Be Content in God's Will

Then Jacob made this solemn vow

 “If God remains with me, watches over me throughout

this journey that I’m taking, gives me food to eat and clothes to wear, 

²¹ and returns me safely to my father’s house,

then the Lord will be my God,

  ²² this stone that I’ve erected in the form of a pillar will be God’s house,

 and I’ll give you a tenth of everything that you give to me.” (Genesis 28:20-22 ISV)

Godliness with contentment is great gain.  But you must be content with what you have.  We didn’t bring anything into the world and it is certain that we can’t take anything out of it.  If we have food and clothing, we should be content with that. (I Timothy 6:6-8 Auth. Trans.)  Look at the birds in the sky: for they don't plant or reap, nor do they store up food in barns or silos; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Why do you worry about clothes? Meditate on the lilies of the field, how they grow; they don't work at it, nor do they sew: So if God clothes the grass, which is alive today, and tomorrow is baked in the oven, won't He even more clothe you?  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not even one of them falls to the ground, without your Father. (Matt 6 Auth. Trans)

Don't store up treasures for yourself on earth, where moths decay and rust corrodes, and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourself treasures in heaven, where neither moths decay nor rust corrodes, and where thieves cannot break in and steal  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. Don't worry in life about what you are going to eat, or what you are going to drink, nor even what clothes that you are going to put on your body. Isn't the life more than food, and the body more than clothing? (Matt 6 Auth. Trans)

Don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself.  There are enough things to worry about today to concern yourself with. (Matt 6:34 Auth. Trans )  Come on!Those of you who say, "Tomorrow, we're going to such and such a city and spend a year working there." You don't know what tomorrow will bring. Your life is like smoke that appears for a little while then dissipates. What you should say is, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." (James 4:15 Auth. Trans) Don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God your needs and don't forget to thank Him for His answers. (Phil. 4:6 NLT) 

O God, I beg two favors from you;
    let me have them before I die.
⁸ First, help me never to tell a lie.
    Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
    Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
⁹ For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
    And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

(Proverbs 30: 7-9 NLT)

Contentment vs. Minimalism

Recently, I have been reading up on many frugal websites and blogs. I find it intriguing that so many of the things listed, I already do. The best scrubby in the world is a used orange or onion bag. Also, ordering water on those occasional trips to a restaurant.  And how about those leftovers.

Before going on a two week trip to Hawaii, I decided not to go to the grocery store for almost two weeks. The refrigerator was full and so was the food pantry. In fact, some things were outdated and had never been opened. It's amazing how ingenious I became with meals.


I have also found that you can save some change by going the speed limit. It reduces the use of fuel, as well as saves you from catching so many red lights.  I have found myself accelerating down the interstate over the posted speed limit, only to be stopped in rush hour traffic, right next to that sweet old granny I passed ten miles ago.  Not only did it cost me fuel, but the rush left me feeling anxiety and hurried.


Many people turn to Buddha for tips for wisdom.  I turn to the Jewish Messiah - Jesus. He was very minimalistic. In fact, we find He had no place to call home (Matt 8:20).  He taught that we shouldn't put thought into material things, such as food/clothing, but our main concern should be the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 6:33).  He practiced a very ancient form of meditation. Modern Hebrew speakers refer to it as Hitbodedut. It is being alone with God. (Matt 14:23)


Rather than being a minimalist, I prefer the term "contentment".  The apostle stated, "Godliness with contentment is great gain" and " having food and clothing, be content with these things" (I Tim 6:6, 8) It's not so much about having to have the latest gadget or the most recent iPhone. It's not about driving the latest model or taking a spectacular vacation. It's about being content with what you have.


The 10th commandment states, "You shall not covet your neighbors spouse. You shall not covet his house, nor his ox, his mule, his land or anything that is your neighbors."  By keeping this commandment, we guard ourselves against discontentment with the things that we have.  I am happy for my neighbor that he/she got a new car. I am happy that my neighbor has an 60'' concave plasma T.V. But I am thankful that I have a car to drive. I am content with my laptop. I am content with my older model phone.


I may not go through my closet an eliminate all but 7 outfits, but I do not wish to overspend on clothing that I don't need. If I find a shirt I like and feel that it will be more practical than one I already own, it may be time to donate an old one to make room for the new.


I have lived in my house, now for eight years.  I have yet to have a water spigot install outdoors to water my garden.  It does become cumbersome carrying out buckets of water in the summer, to water my garden, but it is also a blessing.  As I was thinking on this recently, I realized how thankful I am to God when it rains.  It gave me the sense that I'm sure Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had when rains came or they found an oasis in the desert. I began to realize how God has used this to illustrate a lesson of thankfulness.

Walking By Emunah (Faith)

So, I have been trying to practice what the Christian elder Paul taught the Corinthian believers: Walk by faith, not by sight.   But what does that really mean? Can we do this if we don't really understand what faith is?  In our mindset (western/Euro-American mindset) faith is "intellectually accepting that something is true, despite tangible evidence" (author's definition). However, the author of the book of Hebrews stated, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen."  (Heb11:1 KJV) Faith is often referred to as the 6th sense, but it is so much greater than that.

Faith is coming to the recognition that God is. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Heb 11:3) Everything that exists only exists by His will and design. He is in the lightening, thunder, rain, earthquakes, flowers, trees, deer, fish, water, etc. He is also in modern technology for without Him would not anything exist that does exist. He is in my car, oven, microwave, job, family, pet, smart phone.  But you might say that's sacrilegious or idolatry. When we give glory to anything other than God, that is idolatry. God created Steve Jobs and gifted him with the mind to invent the smartphone.  God gave Bill Gates the talent and intellectual ability to design an amazing computer program that is used the world over.

The Apostle Paul taught the Roman believers: For what can be known about God is plain to them [godless and wicked people], because God Himself has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible attributes - His eternal power and divine nature - have been understood and observed by what He made, so that people are without excuse. (Roms 1:19-20 ISV) When we look at the things we see, it is like looking at a reflection of God. If you are a true believer in Christ, then "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Rom 8:28 NIV) And no matter what the situation, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (I Thess 5:18 KJV)

You really can't get by without faith in this life. Everyone has "faith" in something. And as a Christian you certainly cannot survive without faith.  It is oxygen to the soul. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb 11:6)  But how is faith cultivated? Consequently, faith results from listening, and listening results through the word of the Messiah. (Rom 10:17 ISV) Jesus compared faith to a mustard seed. When someone hears the words of God, a seed is planted. If that seed is watered and nurtured, it brings about a plant and that plant puts forth leaves and blossoms and eventually bears fruit.

So it is with faith. It is planted in the heart. The more you recognize God in your situation, the bigger your faith and before long, you find yourself bearing the attributes of Christ.

Recently, as I was preparing to take a shower, I thanked God for the ability to shower. I thought about what a luxury it is that I have shower and running water.  To my surprise, the next morning, there was no hot water.  I thanked for all the hot showers I have been able to take.  I remembered a homeless person who told me they were about to lose their job because they didn't have a routine bath for hygiene.  That evening, I was able to relight the pilot and again thank God for hot water.

Only a few days later, I was out in the back cleaning up the yard, when I scrapped my toe on a rusty nail. Instead of panicking, I thanked God for His protection that it didn't go deep into my foot. 

Only a day later, I was watching a lecture on faith from Rabbi Dror Cassouto on the Emunahchannel.com, when by back begin to feel like a knife was piercing me on the left side. Within seconds, I was sure I was passing a kidney stone.  I filled the tub with hot water and laid there thanking for another experience.  Within two hours, I had passed the stone.

So, why did these things happen? I don't know. That's why it's faith. I know it was the Creator in all these things, but for what purpose, I can't say. What I can say is, "Thanks, God. I know You know the reasons and purposes and You'll work it out."