Did you know…

You can’t take it with you. Egyptian pharaohs were often buried with treasure, weapons, and even food. They believed they would need these things for their second life. You might be thinking, “Well, that’s a bit ridiculous. Everyone knows you can’t take anything with you when you die.” And you’d be right. The biblical figure Job once said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.”

But knowing we can’t take anything with us doesn’t stop us from acting like we can. Maybe you can’t help but try to “keep up with the Joneses” and just have to have the latest and greatest products. Maybe you’re struggling to make ends meet and the anxiety is constantly gnawing away at your heart. Maybe you’ve got it all but it’s still not enough, like history’s first billionaire John D Rockefeller, who answered the question, “How much money is enough?” with a quip, “Just a little bit more.”

So what’s the secret to contentment for people harboring sinful discontentment in their hearts and living in a world that’s obsessed with more, more, more?

Recognizing that true contentment comes from Christ’s presence, not possessions.

This isn’t something we can find out on our own. It has to be revealed to us. And thankfully, that’s exactly what God does! Countless times in the Bible, God promises to be with his people. No matter how much is in our bank accounts. No matter what car is in the driveway. No matter what brands are hanging in our closets. In fact, all of those things fall into the proper perspective when God reminds us that we can be content whether we have much or little, because we have him, and that means we have heaven through his Son, Jesus.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5

Keep the Conversation Going

Questions for Younger Kids:

• What are some things people sometimes think will make them happy – like toys, clothes, or money?
• What does God promise to do for us, no matter how much or how little we have?
• If you feel sad because you don’t have something you want, who can you talk to and trust instead?

Questions for Older Kids:

• Why do you think it’s hard for people to believe they can’t find happiness in money or stuff, even when they know they can’t take it with them?
• How can comparing ourselves to others hurt our contentment and trust in God?
• Hebrews 13:5 connects contentment with God’s presence. What does it look like in real life to find contentment in Christ rather than possessions?