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I shared a story yesterday, on how a piece of technology brought a lot of unhappiness to a very happy family with high flying children; in the devotional entitled “The Two Sharp-Edges Of Online Gadgets“. In that devotional, I gave a vivid picture of the harm we cause our children when we give them online gadgets without control, regulation and monitoring.

I will dwell on another side of the same story, which I call “Joy Stealers”, today.

I know a lot of people who wrecked their lives because they felt grass is greener at someone else’s foot! They think something else will make them happier than they are. So, some leave thriving businesses they are building to go and “hussle” abroad; some leave thriving relationships for more promising, or “already made” ones; others leave good and promising jobs for others that promise “heaven-on-earth”; only to realise they have been deceived, and gotten it all wrong! 
The man in yesterday’s story thought a phablet was going to make his daughter happier and better, but got it all wrong!

Ambition is good, and Bible even tells us to “covet the best gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31) ; but uninformed and unguided ambition is a disaster! The Führer was ambitious, but his ambitions led to the destruction of others, and himself ultimately!

READ 1 Timothy 6:6

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6 NKJV)

The text above is very loaded! 
First, what is “godliness”? Godliness to us is simply obeying God’s word – the Bible. The same Bible that says God will bless the works of our hands(Deuteronomy 28:12), and praised the virtuous hardworking woman( Proverbs 31:10-31), and tells us “do not love sleep or you will grow poor”( Proverbs 20:13), and said we ” must work, doing something useful with our own hands, that we may have something to share with those in need” (Ephesians 4:28) and also said “he who does not work should not eat”(2 Thessalonians 3:10)!

The same Bible is saying we should be content! How do we juxtapose the two? 

Simple! God wants us to know that He makes everything happen! He was the one Who provided what we had in the past; He is the one Who has provided what we have now; and He would be the one Who will provide what we need in the future!
So that if we work within His will and His word, we will always be guided to His providence; and that assurance of His guidance to His providence takes away our anxiety about life! That is the contentment Paul is talking about.

This contentment does not look at what others are doing, but what God has promised to do.

Joy stealers come when we do things outside the will of God; without His guidance. Then we get into a lot of trouble. I know people who acquired cars that became their “Joy Stealers” because they cannot afford the maintenance costs and fuel consumption; I know people who took certain jobs that paid well, but became their “Joy Stealers” because it was full of drudgery; I know people that went abroad, and that has become their “Joy Stealers” because they are not happy in a foreign culture.

What potential “Joy Stealers” are you considering today? Have you checked if it is in consonance with God’s will? Have you talked to God about it?

Apostlen Paul said to the Corinthians:

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.” (1 Corinthians 10:23)

Let us always be guided by God and His word so that we can avoid the “Joy Stealers.”

That way, we will be content and our joy will be full.

MEMORY VERSE

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful.” (1 Corinthians 10:23)

QUESTIONS

1. Do you have some “Joy Stealers” in your life?

2. Why not ask God to redirect you to His Providence, safety and contentment?

PRAYER TIP

Father, guide us to Your Providence and contentment, in Jesus’ name.

Written by:

BENNY MALM

For:

TESTIMONY DEVOTIONAL

URGENT CALL

The first step to becoming a member of the household of God is for you to be saved. Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Saviour. It is a very personal decision, which no one can make for you!

If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!

Do you want to make that decision today?

Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for guidance.

We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.

God richly bless you.

SPECIAL GRATITUDE

Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website. 

We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.

We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.

God richly bless you.

The Testimony Devotional website addresses are:

https://testimonydevotional.org/ https://testimonydevotional.com/

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