Topic: Life Is All About Relationships [RICK WARREN Devotional 17 JANUARY 2023]
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Life Is All About Relationships
“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)
Contentment does not come naturally to human beings. By nature, we are restless sheep. Yet we can learn contentment. To learn contentment, we need to stop incessantly grabbing for more.
Philippians 4:12-13 says, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (NIV).
If you go to the beach in Southern California, you’ll see some over-the-top, beautiful homes, but the owners are often never around to enjoy them. They’re always at work, making money to pay those massive mortgages. They, like many people around the world, get overwhelmed with the desire to acquire. This desire pushes you to buy something you really can’t afford, like a mortgage that’s over your head. Then you get overextended financially, and then you have to constantly hustle to make ends meet. Soon, you’re emotionally and physically exhausted, and your relationships start to deteriorate. Then you don’t even have a purpose for that fancy home.
The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:6, “It is better to have only a little, with peace of mind, than be busy all the time with both hands, trying to catch the wind” (GNT).
The greatest things in life aren’t things.
In America it’s considered a tragedy to “die penniless.” But there’s no better time to go! If you were out of here the moment you spent your last cent, I’d call that wise, not foolish.
Nobody ever asks for things in the final moments of life. They always ask for people, because eventually everyone learns that life is all about relationships. Why not learn that sooner? It sure would relieve a lot of stress.
Life is not about achievements, accomplishments, or acquiring more things.
Life is about relationships.
Talk It Over
- Which is more important to you—acquiring things or building relationships? Would your family and friends agree with your self-assessment?
- What do you think it means to leave a legacy? What kind of legacy do you want to leave?
- Paul says in Philippians 4:13 that he can do all things through Christ, who gives him strength. What kind of things do you think he is talking about?
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