One of the virtues that I picked from my parents, especially my mum, is the virtue of contentment. Particularly after she got saved, my mum would not covet someone else’ things. She won’t borrow clothes to wear. We were satisfied and enjoyed growing up with her. We were contented.

Friend, contentment is a Kingdom virtue that you have got to imbibe if you would unlock divine provisions (1 Timothy 6:6-7). Contentment is not the same as complacency. While complacency manifests itself in lack of desire or drive to get better and live better, contentment is enjoying where you are on the road to where you are going (Amos 6:1, Hebrews 13:5-6).

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with what you have…” (Hebrews 13:5). Covetousness is a killer of destiny; it would short circuit the flow of Kingdom resources in your life. Covetousness is striving hard to have what God is not giving. It is fighting internally to get what God has given someone else instead of focusing on your particular walk with the Lord (John 3:27).

“…A man can receive nothing, except it is given him from heaven” (John 3:27). There is nothing someone has that he’s not given (1 Corinthians 4:7). When you know that God is the giver of every good thing and that He has more than enough to go round you would be at peace (James 1:17). What belongs to you will not be given to another.

If you don’t have it now it may mean that you don’t really need it now. There is a difference between your want and your need. A lot of us want so many things but God is not first committed to meeting your wants but to meeting your needs (Philippians 4:19). Your wants are connected to your carnal pleasures and desires, your needs are connected to your divine purpose and destiny (James 4:1-3).

“I have experienced times of need and times of abundance…” (Philippians 4:12 NET). Not too many people can handle times of needs. But one of the marks of Christian maturity is being able to handle both lack and abundance without losing focus (Philippians 4:11-13). Your attitude towards lack is a determinant of how much God can trust you with abundance.

© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria