"Happiness is a thing to be practiced, like the violin."
~ John Lubbock
Ever hear the "If only I had this, I'd be happy" line before? I'm sure you have. I've heard it too, and sometimes, it has come from my lips. But did you ever stop to think what such a statement really reflects? It reflects greed. It reflects discontent and ungratefulness. It reflects the heart of a man who isn't delighting in the blessings God has already given him.
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Matthew 12:34 declares that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." Just as a simple cough can alert doctors to the presence of a grave illness, words can be used to determine the state of a man's heart. This considered, such words as "If only I had this..." reflect a discontented and greedy heart. ~
So, what is the antidote for discontent and greed? What helps a heart to be truly "transported with delight", as Schultz terms it? Well, it can be summed up in one word: thankfulness. And, unfortunately, being thankful is nowhere as easy as it might sound. However, it is requisite to driving out greed and discontent: without a heart thankful to God, having a truly happy heart is impossible.~
When you begin feeling discontent getting a hold of you, the first thing to do is pray; next, begin listing, either in your mind or on paper, all of the blessings God has given you. This practice will not only banish the thoughts of discontentedness from your mind and heart, but it will strengthen your appreciation for everything God has bountifully provided you with.~
One way of practically putting to use the principle of thankfulness is by simply enjoying your food. Schultz says, "Have you ever tried putting a bite of food in your mouth then laying down your fork and not picking it up again until your mouth is empty? That's a challenge for me. Often, there's another full fork waiting in the air before I finish chewing the first. When I catch myself eating like that, it's a reminder that I'm not enjoying what I have. I'm greedily longing for more."
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Another thing to consider is how quickly greed can blind a man to the truly valuable things of life. A man who wastes all his time pursuing things which aren't his soon loses sight of what he should be focused on. Instead of rejoicing in the bounties God has already bestowed, he looks longingly after other things which God has not seen fit to give him. He puts other stuff in the place of God. This stuff may not be bad in and of itself, but whenever we let "stuff" come before God, we are heading out into dangerous waters.
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Sometimes, God withholds certain things from us for our benefit. Something which we desperately desire may do us harm rather than good. Therefore, when God denies us something, we shouldn't grumble: rather, we should praise Him. God knows what is good for His children (Matt. 7:11). We would do well to trust Him in that, instead of fighting against His will in areas of our lives.
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Towards the end of chapter 14, Schultz says, "Thankful enjoyment of God's gifts is one remedy against the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Whether it's food, clothes, your home, or your business, may you learn to take pleasure in what you have and thereby live thankful, contented, and joyful in your Father's presence."
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"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy."
~ 1 Timothy 6:17
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Persevero,
Scribe
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