Contentment

         I was peeling potatoes at the home of my folks one time and came to a small dimple in the potato.  I just kept going over the same spot until the dimple disappeared and the smooth white flesh of the potato appeared.  My Father was watching me and said, "You know, there is a little tip on the peeler that takes out the eyes of the potato and you don't waste a lot of the potato by using it."   My parents had been in the great depression and tried not to waste anything.  My peeling expertise was not what my Father would have done.  The old saying was, "Waste not, want not."  I always figured that the current potato peelers and better than a paring knife in getting the skin off without wasting too much of the flesh of the potato but Dad didn't see it that way.  Maybe that's why we had so many cans of nuts, bolts, washers and nails.  Bent nails were straightened out and then used again.   Philippians 4:11 says," Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."  
        The Apostle Paul had gone through many tough times in his life.  There were times when he all that he needed and many other times that he was in need of other things in order to survive.  Paul, however kept his mind focused on that which was important.  He didn't measure his life by how many things he had accumulated or how much food he had on the table or how many different cloaks he had.  His final statement in the above verse shows his attitude.  "...in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."  Wow!  That's a lesson for us all.  Our focus should not be on what we think we should have tomorrow or the next day, but to be content on those things that we have today.  What are the things that really matter in your life today?  How do you, and myself included, measure our success at the end of the day?   We often measure it by taking an inventory of all of the things that we have and then coming to the conclusion that we need more.  I had one boss in my life who had the thinking that if there was something that he had and that he had not needed it in the previous year, he would get rid of it.  It doesn't mean that you have to dispose of it, but that you can get rid of it by giving it to someone who needs it.  We sometimes think that we have to save up stuff for a "rainy" day.  God, however, has a different outlook.  He provides the things that you need each and every day.   Elijah depended on some Ravens to bring him food each day.  Manna would last only a short time and then rot.  We need to depend upon God for His supply in our lives and therewith to be content with that which we have.  Praise God today for His faithful supply of all of our needs and not all of our "wants."