November 26, 2010 (with what you have)

with what you have

“Christians can be and ought to be content
with the simple necessities of life…
First, when you have God
near you and for you,
you don’t need extra money or extra things
to give you peace and security…
God is always better than gold…
Second, we can be content
with the simplicity because the deepest,
most satisfying delights God gives us
through creation are free gifts from nature
and from loving relationships with people.
After your basic needs are met,
accumulated money begins to diminish
your capacity for these pleasures
rather than increase them.
Buying things contributes absolutely nothing
to the heart’s capacity for joy…
Third, we should be content
with the simple necessities of life
because we could invest the extra we make
for what really counts (God’s kingdom).”
- John Piper

“You say, 'If I had a little more,
I should be very satisfied.'
You make a mistake.
If you are not content with what you have,
you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.”
- C.H. Spurgeon