Have you ever watched Spongebob? No, wait, that’s criminal to ask. I should rather say, Who hasn’t watched Spongebob…So, yeah, in that cartoon show, there’s Mr. Krabbs, who is Spongebob’s boss. And if you’ve watched the show, the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about Mr. Krabbs is, say it with me…MONEY! And it’s obsessive to a fault. The more he gets the more he wants. Let’s talk about that today. No, we’re not talking about cartoons, we’re talking about the Mr. Krabbs problem. Because Mr. Krabbs lives in us all.
A popular saying we’re embracing in Kenya is, Mambo ni mengi na masaa ni machache (meaning: time is inversely proportional to all there is to do). But I think there’s a worthier, relatable saying that we should have. That, Mambo ni mengi na pesa ni kidogo( Money is inversely proportional to our wants😂). I feel like saying, if you agree please type, amen. But honestly, you don’t need to, truth is independent of opinion😂. Oh, and I also study professionally about scarcity and wants😅.
But okay, okay. Let’s be practical. So this is me. I’ll be okay, minding my own business, but as soon as I see the message, “Confirmed! You have received..” Yes, there’s that glorious feeling, but immediately afterwards, I start remembering that I need new shoes, let’s take away my fare to school Each day, oh and then there’s that cause I was to support…Oh, yes and then I’m a Christian so just take away tithe and offering😅( and I know this should be first but that’s not always the case, let’s be honest). And before I can even thank the one who sent the money, I’m already depressed because I’m remaining with 5 Bob.😅 Relatable?
We have a scarcity problem. We live in want. Not because there’s no resources/ money, but because our wants exceed them. We are ever seeking but never filling. But even more tragic is we want to blame our parents, the government, inflation etc…while the real problem is sin. The real problem is that we have forsaken the owner of everything. And listen to what He says about it:
KJV Jeremiah 2
13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
Our vessels are broken. They can hold no water. And then you realize that you are still expected to give?! From what? You hardly have enough for yourself. You see to truly give; emotionally, materially and spiritually is impossible for the sinner. To give without expecting to receive, to give and not begrudgingly; is brutal to the heart in want. And as Christians we still fall into the same loop. But God has helped me crack this problem, thus far I think😅 And the following things have helped me learn contentment:
Child of a King.
The moment we accept Jesus into our lives, the Bible says we are adopted into sonship. We become children of the King. And this is not just the king of a regional place, its the King of the universe, His dominion is not constrained by space or time. He is the Creator of it all. And this means two things:
1.God is Father to the Christians (Rom.8:15). And that means God obligated Himself to take care of You. You are the object of His love and care, the apple of His eye. And He gladly takes up the responsibility, He is not a neglectful, absent dad. He is willing to sustain us.
KJV Matthew 7
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
2. God is Sovereign and in control. He is not limited in His means to provide. He has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know not of. He is not burdened by our needs; all that is ,He created. And when I am under His care, I place myself under the arm of infinite treasures. And He is intentional about providing for our temporal and eternal needs. And this is not to say that He will give us everything that comes to our mind, some of those are not even good. But He will give us all that we need.
So, I have learned to ask of the Lord and trust that He will supply. The problem is that often we seek these things instead of seeking God; The owner of all these things. And even as we seek God, we seek Him because of what He has and not who He is. Don’t get it mixed up. If we do that, we will get tired. Find God out for yourself, who He is, and He satisfies every need we have. Spiritual, emotional, relational and material.
KJV Matthew 6
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.