our character.

James 1:2-4

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

4 So let it grow, for when your endurance has its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

When trials and challenges confront us, they serve as a test of our faith. Such tests can evoke two distinct responses. When we face them with the appropriate attitude and approach, they prove innocuous and result in what we desire most: endurance, which is hupomene. As hupomene thrives, it leads us to the ultimate goal the Father sets – to become perfect, complete, and lacking nothing. Hupomene makes us whole.

The Greek term teleios, translated as perfect, connotes maturity, completion, or wholeness. It does not mean being without flaws or errors, but it signifies maturity and completeness. It implies an ongoing process. In this sense, being perfect is not the opposite of being imperfect; instead, being perfect is the opposite of being incomplete.

The Greek word translated as complete is holokleros. When something is holokleros, every part is totally complete. It is whole, entire, and lacking nothing. The Greek term translated as lacking is leipo. Leipo means to be deficient, wanting, or incomplete.

No one becomes complete, whole, or mature overnight. It is a slow, incremental process. When the developmental process is finished, we are fully formed; we have everything we need. We lack nothing.

Imagine a caterpillar snugly encased within its chrysalis, undergoing a profound transformation into a beautiful, lithe butterfly. Only when the metamorphosis is finished, and all the parts are fully formed, does it emerge and fly away, leaving behind the confines of its former self.

“As the athlete ‘endures’ bodily stress in order to achieve a high level of physical endurance, so the Christian is to endure the trials of life in order to attain the spiritual endurance that will bring perfection” (Moo).

“What James is suggesting, then, is that the Christian must practice ‘steadfastness’ in order to achieve a settled, steadfast character” (Moo).

The Father uses trials and tribulations to discipline, that is, child-train every daughter and son of the King. Frequently, we find ourselves pushed to the limits of our abilities, brought to the end of ourselves. He shatters our self-reliance, dismantles our pride, and redirects our waywardness. When we respond appropriately to these challenges, we undergo an internal metamorphosis. We come to rely entirely on the guidance of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through the workings of the Holy Spirit within us, He exchanges our human weakness for His supernatural strength, creating strength from our weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

9 “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

10 . . . For when I am weak, then I am strong.

James offers each child of the King a glimpse into our ongoing transformation as He guides us toward becoming all that the Father envisions for us. Once this transformation reaches its culmination, we are approved. The term “approved” in Greek is dokimos. Historically, when precious metals and coins underwent rigorous testing and were found to be authentic, they were labeled as dokimos.

They had withstood the test, proving their authenticity. They had passed the test, were approved, and were considered genuine (EBCNT). The primary objective of this test wasn’t to highlight those who couldn’t make the cut butto celebrate those who did. They were marked as approved. The Father’s deepest desire for every child of the King is to see them attain the dokimos seal of approval.

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Batteries not included ∙

Batteries not included ∙

Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude. – 1 Timothy 4:4

Ecclesiastes 5:10-19

10 Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!

11 The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth – except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!

12 People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.

15 We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.

16 And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing – like working for the wind.

17 Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud – frustrated, discouraged, and angry.

18 Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life.

19 And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life – this is indeed a gift from God.

How many of us can relate to the unforgettable words of Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof?

“Dear God, you made many, many poor people. I realize, of course, that it’s no shame to be poor. But it’s no great honor either! So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?” “If I were a rich man if I were a wealthy man. I wouldn’t have to work hard. If I were rich, I’d have the time that I lack to sit in the synagogue and pray.” “You decreed I should be what I am. Would it spoil some vast eternal plan if I were a wealthy man?”

“To whom little is not enough nothing is enough” (Epicurus). When asked, “How much money is enough money?” John D. Rockefeller replied, “Just a little bit more.”

I am sure that most of us have thought about what life would be like if we had “a little bit more.”

For the average person, comprehending immense wealth is nearly impossible. At a certain point, wealth becomes so vast that it feels meaningless. Consider the enormous fortunes of some of the wealthiest people in the world in 2023: Bernard Arnault, $211 billion; Elon Musk, $180 billion; Jeff Bezos, $114 billion; Larry Ellison, $107 billion; Warren Buffett, $106 billion; Bill Gates, $104 billion.

Wealth often breeds discontentment rather than satisfaction. Discontentment is evident in two ways: the relentless pursuit to acquire more and more (Ecclesiastes 5:8-12) and the consequences faced by those who attain it (Ecclesiastes 5:13-17).

Ultimately, it boils down to greed versus gratitude and contentment. Have you ever considered that for the wealthy, the more they get, the more they want? Enough is never enough!

REFLECT & PRAY

Would it hurt if we had more wealth? The answer is yes and no, depending on how we receive it. If wealth were to come our way, wisdom demands that we remember and be grateful to the Father who gave us the power to make wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18).

Father, help me to seek gratitude and contentment rather than endless greed and attainment without end.

INSIGHT

Solomon realized that there is a perspective regarding wealth that produces joy and contentment. Life is a gift from the Father. Life, with its daily struggles, is meant to be embraced and enjoyed as part of the Father’s plan and purpose.

The Father richly gives us all we need to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17).

The secret of contentment is actually quite simple. “Add not to a man’s possessions but take away from his desires” (Epicurus).

We have the power to control our attitude towards wealth, rather than allowing wealth to control us.

After decades of searching and contemplation, Solomon realized that the Father grants both riches and the ability to enjoy them. Satisfaction is not included with prosperity. It comes separately.

Our society is replete with advertisements: “As Seen on TV, blah, blah, blah .” Batteries are not included.

When we adopt Solomon’s perspective, everything changes.

This is one of the mysteries of our age. People move from one thing to another, seeking satisfaction but never finding it. They experience temporary highs or exhilaration from their achievements, acquisitions, fame, or conquests, but they fade and do not last.

Contentment requires a major paradigm shift. Everything on Earth is temporary except for the word of God and human souls. Instead of focusing on temporal things, we should concentrate on what is permanent.

1 Timothy 6:6 True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.

When we come to know, understand, and experience godliness, we uncover the true meaning of contentment. Genuine contentment stems from godliness in the heart, not wealth in our hands (Wiersbe).

Effort without contentment is vanity. Take a moment to reflect: Is your constant striving wearing you down or bringing you contentment and peace?

When we adjust our attitude and learn to receive the good things the Father has provided with gratitude, something remarkable happens.

Ecclesiastes 5:20 God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

1 Timothy 6:7-10

7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.

8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

The Father bestows abundant wealth and possessions on some children of the King. He intends for us to encourage others and to be channels of His blessings, not mere containers. We are meant to be rivers of living water, not stagnant wells.

Is it time to step off the relentless wheel of pursuing contentment? Perhaps it’s time to cultivate “an attitude of gratitude” for what the Father has already provided.

Hamsters are born to run, tirelessly seeking food each night. But the children of the King are not hamsters; they are born to seek true godliness.

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