15th April 2026

‘Everybody is looking for something. Find it on (website).’ This was an online ad, which I usually ignore, but it caught my attention because it’s true. It’s also sad. I guess nothing has really changed since we humans came on the scene, but it does seem we suffer from an extreme lack of contentment in this 21st century. Never have we had 24/7 access to shopping sites. It takes mere seconds to click the ‘buy’ button and voila, your package is on the way, usually in just a day or three. 

We are bombarded with messages, some subtle, some not so subtle, that we won’t be happy until we buy more and more and more. And someone is always there, ready to sell it to us. I regularly receive messages about minimalism, reminding the readers that buying stuff doesn’t lead to contentment. But I didn’t need those messages to know that – Jesus said something to this effect a very long time ago when he warned: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15 NIV).

We all know this and probably mentally assent to it, but we can’t avoid – and sometimes can’t resist – the messages coming at us from every direction. I have to admit I buy too many books. I’m in the C.S. Lewis camp of ‘You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.’ But even an endless cup of tea and a never-ending book still can’t satisfy our insatiable desire for more. We must all remind ourselves that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6) and find our contentment in what really matters – seeking the Kingdom first, loving God and loving our neighbours. 

This study was first published on 3 June 2025, at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com a personal blog which is not sponsored by Grace Communion International.

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