“When you focus on what you lack, you lose what you have.”  Greg McKeown

Why? Does all the good stuff go away? No, but if we don’t see it, it’s as though we didn’t have it. We’ve all heard stories of people who lived and died as paupers, barely eking out an existence, because they were unaware that a relative had left them an abundant inheritance, just waiting for them to claim it!

We can rightly think and say those folks were missing some marbles in the sanity and logic department. Yet, whenever we don’t see or acknowledge the blessings the Lord has given us, we too live and die as paupers. How so?

First, and most obvious, we could become material paupers. This happens when we fail to use and enjoy what we have in the material realm because it “isn’t good enough”, or we wish we had more, newer, more fashionable, (etc.), stuff. That causes major discontent and living as though we didn’t have it.

For example, would you refuse to drive your car anywhere and just leave it at home because it wasn’t as new or fancy as your friend’s or neighbor’s? Someone who felt a lot of shame and/or fear of what others would say about them might not ever use their car in public. But hopefully we have more sense than that!

Second, we could become social paupers. This happens by not reaching out to those around us, not acknowledging the friendships we have, and/or ignoring our current friends, all because we wish we had more or better friends.

Have you ever refused an invitation to go somewhere or do something because the one(s) who invited you wasn’t/weren’t “good enough”? I’m not talking about being rightly careful about the kind of company we keep. We do have to watch out for what kind of influence we let into our lives, especially on a frequent basis. The saying “Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor. 15: 33) applies to everyone’s era and age.

What I’m speaking of is ignoring or rejecting those current or potential friends who don’t seem high-status, popular, (whatever else we’re looking for) enough. Before you do that, ask yourself, “Would I want someone to ignore me or refuse my invitation because I’m not ‘enough’ for them?”

Third, and ultimately the worst, we can become spiritual paupers. Thinking and feeling that the Lord has abandoned us or never cared in the first place, we give up on relationship with Him. That, in turn, closes the connection to everything He longs to give us—love, joy, peace, growth, abundant life in Him. All because He “let us down” in some way.

We treat the Lord the same as we would a person we haven’t forgiven—not giving Him another chance, assuming and expecting the worst, holding a grudge and resentment, not wanting to hear anything about Him, etc. In the end, it makes us miserable

Thankfully we don’t have to be paupers in any realm. Scripture tells us that “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Tim. 6:6

How does this work?

1. If we think and act right (godliness), we’ll have better relationships, more success, and more peace of mind. That translates into social, experiential, and psychological “wealth”, or gain.

2. If we’re content, we’ll feel and behave as one who has all we need to be happy— so we’ve gained happiness, as well as a sense of well-being, versus perpetual dissatisfaction and feeling “gypped out” by life. This translates into emotional “wealth”, or gain.

3. We won’t be jealous and resentful toward those who “have it better” than we do. Not only does this translate into emotional “wealth”, or gain, but physical and social as well. Who wants friends that are jealous of us? And we won’t have anything eating away at our gut health.

4. We won’t hold anything against the Lord. Instead of starting with our disappointments and hurts to decide how to feel about Him, we’ll start with His true and unchanging character to inform our feelings. This will keep us connected with Him—able to pour out our heart to Him for comfort, healing, and assurance of His love.

Focus on what we have instead of what we don’t have, and gratitude will replace grumbling. Thankful people are healthy people– mentally, emotionally, physically, and socially. And spiritually, if we’re thanking the Lord.

“…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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.” Phil. 4:11-12

Later, in this same passage, we see how focusing on the Lord and getting our contentment from Him, gives us the assurance of His provision—that means gain in every facet of our lives.

“ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19

Adjust your focus to be content, and enjoy the gain!