Moment of Meditation: Nothing In, Nothing Out (1 Timothy 6:7-8)

Nothing to this world we bring;
from it take we nothing.
With food to eat and clothes to wear;
content we are in everything.
(1 Timothy 6:7-8 ISV)

Nothing In, Nothing Out

Paul reminds Timothy of Job's words during his heartache (1:21): "I left my mother's womb naked, and I will return to God naked. The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken. May the name of the LORD be blessed."

Except those who believe in karma, everyone understands that we come into this world with nothing. No one has literally come out of their mother's womb with a silver spoon in their mouth. We all begin this life as helpless, little babies. As babies, we were most happy when our diaper was dry and our belly was full. When either one of those needs weren't met, we wailed our heads off until our parents figured out what was wrong. We were only content with that dry diaper and full belly.

In America, we have problems differentiating between wants and needs. We NEED food to eat and clothes to wear. We WANT designer label clothing and T-bone steaks. We're just as comfortable with homespun clothing and macaroni and cheese as we are with Abercrombie and Fitch® and lobster.

Are you consumed by wants or needs? Or are you content with the blessings God has given you? As you brought nothing into the world, you deserve nothing in this life. As you can take nothing with you, the accumulation of great wealth and picky tastes is "utterly pointless" as Solomon tells us (Ecclesiastes 1-2).

Are you making your life "utterly pointless"? Turn it around today and ask God to help you be content with what He has given you. Amen.