In this series on contentment I hope you found a few nuggets to help you go forward living a more content life. First, we established what our priorities revealed about ourselves and that we should place God at the center rather than ourselves to find true contentment. Then, we talked about world views and what it takes to have a consistant world view. We discussed stewardship and how to be a good steward of our time, talent and treasure. Finally, we finished with some practical ways to start applying your new content attitude!
As I look back over my life I realize that there were many times that I made a decision that was not God focused, but Natalie focused. I am not saying that God could not redeem those situations, but as I look back I see that my motivation for my decision was not guided by God.
I finished college with my Environmental Biology degree and a wonderful husband. I pondered, what is next for me, what am I supposed to do now. I did not want to stay in Indiana, but I was not ready to go to Wisconsin. I wanted to go off on another adventure. So, because I had gone to Alabama before on spring break, I thought that would be a cool place to go. I looked for graduate programs in that state and settled on forestry (after not researching forestry at all). I said no to other programs, even though my husband was excited about them. And off we went to Alabama for forestry...luckily my husband found a job he loved. However, beyond his job we were miserable.
Looking back at this decision I realize how self centered it was. I was only thinking of myself, I didn't look to anyone for guidance, I basically told my husband what was going to happen. We moved down there for good weather, and because I was not ready to give up being a student. I did not consider what was important to God, I was discontent and I was motivated by the fear of not having anything to do. So as you make decisions consider what God might want for you.
I Corinthians 3:11-15, "For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Chirst. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it becuase it is to be revealved with first, and the fire itself will test the quality of eah man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
This verse is talking about God's judgement of the deeds of those who are His. My move to Alabama was built on a foundation of straw and it will not stand up through the fire. I built that decision on stuff that will not remain like good weather and fear. However, if I had made that same decision considering where God wanted me, what my husband wanted, then this deicsion would have been built on a foundation of gold. Make your decisions considering what is important to God and others in your life and this will remain and you will receive a reward.
My challenge is to move myself from the center of the wheel. With this information to remind me, I hope I will make my next big decision from a God-centered rather than a self-centered focus.
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