The Right Attitude, Not the Right Possessions

The Right Attitude, Not the Right Possessions
Sunday, January 05, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
Luke 12:13–15

A study published by the American Journal of Medical Genetics revealed a group of people who do not seem to be subject to the same worries and frustrations that most people in our society experience. The remarkable study revealed the following: “Among those surveyed, nearly 99 percent…indicated that they were happy with their lives, 97 percent liked who they are, and 96 percent liked how they look. Nearly 99 percent…expressed love for their families, and 97 percent liked their brothers and sisters.” This extraordinary level of happiness and satisfaction with life was not found among those of a certain race or gender, nor among those who were wealthier or more intelligent than average. It was found among people with Down Syndrome.

Contentment, happiness, and peace in life are not the product of what we have or what we can do. They are the product of having the right attitude. Desiring what we do not have and refusing to be content with what we do have is covetousness, and it is a deadly evil that destroys happiness and leads to folly and sin. Jesus followed this warning against basing our lives on our possessions with the parable of the rich fool who thought having barns filled with produce guaranteed his future. That story ends with this warning: “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20). Our attitude toward life and toward God determines our attitude toward things and possessions.

Today's Growth Principle:
We do not have to be bound by the covetous materialism of the world around us.