Something that robs us of our contentment is always being reminded of what others have (but we don’t). It has to do with envy, which Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung describes as “feeling bitter when others have it better.”*

Can you relate? Come on, be honest. We can sometimes feel bitter when think other people have better stuff, better experiences, better relationships, and better everything.

So, what do you do?

Well, I have a theory: When you focus on what you DO have you’re less likely to be downcast by what you DON’T.

Part of the problem is that in our highly consumeristic society we’ve been sold a dirty, thieving lie that material things are more important than spiritual things.

But they’re not.

In Ephesians, Paul uses the words “riches” five times to describe what we have in Christ. Here’s one of them: “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6-7).

I went through all five passages to make a list of these spiritual riches we get in Christ:
–We are God’s heirs
–They make us special for a special purpose
–Redemption
–Forgiveness of sin
–God’s generosity
–Knowledge of God’s will to bring harmony to all things in Jesus
–Hope
–Power
–Relationship with Christ
–God’s kindness
–Love
–God living within you

Friends, in Christ, you are a spiritual billionaire!

Don’t be robbed of your peace in Christ. When you focus on what you DO have you’re less likely to be downcast by what you DON’T.

By Matthew Ruttan

–You can now WATCH THE SERMON that this devotional is based on here. It’s called “Spiritual Billionaires” and is Part 1 in the Contentment series. Enjoy!
–Bible quotes are from the NIV.
–* From Konyndyk DeYoung’s book ‘Glittering Vices,’ 41.