Contentment in Christ in an Instant Gratification World
by Courtney Tracy
It’s that time of year again, isn’t it? That time of year when the Black Friday sales have already been out since August. Never mind the Tik Tok videos or Instagram and Facebook reels that have been showcasing twinkly Christmas trees, Christmas cookie recipes, and beautiful tablescapes to recreate at Christmas… all before Halloween. As someone who would consider herself a content creator, I get it… but also, it makes me anxious. Riddle me that. On top of all that, we received the toy magazines from all the major retailers in our mailbox at the beginning of October. You, too? I can quite literally feel the anxious to-do lists and clicking of “add to cart” already.
As a wife and mom of four awesome kiddos ages 8 and under, I have felt the temptation to make this time of year one of instant gratification. I myself am no rookie to seeing something someone shares online… maybe a cute coat or home decor item, wanting it, justifying my “need” for it, and quickly adding it to my cart and purchasing what I feel is rightfully mine. Maybe you can relate.
But is this the way? Is this a heart contented in Christ? Is this what this time of year should be about as we begin to prepare our hearts for a season of Thanksgiving and followed up shortly after with Advent? Deals, Black Friday shopping, Cyber Monday shopping, quick clicks to get the latest and greatest Christmas decor to keep up with the Jones’s or checking off every item on our kids’ Christmas list… certainly, this can’t be the way.
But it often is, or feels that way anyway, because the world we live in makes it that way. As followers of Jesus, we are called to follow and love Him, not the things and ways of this world (1 John 2:15). So, as Christians living in an instant gratification world, how can we push back on instant gratification? The better way, I believe, the more thoughtful and prayerful way, is to ask God to give you tangible ways to rest in the sufficiency of Christ alone in this season and to teach our kids to do the same, even when that may feel like the harder way, especially with littles who can easily fixate on the objects and not the Object of our faith.
I think there are many ways to do this that make sense for your own family, but whichever way, it should come down to one thing, rather, one person: Jesus.
When I’ve considered how our own family can satisfy our souls and combat instant gratification, Psalm 23 has come to mind more than once already this fall:
The Lord is my shepherd;
I have what I need.
Psalm 23:1.
Pause. We have what we need already. Everything? Yes, my friend, in Jesus, we have all that we truly need.
As I read these words in Psalm 23:1, I am reminded that Truth always combats lies. Lies that tell me there’s something I’m missing out on if I don’t buy something for myself or my kids. Lies that tell me life will be better if I or my kids have more stuff. Lies that tell me I will look better, more superior even, if I have a certain item in my skincare routine.
When temptation and worldly possessions threaten our worship of the only One worthy of it all, we can fight back with His truth. God’s word is the Sword of the Spirit as Ephesians 6:17 tells us. Completely necessary for battle.
When we are tempted to place our hope and security in stuff, our Savior gives us true satisfaction for our soul. True contentment comes from Him alone. Jesus is who we need most in an instant gratification world.
So, what are some tangible ways to rest in the sufficiency of Christ alone in this season and teach our kids to do the same? Below is a short list of some of the simple ways we have found to be helpful as a family to grow in contentment and thanksgiving to the Lord and resist the temptation of instant gratification in stuff and making this time of year about created things over the Creator of all things.
Read truth together that encourages contentment, thanksgiving, and praise to the greatest gift we’ve ever received in Jesus, our salvation. To do this, you may consider:
Picking a verse or two over the next two months to practice memorizing together as a family. Maybe you choose Psalm 23:1. Practice reciting it together each day, pray through it together, come back to it when times of discontentment or seeking joy in created things arise. Use it as a praise moment when your kiddos do show contentment, thanksgiving, and joy in Jesus!
Sing truth together that encourages contentment, thanksgiving, and praise to Jesus. To do this, you may consider:
Creating a playlist that points your family to Jesus and singing songs of thanksgiving and praise to Him.
Minimize the distractions of earthly things within your home. To do this, you may consider:
After having time to look over the magazines and the like, remove the distractions of the toys and material objects that can feed into instant gratification or fixation on earthly things. Send them to the grandparents to give them a few ideas or peek at them yourself before recycling them.
Hear me, there is much joy to be had in the gift-giving and receiving this time of year! But, as followers of Jesus, let us not cast aside the ultimate gift we’ve been given in Jesus and detract from putting Him first this season. He alone deserves our thanks, praise, adoration, attention, and worship. We hope to portray to our children what it looks like to be content in Christ, not in earthly desires that don’t last and that they would remember that the Lord is our Shepherd, we have all that we need in Him.
Streamline and budget for gifts within your home. To do that, you may consider:
Following a simple list of categories for items you shop within for your children.
Communicating and game planning your budget with your spouse before the shopping begins.
Within our home, my husband and I like to follow these simple categories as we shop for our kids: Something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. I’ve heard it another way where something to wear is replaced with something to do. Some years, we’ve done that version, too. Having this general framework has helped us immensely as we consider how to best steward the money God’s given us and has helped us pause and consider items under these specific categories and refrain from instant gratification of quick purchasing.
Worship before the world on Christmas Day. To do this, you may consider:
Singing hymns together as a family before opening gifts.
Reading a verse or the story of Jesus’s birth together from the Bible or a storybook Bible before opening gifts.
We have a sweet family tradition that involves both of these ideas before we open gifts on Christmas morning!
Friend, I pray that this article would point you to Jesus and help you consider how to resist instant gratification this upcoming season by slowly, thoughtfully, and prayerfully pausing to remind yourself of the Truth to yourself and to your kids. Let us consider how to steward our money and resources well as we think about buying gifts this season. Let us remember that when we taste and see that the Lord is good, that Jesus alone truly satisfies, all the other temporary pleasures of this life won’t taste as sweet as they once appeared.
We have all that we need in Jesus. Our Good Shepherd. Remember this.