CONTENTMENT
It is
written in the Bible that “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1Tim 6:6) This
verse has been hammered into my brain since I was a child, but then it was just
another memory verse, just like the others I learned in Sunday school. But
growing up, I have come to see the several applications of this verse and how
it has helped me lived a happy and fulfilled life.
In our
society today, we are blinded by clout and desperately chasing and falling for
what we do not have. Scammers on -or-offline would not have a fan base if it
were not for our greed. One will see an ad promising free cash, phones, or other
gift items and all sense of reasoning will disappear through thin air, all for
what? I’ll tell you the answer… we are trying to get what we do not have.
How about
fathers and mothers; uncles and aunts; and even children who leave their
families to search for the so-called “greener pasture?” I have no doubt we all
want to climb up whatever ladder we think will bring us fulfillment and
satisfaction. But what happens when you get to the top? When you cannot climb
any higher? Do you really feel fulfilled? Answer that honestly to yourself and
then pause for a second, hug your husband or your wife or your kids, and tell
them you love them. Don’t just tell them
you love them- show them you love
them. Hear them out. Be there for them. Be the parent or child your family
wants. Lots of families split without even realizing it. The attention that was
once there just vanishes into thin air all because the father wants a new car,
or the mother is an egomaniac, or the child is trying to buy some new toy all
in a bid to cope with peer pressure. Yes, peer pressure is not only for
teenagers; we fight peer pressure from when we were born until we die. I’ll talk about peer pressure some other time,
but let it be known that peer pressure exists at every level of human
development.
Ambition is
good; it is what drives us to push ourselves and do better as human beings
whether as individuals or organizations or as a family. Climbing the ladder is
very important for human satisfaction because of the perks that come with it:
social status, privileges, respect, and most importantly these days- the money.
It is astonishing- disgusting even to see what people do to climb up that ladder.
People kill
and people die for laurels, perceived glory, fame, wealth and stuff in their
line but in the process lose something that the wealthiest man cannot buy-
themselves. Your soul once lost will only take the grace of God to restore.
After chasing all the money in the world and losing your own soul- family
included, one comes to live with more regrets than the satisfaction that one
set out with.
There is no end to money, and there will never be an apex to the ladder, so take a deep
breath, take your time, and think about what really matters in your life. Do not
live your old age poor and miserable because of the choices you made while you were
young. And if you have made the mistakes already, it is not too late to change
course and make amends. It may take time, but it is always better late than
never.
#chasingAfterTheWind
This is awesome
ReplyDeleteWe will get better
This is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWe'll eventually be there someday sometime