Message Minute (Missing Present Blessings)

“It is better to be happy with what you have than to always want more and more. Always wanting more and more is useless. It is like trying to catch the wind.” – Ecclesiastes 6:9

Envy cripples the ability to enjoy the good things God has placed in our life right now. The Israelites said "our whole being is dried up" when they actually had everything they needed. Envy always assumes, “If all I have is what God gives me, if I rely solely on Him, it won't be enough.  My soul is going to dry up!”  But that's always a lie.

King Solomon was the richest, smartest, most powerful man in the world with unlimited resources. Yet he discovered that having everything doesn't lead to happiness. The happy life doesn't exist "over there" in that one thing God hasn't given yet.

This holiday season, try something radical: Make a list of good things already present in life—not wishes, but actual blessings. Put that list somewhere visible every day so envy can't rob the present moment.

Healthy kids. A job. A home. Friends. Food. These aren't consolation prizes—they're gifts! But we're so busy scrolling through others' highlight reels that we completely overlook what God has put right in front of us.

Reflect: What blessings are you currently taking for granted? How has comparison robbed you of enjoying what you already have?

Prayer: God, wake me up to the blessings surrounding me right now. Help me stop chasing "more" long enough to appreciate what You've already given. Teach me that contentment isn't about having everything—it's about recognizing how much has already been received. Amen.