READING: Jeremiah 14-17, 1 Timothy 5-6
When my mom passed away just over two months ago, our family cleaned out her small apartment. In it we found some amazing things (like old pictures, old tools, and perhaps several hundred keys?), but we found very little of great value. In fact, we brought a large dumpster into the yard and threw away much of what my mom owned. We were sure that no one would want much of what she had kept.
As we tossed item after item, I couldn’t help but think about Paul’s words to Timothy in today’s reading: “for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world” (1 Tim 6:7). My mom had little left to her name when the Lord called her home – but what she DID have was six months of joy of following Christ after she became a believer at age 79. She didn’t worry at all about what she had or didn’t have; she simply found a sweet, childlike trust in Jesus. Her contentment was real, and her young faith challenged the rest of us to trust God more.
Yes, our contentment must be in Jesus, who puts clothing on our back and food on our tables. He provides whatever we need—and that’s all we do need.
PRAYER: “God, make me content in Jesus.”
DAILY ACTION STEP: If you’ve been striving for more “stuff,” take some time to evaluate your contentment today.
TOMORROW’S READING: Jeremiah 18-22, 2 Timothy 1:1-2:13
