Thankfulness Hinges on Whether we're Covetous or Content

Obstructing or Constructing a Life of Thanksgiving?

Someone close to me told me the other day that they were not plugging for any promotion in their company nor campaigning for a pay raise, saying: “I’m making more than I ever have and more than I ever thought I would. Sure I would take a raise if they gave me one, but that’s not what I’m after.”

That is the idea of contentment.

The bible tells us:

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” (1 Timothy 6.6-8)

Food and clothing? Even most of the homeless have that. Would you be content with just food and clothing? I dare say that most of us would not. Maybe if God added a bass boat and fuel for the men and enough money to get the nails redone every week or two for the ladies we’d be OK.

The bible also says:

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For he Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."… Therefore by him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. (Hebrews 13.5 and 15)

Don’t forget, one of the “Thou shalt nots” is "Thou shalt not covet." This proves that one can sin against God while doing nothing. It’s a matter of the heart. Obviously, God doesn’t want us to covet. Here’s one reason why:

I’ve noticed sometimes that children can miss things that people do for them because they’re so caught up with anticipation over their own grandiose expectations. Sometimes the more you do for them, the more discontent they become. Most kids have to be taught to be thankful and often baulk when they’re expected to say “thank you.”

Many of us as adults have never outgrown those temper tantrums, except we know how to make them sound more “adult.”

So, let’s see the connection between covetousness and ingratitude and between contentment and thanksgiving. 

As long as we are coveting and not content, neither will we be thankful. Instead of thanking the Lord for his blessings we will feel discontented … covetous. Coveting will obstruct a life of thanksgiving. 

Conversely, contentment will come about as we thank God for each blessing, whether it’s something that’s common to all or a unique and special outpouring of grace from God. When we’re content, there’s no room for complaining – only gratefulness unto the Lord. Our satisfied hearts will then construct an attitude of thankfulness.

The fact is: I don’t have to have everything right now because I have the promise from God of eternal life and the eventual removal of all heartache in heaven.

So let us be content – and thankful.