Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. [1 Timothy 6.6-8]
There is so much to be learned from these words today.
Contentment can be quite allusive in this commercialized society in which we live.
Advertisement has become the science of manipulation.
Everything from television ads to internet activity tracking is aimed at studying the habits of people and pitching products or services accordingly.
I am a hunter. I hunt. One of the things I do to be a successful hunter is try to understand the habits of the game I pursue. Eating habits, drinking habits, and, yes, even sexual habits all reveal areas of vulnerability of the game I hunt.
Marketers, in our current commercialized society are no different than hunters. The general public, like uninformed game, is simply going through life's functions eating, drinking, and having sex, all the while ignorant that they are being manipulated in each of these areas by marketers they may or may not even be aware of. Marketers have learned that, in order to capture us (our money) they must understand our basic life habits and then manipulate them.
The key to success in most all marketing schemes is to focus on their prey's discontentment in any given area and offer something better. Discontentment is the fuel for marketing.
The key to overcoming marketers' pursuit of us is self-control. Self-control is the only defense.
So, how valuable are Paul's words here to Timothy? They are priceless.
Father, help me to be keenly aware of my surroundings and to understand outside manipulation whose goal is to highlight and capitalize on my discontentment. Help me to be mindful of Your repeated promises to care for my every need and rest in Your provision in every area of my life.
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