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The Rolling Stones had a number one hit in 1965, both sides of the Atlantic, with the single ‘(I can’t get no) Satisfaction’. The song was written by Mick Jagger to make a statement about the rampant commercialism he experienced in America. If it was that bad over 40 years ago, you can guarantee that it is far worse now, and spreading throughout western civilisation.
Note the contrast with the Apostle Paul's statement to the Philippian Christians:
Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
Philippians 4:11 (AMP)
PERSPECTIVE
The average person in Western society is bombarded with hundreds of messages every day that define what money, success and wealth means to them. Whether it’s a bigger house, a better car, a nicer holiday, more fashionable clothes or the latest gadget, our minds and hearts are being fashioned by worldly values. As Christians we are in the world, but not of it. And are told not to conform to its pattern.
Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have.
Hebrews 13:5 (MSG)
The engine that drives our economies and underpins our cultures is the desire for more. Yet when you take a step back and look at all this through the eyes of a citizen of a third world country, nothings seems to stack up properly.
Take America, for example – the richest nation in the world. There are nearly 5 million households in America with a net worth of at least $1 million. The nation has so much wealth that they spend more on trash bags than the 90 poorest countries spend on everything!
So how do we become content Christians when it comes to our money? First of all, start to see things in the correct perspective. (Or even better, volunteer to serve on your church’s next missions trip!)
GIVING
Another way to find contentment is to cut the link between your affections and your money. One of the ways to do this is to start ‘giving’. When you start giving to others, it starts taking the onus off yourself. And after a few hits of regular giving, it soon starts to turn into a case of ‘how much I can bless other people’, rather than ‘how much I can get blessed myself’.
It may sound strange, but the truth of the matter is that many rich people are discontented, while many poor people are contented. Why is this? Christian financial advisor Ron Blue says, “Having the cash to buy or do whatever you please does not guarantee contentment… [Nor do] wise investments, meticulous budgets, or debt-free living. All these things are valuable… [but] the one ingredient that makes true freedom possible is generosity.”
The true test of contentment comes when you are parted from your money or possessions. How would you feel if you had to take a pay cut or lost money on an investment? We’re not talking about being upset here or wishing it never happened. But in full knowledge that it is God who is your provider, could you still say you would be content?
Then some soldiers asked him, ‘And what should we do?’ He replied, ‘Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely — be content with your pay.’
Luke 3:14 (NIV)
The only way to cultivate this attitude is to be separated from your possessions voluntarily, i.e. to give them away. The Bible says, “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing” (Proverbs 28:27, NIV). What are you going to trust in – God or your wallet?
Remember the words of Jesus quoted in the book of Acts: “It’s better to give than to receive.” (See the relevant articles in 'Management' for more information on this subject.)
BRINGING BOTH TOGETHER
During late 2006 in Great Britain the BBC ran a series of programmes called ‘The Secret Millionaire’ where volunteer millionaires would go into poor areas of England, disguised as everyday people in their community. After spending some time involved in local situations they had to decide who best would use the five figure sums of their own money that they were dishing out. Viewers of the programme saw the two ways to find contentment – ‘perspective’ and ‘giving’ – in action.
In one sense the giving wasn’t a great sacrifice at all, but for the millionaires, the giving was about being able to give a hand up to people in need. The reward was seeing them streaming with tears of joy when, totally unexpected, the cheque book came out. You could see a definite change in the attitude of the millionaire as the programme progressed. Freed from chasing money to chase after good works, many of these rich people experienced a level of contentment never enjoyed before.
Don't forget that God desires to see you prosper financially, and that you should strive for excellence in what you are called to do. Contentment should never be confused with laziness, lack of drive or vision, or lack of purpose or professional goals. But the point we are making here is that you shouldn’t chase after these things alone; rather, the only thing you should be chasing after is God. Your relationship with him is the greatest value of anything in the universe.
True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 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. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NLT)
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