Contentment: Enough (Keith Nurse)

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Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.”

Exodus 16:4 (NIV)

 

God gives manna in the desert, and also instructs the Israelites to collect twice as much as they need on the sixth day, so they don’t have to gather any on the Sabbath. But not for the first time they think they know best; they both collect on the Sabbath and store some overnight, which becomes full of maggots and smells.

 

Our God is a generous provider who created us and loves us. He knows each of us personally and intimately. He promises to supply all our needs out of His riches - here he rains down bread from heaven. And yet so often we can allow discontent to breed, pursuing wants rather than needs, desiring more while failing to see the many blessings we already have, focusing on storing up treasures on earth rather than in heaven.

 

Charles Spurgeon said “You say, ‘If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.” The wisdom of the writer to the Hebrews is “Be content with what you have, because God has said ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” God is true to his word; He is absolutely trustworthy.

 

A prayer - Thank you, Lord, that you know us inside out and that you are a generous God who promises to meet all our needs. Forgive us for times when we fail to believe this, or when we allow discontent to have a foothold in our lives. Please grow in us an unwavering trust in you, secure in the knowledge we are deeply loved and never abandoned. Amen

 

Keith Nurse

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