So Sparquay made some comments about contentment and wanting new stuff the other day.
Which, of course, set me thinking. I think I have the opposite struggle than a lot of other people. Our culture lends itself to wanting more and striving after stuff that is newer, faster, better, shinier, etc. I am (gratefully) pretty much free of that kind of want. I mean, I like new stuff, but growing up in a low-income home has taught me the difference between needs and wants. If I need something, then that is a priority. If I want something, well, that's different. How much does it cost? What will I use it for? Will I really use it? Will it fit in my house? Do I really like it enough to spend my money on it? And so on. And after all that, if it is still something I want, then I have to save up to buy it. That's just the way things work in my life.
Unfortunately, this opens me up to a different temptation: smugness. I struggle with being proud of my budget-keeping ability. I sneer at your iPod Nano, because I bought the much more sensible iPod Shuffle. My car is 10 years old and makes funny noises, and half the time I walk or cycle anyway, so don't bother me with your shiny late-model whatever. No, I don't want to go out to eat, thank you; we eat at home.
Paul said godliness with contentment is great gain. What is arrogance with contentment, then?
2 comments:
Haha, I think my wife would prefer that I had contentment of any sort. I think the most content I've been was when I was in Scotland. I didn't really care what we had or didn't have. I guess it helped knowing that we were only going to be there a short stay. Maybe that's what I really have to get in my head... We're only HERE a short stay. Then hopefully I can keep away from smugness.
I don't think you have the same propensity toward smugness that I do. So you'll probably be all right in that respect.
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