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‘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 (NLT)

Thought:

Christmas will soon be upon us! Adverts scream out to buy, whether on the TV, in newspapers and magazines, via our mobile phones or alongside the bus shelter! Wherever people are and go, one can be sure adverts will be there too. Even in one of Africa’s poorest nations, I saw the Coca Cola bottles everywhere and Manchester United football shirts!

Having just spent nearly three weeks in Burundi and Uganda, I couldn’t help but be struck by how little they do have of this world’s goods, yet at the same time, they exhibit a richness in faith, thankfulness and the ability to still laugh and smile. I ‘survived’ hotels without any water to wash with and was nearly electrocuted by poor wiring in the bedside lamp! My ten nights in Lira saw the power off virtually every day from 7am – 8pm, and even during the night, unable to cool the room and having to read and write by lantern. Good job the cooking was done on charcoal, so we could enjoy some food and have a cup of tea! Yes, I certainly missed the ‘mods and cons’ I’m blessed with at home, but for so many, this is the only life they have known and they’re not slow in thanking God for what they do have.

They don’t have a full wardrobe or even a full larder. Life is much more fragile to them with little or no access to medicines and healthcare we in the UK take for granted. Yet in an amazing way, the gospel is abounding, churches are full everywhere and increasing as people are becoming Christians up to four times faster than the birth rate.

Jesus said, ‘One’s life doesn’t consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.’ ¹ He then went on to teach a parable about a man who started prospering in business and kept expanding, but died just when he decided to retire, having amassed far more than he could ever need ². In his desire to have this world’s goods, he forgot that as he came into it with nothing, he would have to leave it all behind. He couldn’t take anything with him when he died!

It’s all too easy, even late in life, to still be amassing possessions without giving a thought to what lies ahead. Have you stored up any treasure in heaven? If you have, Jesus said it will be there waiting for you – unaffected by moths and rust, untouched by thieves. More importantly, are you sure that you are going to heaven. Godliness is not measured by our ability to do good works, but by God’s gift to us – Jesus. He said, ‘I am the way.. no one can come to the Father except through Me.’ ³ The true meaning of Christmas is Christ, who is the saviour of the world. Is He your Saviour?

One thing you can give this Christmas is your life to Jesus and He in turn will give His life to you. Then you will find it so much easier to know true contentment! Why not try this:

Be thankful for what you do have! Don’t wait until it’s been taken away.

Show appreciation for what people do for you! Be quick to say thank you.

Make your mind up you’re not going into debt simply to have something you can do without! Why not enjoy a Christmas that’s paid for, even if it does mean smaller presents for everyone?

Make a decision that because God has blessed your life, you will be a blessing to someone else. Do it today!

¹ – Luke 12:15

² – Luke 12:16-21

³ – John 14:6