Contentment in Christ

Hebrews 13:8 is a verse I've thought about over the past year or so:

"Let your conduct be without covetousness, be content with such things as you have, for he himself has said I will never leave you nor forsake you'"

We live in a culture that is built upon covetousness. Consumerism fuels our economy. Consumerism is a largely a product of covetousness. Advertisments constantly encourage people to be discontent with what they have, and to feel that they need more.

I have often considered what it means to be covetous. It cannot simply mean wanting things, because it is not wrong to desire beautiful or useful posessions. The verse does not say "never want anything". Forsaking covetousness does not mean forsaking all desire.

It does, however, mean that desires must not become sinful. They are sinful when they lead to discontentment and ungodly behaviour when they are not fulfilled.

God gives us the antidote to such idolatrous desires: himself. He is so satisfying, that concentrating upon him will help us to stop being covetous. He is enough. It might take me a life time to internalise that lesson.