Gratefulness Leads To Contentment

“God is the only way to experience true contentment.”

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:17

Reflection:

In this chapter the ten commandments are presented and if you notice, this is the only commandment where you will find repetition. It doesn’t stop at “you shall not covet”. It continues in a very specific way and repeats the word “covet”. I believe this commandment is really aimed towards a person’s heart and mind…

If you look up the word covet you will find that it doesn’t simply mean to want, but to be consumed with desire, to burn for, to crave! The Lord knows our heart's desires often lead us to sin. We want more and more and more until eventually we realize that more will never be enough. Why? Because possessions will never make us truly happy. God is the only way to experience true contentment.

If you turn to 2 Samuel 11 you’ll read a story about David and Bathsheba that really ties in with this commandment. Essentially, David is walking on the roof of his palace and sees a beautiful woman bathing. He decides to follow his own heart’s desire which ultimately snowballs into sin after sin. He sends his servants to Bathsheba and they bring her back to him where he sleeps with her and she ends up pregnant. Bathsheba is already married to a man named Uriah. David puts a plan together to have Uriah killed but sets it up in a way that makes it look like he died in battle. The true battle in this story is in David’s heart. He didn’t stop to pray or ask God for strength—he went directly to what HE wanted, craved, burned for. From there it turned into lust, selfishness, hurt and lies.

When you find yourself wanting what others have, stop, and ask the Lord to shift your focus on what you have been blessed with. Instead of being envious or resentful, pray for a heart of joy and gratitude. It is so important to look past this earthly life and the material things surrounding us and develop a hunger for heaven. Paul wrote in Colossians 3:2, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Action Step:

• Practice gratitude. Every morning write down three things you are grateful for. Gratefulness is an outstanding way to lead yourself to contentment.

Written by Sarah, mom of 2