Contentment

“If they obey and serve Him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.”  -Job 36:11

These days we are able to communicate better than any other time in history.  We have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and a plethora of other services.  Social media allows us to say more things and show more things than we need to sometimes!  I’m even using social media at this moment to put out my thoughts and feelings to whomever cares to read.  As you look through the daily posts, are you ever guilty of the “I wish” syndrome?  How about the “they must have” syndrome?  Or, there is always the “if only” syndrome.  You know what I’m talking about; our lack of contentment.  “I wish I could get that car they got”.  “I wish I could be at the beach all the time”.  “They must have all kinds of money”.  “They must have the best family life”.  “If only I could get a job like he has”.  “If only I had the opportunities they have”.  See, we put our lives out there on social media.  But let’s be honest, we generally put the best parts of our lives out there.  We don’t normally print the baggage.  Now, before I make my next point let me give my disclaimer;  I’m not suggesting that if you have lots of stuff or lots of great opportunities it means that you have great troubles in your life.  What I am saying is that perhaps the next time you scroll through your favorite social media site to see all the great things that are going on, and you start thinking of how much you wish you had “that” life, consider that there are sometimes things going on in some of those lives that you may not want to trade for.  There may be someone with a great deal of “stuff” but they are suffering from painful depression.  She looks so happy, but what we don’t see is that she is a victim of constant physical abuse.  He is always smiling, but the alcohol addiction is taking its toll.  They have a beautiful family, that is soon to be ripped apart by divorce.   What I am saying is that it’s ok to want things. Heck, we ALL want things.  But if our focus is on God, obeying Him, serving Him, then He promises prosperity and contentment for the rest of our days!  So scroll on through todays social media posts, and be happy for those that are happy.  Celebrate with those that have much.  Be in prayer for those that you know are struggling.  Then, thank God for the life and the path He has put YOU on.  Be obedient to Him.  Serve Him.  And get ready for a lifetime of prosperity and contentment!