It’s been four years since my beloved father-in-law went home to be with the Lord.
Last Saturday, our whole family came together over Zoom to reminisce about the godly life he led, share stories of our experiences with him, and to thank God for the gift of having had him in our lives. Each one of us narrated incidents and characteristics about him that stood out most to us. When it was my husband’s turn, he simply said, “Appa was a content man”.
I only had the pleasure of getting to know my father-in-law for two years before he passed away. Although there were many things about him that I fondly recall, my husband’s words about him really struck a chord.
I’ve only ever seen my father-in-law in one kind of attire – a simple, white juppa (similar to a long shirt) and a veshti (a long rectangular piece of cloth wrapped around the waist – falling to the ankles). He made that decision early in life when he started out in ministry. He chose it to express his dedication to the simple life he was determined to lead as a servant of God.
Some of my favorite stories of my father-in-law come from the early period when my parents-in-law struggled financially as they started out in the ministry that Lord had called them to do.
Though my parents-in-law faced many long and difficult years when they started their life together, one thing they decided was that they would choose to trust God for all their needs. They agreed to give God the honor that He deserved and whole-heartedly believed that He who called them was faithful and would lead them to the very end. During this time, my father-in-law had only one set of clothes that was respectable enough to wear outside – the aforementioned white juppa and veshti.
Whether he went to take classes in the nearby Bible college as a volunteer, pastor the little flock of people entrusted to him, or go out on errands, this was the only set of clothes that he had to wear. To buy another set was out of the question – it was simply not affordable at that point in time. It would have been easy for my father-in-law to hint to the members of his church for a special offering or paint a picture of his plight to a sympathetic ear. However, he refused to do that. He lived by one resolution his whole life: Whatever I need, my God will provide; what my God does not provide, I do not need.
When he came home every evening, my mother-in-law washed his clothes and hung them out to dry. This way, he wore the same set of clothes happily day after day and was faithful to his commitment until he came into new clothes.
This attitude spilled over into all the areas of his life. My husband fondly recollects the days when his father dropped him and three of his siblings off at school every morning. All five of them hopped on a small scooter that was the sole vehicle in the house then. I always smile when I hear that story. They must have been a sight to behold. I’m sure it wasn’t the most convenient but my father-in-law was firm in his decision never to ask anyone for money to upgrade to a bigger vehicle. He chose not to make light of his Father’s provision by turning to man for help. He served the One who “owns the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10) and waited on His timing. Looking back at his life, we fail to see any loose ends where God failed to honor my father-in-law’s resolute dependence on His provision.
Such narratives have always challenged me in my walk with God. What kind of requests take up most of my time in prayer? Am I constantly haranguing God on how a little more money would solve most of my problems? Am I complaining about the job I find myself in or the place where I currently reside? Do I bemoan the fact that others my age seem far more settled than I can ever hope to be or that we simply do not have enough rooms in our home?
What are the factors that drive us to our knees before God? Is it greed and a sense of entitlement shrouded in a cloak of perseverance and urgency? Or is it gratitude and an overwhelming sense of our indebtedness to God?
God is a good Father. He goes before us to prepare the way. In the way the wheels in a clock are dependent on each other, He uses the different circumstances we face to compliment each other to mold us into the unique vessel that He desires for us to become. Every need that needs to be met and every situation that needs to be “just so” will be taken care of by the Father. When you offer yourself to the will of God, no scene that unfolds in your life will be outside His Divine blueprint.
Dear child of God, know that if you find yourself in a predicament when you are following the will of God, He will lead you through it. We are not promised an easy life or a life of luxury. What we are promised is that “in this world, you will have trouble” but we can rest assured because He has also promised that “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Thereby, if we truly believe that “God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19), shall we mope around complaining over what we do not have? Watch out for the false gospel of prosperity that claims God wants you to have your best life now. Nothing can be further from the truth. Our attitude should be that of sojourners – always aware that we are not at home here on Earth and that the best is yet to come. “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1Timothy 6:6-10).
There are so many things we are tempted to be discontent with on a daily basis. The news of a friend’s promotion, the sight of a tasteful home built by an acquaintance, or pictures from a relative’s opulent holiday can trigger jealousy if left unchecked and held back from God’s intervention. In this day and age of social media, all of this information is just a click away. If we do not have eyes that are consecrated for self-denial and holiness, we will find ourselves in some very tricky waters.
Dear friend, do not spend your days pining for things that have no value in eternity. Do not ask for anything that you might spend on your pleasure. Do not seek to match your life to the lives of luxury and the “accomplishments” that you witness around you. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). Let us strive to keep an eternal perspective as we walk through life and learn to be content with what we have here on Earth. Let us counter our worldly concerns by seeking God and His righteousness. Then, everything we need will be added unto us.
If God chooses not to answer some of our prayers for our wants, then let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad that He has protected us from dangers unknown to us. Let us trust the decisions of the good Father we serve and be content with our lot. After all, whatever we need, our God will provide; what our God does not provide, we do not need.
12 comments
Godliness with contentment- that is what I’m striving for. I needed to read your timely post. God has been speaking to me this week about trusting Him for all my needs. I love what your Appa said and I have taken it to heart- ‘Whatever I need, my God will provide, what my God does not provide, I do not need. Thank you.
Our church just had their sermons about being content. True contentment isn’t about seeking happiness but resting in the joy God provides in the simplicity of life. To have enough is to have plenty. Great reminder, thank you!
What ever i need my God will provide, what my God does not provide, i do not need ♥️♥️
What an amazing legacy he has left behind and set a wonderful example for others to follow. I loved the way your husband described him, content. Thanks for sharing the story of this Godly man.
It is so easy to become discontent, but God is always faithful and true. Thank you for sharing your memories with us.
This is awesome! I like your FIL and he sounded like such a godly man. God does provide everyting that I need through Christ. I like how you said your FIL honored God with his provisions and didn’t look to man to provide them.
I pray for the grace to be content at all times even when it seems hard. The grace to always trust the Father even if He is yer to grant my desires. Thank you for this encouraging post.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading and listening to this! The story of your father-in-law is profound. I’m learning to be content, but sometimes I do get caught up in wanting what I don’t have. Glad God used you to remind me if this important truth. Thank you!
What an amazing example your father-in-law left for us! I love his belief that “Whatever I need, my God will provide; what my God does not provide, I do not need.” I try to remind myself of this truth, too. God is truly faithful and good in all that He does and allows in my life! Thank for this post!! Blessings! 💗
It sounds like you are blessed to have known him and have his influence in your life through your husband and family. Contentment is something that I have wanted to be able to share with others.
I look forward to reading your posts every week!! I just love how you write and the personal stories to prove your point! Thank you for taking the time to write this!
Amen. Such a good post. Such a good reminder. It is easy to slip into worldliness – coveting and complaining. But to live a life of contentment and faith, as you described in your father-in-law, is a huge blessing. As others have commented, I also loved, “Whatever I need, my God will provide; what my God does not provide, I do not need.” Great statement of faith!
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