I love a good deal.
A well-known financial guru once said, “Never pay full price.”
Black Friday is a day of deals. Admittedly, they are much easier to get as you can sit behind your computer screen and click “Add to Cart” pretty easily. It is much different from the era of getting up at 4-5am and getting in line at the store with the deal you wanted, rushing to the spot to grab the item and then trying to get checked out so you could get to the next store that opened before it opened.
I love a good deal.
But one thing that still sits oddly in juxtaposition to Thanksgiving is Black Friday.
Why?
It seems to me that as soon as we are done giving thanks for what we have been given, advertisers are there to make us discontent with what we have. In the days of newspaper advertising, the Thanksgiving paper was THE biggest to deliver, sometimes taking two loads because it was stuffed with advertisements.
Where is your heart this morning?
If you are up early getting the “good deals” – as I said, “I love a good deal.” Nothing wrong with a good deal. However, where is your heart this morning?
Are the thoughts of Thanksgiving a distant memory? Is your heart feeling pressured to buy something that maybe you don’t need, but it is a good deal? Or is your heart feeling discontent with what you were grateful for yesterday, and needing more today?
I don’t mean to spoil your Black Friday deals, but I am sharing what my heart needs, and what I’m guessing your heart could benefit from as well.
Learn gratitude and contentment…every day.
Philippians 4:12 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. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Contentment is realizing the Lord has provided what I need for today.
Contentment is a condition of the heart that trusts in the Lord, not in material things.
Contentment is knowing my biggest problem in life is taken care of by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Contentment is shopping for a good deal to be a good steward of God’s gifts without allowing that item to cause sadness or joy if I get it or not.
Contentment allows me to be generous in giving to the Lord and others, because my security is not in my stuff.
Contentment flows from a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving.
Contentment realizes the LORD is good and his mercy endures forever…and lives each day in that reality.
So enjoy whatever activity you have planned today…even if it getting up early and standing in line to get a deal. However, don’t let the heart of Thanksgiving leave you for a heart of discontent, rather let the heart of Thanksgiving and gratitude give you always a heart of contentment.
Apply: Don’t just pay attention to the deals today, pay attention to your heart and where it’s focus is resting.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for all things. Lead us to live each day with a heart of gratitude, generosity and contentment. AMEN.