My favorite band, The Avett Brothers, has a song that well illustrates the need for humanity to be grateful for what we have. The song tells of the poisoning effects of not being content with what we have and constantly seeking to have more and more. Some of the pertinent lines include, "I am sick with wanting, and its evil and its daunting how I let everything I cherish lay to waste...The more I have the more I think I'm almost where I need to be, if only I could get a little more...Oh something has me acting like someone I know isn't me, ill with want and poisoned by this ugly greed."
These lines from the song are a sad but true commentary on the state of much of human society both today and in times past. From the beginning of human history, our discontentment with what we have has been our undoing. Adam and Eve never would have sinned in the garden had Satan not convinced them God was wrongfully withholding from them what they deserved (Gen. 3:1-5). Once the desire for that which was prohibited was planted in Eve's heart, the glory of humanity was doomed to fade away.
As Solomon would later write, "That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun" (Eccl. 1:9). The old saying that the more things change the more they stay the same is so true of our lack of contentment leading to sinful desire. Satan has not changed tactics since that day in the garden, yet we still yield to his schemes though we ought to know better. What, if anything, may we do to defend our souls against this poisonous longing for more?
We must not be deceived by the devil's schemes. Every piece of the armor of God Paul described in Ephesians 6 is connected to the knowledge of the word of God and prayer. This is significant because the Bible gives the prescription to overcome temptation. Jesus was tempted with the same things we are yet without sin(Heb. 4:14-16). Thus, if we see how Jesus did it, we too may be assured the victory. Each time Satan tried to manipulate Jesus, he sought to implant wanton desire in Him. Each time, Jesus defeated his schemes with the reply, "It is written" (Mt. 4:1-11). Jesus was content with God's provisions. If we want to defeat the devil as He did, we must know God's provisions for curing wantonness.
First, we are warned to "beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Lk. 12:15). This flies in the face of all that pop culture tells us, so we must proceed with extreme caution. Second, the only way to succeed in avoiding covetousness is to be content with what we have and trust God to provide (Heb. 13:5-6). The third key to contentment is thinking about the right things. As Paul sat in a Roman prison, he wrote the letter to the Philippian brethren. Throughout the letter he urged them to rejoice in the Lord and be content. Coming from a man in prison, it is obvious that the joy of the Lord is not dependent upon outward circumstance, but rather it is dependent upon the inward perception of circumstance. "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things" (Phil. 4:8).
I am glad our nation sets aside the fourth Thursday of each November to express thanks for the bounty of blessings the Lord has afforded us. However, for the Christian, every single moment of every single day should be a time of thanksgiving (Col. 3:15-17).
These lines from the song are a sad but true commentary on the state of much of human society both today and in times past. From the beginning of human history, our discontentment with what we have has been our undoing. Adam and Eve never would have sinned in the garden had Satan not convinced them God was wrongfully withholding from them what they deserved (Gen. 3:1-5). Once the desire for that which was prohibited was planted in Eve's heart, the glory of humanity was doomed to fade away.
As Solomon would later write, "That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun" (Eccl. 1:9). The old saying that the more things change the more they stay the same is so true of our lack of contentment leading to sinful desire. Satan has not changed tactics since that day in the garden, yet we still yield to his schemes though we ought to know better. What, if anything, may we do to defend our souls against this poisonous longing for more?
We must not be deceived by the devil's schemes. Every piece of the armor of God Paul described in Ephesians 6 is connected to the knowledge of the word of God and prayer. This is significant because the Bible gives the prescription to overcome temptation. Jesus was tempted with the same things we are yet without sin(Heb. 4:14-16). Thus, if we see how Jesus did it, we too may be assured the victory. Each time Satan tried to manipulate Jesus, he sought to implant wanton desire in Him. Each time, Jesus defeated his schemes with the reply, "It is written" (Mt. 4:1-11). Jesus was content with God's provisions. If we want to defeat the devil as He did, we must know God's provisions for curing wantonness.
First, we are warned to "beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Lk. 12:15). This flies in the face of all that pop culture tells us, so we must proceed with extreme caution. Second, the only way to succeed in avoiding covetousness is to be content with what we have and trust God to provide (Heb. 13:5-6). The third key to contentment is thinking about the right things. As Paul sat in a Roman prison, he wrote the letter to the Philippian brethren. Throughout the letter he urged them to rejoice in the Lord and be content. Coming from a man in prison, it is obvious that the joy of the Lord is not dependent upon outward circumstance, but rather it is dependent upon the inward perception of circumstance. "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things" (Phil. 4:8).
I am glad our nation sets aside the fourth Thursday of each November to express thanks for the bounty of blessings the Lord has afforded us. However, for the Christian, every single moment of every single day should be a time of thanksgiving (Col. 3:15-17).