Beyond Boredom: Finding Contentment in Biblical Stewardship
Welcome back, friends! I'm Pastor Eric Tritten from Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hudson, Ohio, and I'm so glad you're joining me for this final installment in our 2026 Year of Stewardship series. If you haven't caught the earlier videos where we explored how God has blessed us with spirit, mind, and body, I encourage you to go back and watch those. They'll give you the full picture of how we've been entrusted with these incredible gifts to use for God's glory.
Today, I want to circle back to where this series began and tackle something that touches every single one of our lives in a very practical way: our relationship with money and possessions.
The Economics of Boredom
There's a content creator who goes by the name "Economikat" who has really captured something profound about modern consumer culture. She creates these videos where she calls out our spending habits with brutal honesty: "You don't need that Dunkin' Donuts—you're just bored. You don't need the new car—you're just bored. You don't need a new shirt—you're just bored."
And you know what? She's onto something. So often, we're trying to fill that sense of boredom, that emptiness, that longing for something more with our purchases. We're trying to find purpose in the things we buy. We're seeking meaning at the checkout counter, whether that's online or in person.
When we think about stewardship, how we spend our money is often one of the first places our minds go. And rightly so. We do have a stewardship of our things. But I want us to think about this a bit more deeply, because when we talk about "economic stewardship," we're really talking about something much broader than just our bank accounts.
Understanding Economics: More Than Just Money
We tend to use the word "economics" primarily when we're talking about money. But here's something interesting: the word actually comes to us from a Greek word that means "the household." It's about how you run your household. Yes, money is part of that picture—and it's a significant part. But it's also about the care of your home, the care of your clothes, and all of those things that make up the place where you live.
Now, I'll be honest with you: this message is going to focus somewhat on those financial parts, because they are a big part of running a home. Did you know that one of the chief tension points leading to divorce is financial issues? This isn't some minor side topic—this is something that's critically important as we think about how we spend our money and how we take care of the things that we have.
The Problem of Overconsumption
Many of the financial issues that we have within our homes are related to something we might call overconsumption. We're buying things that we don't need. We're buying things just because it entertains us, because it gives us a momentary thrill, because we're looking for that dopamine hit that comes with a new purchase.
So yeah, I'm going to pick on Dunkin' and Starbucks for a moment—and I say this as someone who loves his Dunkin'. Did you know that you can make coffee at home for pennies on the dollar? Now, I'm not saying don't ever get Dunkin'. I'm not saying don't ever get Starbucks. I'm not some kind of coffee puritan here. But I am saying that you can save a lot of money if you just make that coffee in your house.
And it's not just about coffee. Did you know that there are places that sell perfectly good used clothes? Some of them are name brand. Some of them are in fantastic, amazing condition. You don't always have to buy new clothes. You don't always have to have the latest gadgets.
Let me be transparent with you: I am terrible about some of these things. I love getting myself some Dunkin'. I love having good gadgets. I struggle with this just like many of you do. But maybe it's something that we all need to think about more intentionally.
The World's Message vs. God's Truth
The way that this world is always presenting us with this idea that we need something new, we need something better, we need something cooler than what we have at home—it's relentless. The advertising, the social media influencers, the constant parade of new products and upgrades—it's designed to make us feel like what we have isn't enough.
But here's what Scripture tells us. In First Timothy chapter six, verse six, it says that "godliness with contentment is great gain."
Contentment. What a beautiful, beautiful thing. In a world that's constantly telling us we need more, God's Word tells us that contentment—being satisfied with what we have—is actually a form of great gain. It's a treasure in itself.
Learning Contentment
So how do we learn to be content? This isn't something that comes naturally to us, especially in our consumer-driven culture. Let me suggest a few ways:
Gratitude: The Foundation of Contentment
I think that contentment begins with a strong sense of gratitude—being thankful for the things that we have, the things that we already possess in our homes.
We have a beautiful coffee maker at home. I can grind beans and it makes great coffee. Yeah, it takes a little bit of effort. I have to measure out the grounds, add the water, wait a few minutes. But I'm grateful for that ability to have a nice, fresh cup of coffee when I want one in the morning. That gratitude changes my perspective from "I wish I had Dunkin'" to "I'm blessed to have this wonderful coffee maker."
Valuing What We Already Have
We might learn to be content by valuing the things that we have and recognizing the blessings that we have in our lives.
There's a quote that goes something to the effect of: "There are people who are far worse off than we are who would love to live the lives that we live." Now, there's a point of comparison there that I'm not always completely comfortable with—we don't want to fall into the trap of feeling guilty about our blessings or dismissing real struggles we might be facing. But there is value in being able to look at our lives and say, "I'm thankful for what I have and I can value the things that I have in my life."
I have good clothes. I have a good car. I have a good job. All of those kinds of things. When we take the time to actually recognize and value these blessings, it becomes harder to take them for granted or to constantly be looking for the next upgrade.
Taking Care of What We Own
We might learn contentedness by taking care of the things that we own rather than just replacing them. What if we repaired some of these things? Yeah, I know—within our capability. I mean, there are times where you have to replace something. I get that. I'm not saying don't ever spend your money.
But I am saying that maybe if we were to look at the things that we have and take care of them well, they might last us a long time, and they might be something that we actually greatly appreciate. There's something deeply satisfying about maintaining and repairing what we own. It builds a different kind of relationship with our possessions—one based on stewardship rather than consumption.
Charity and Generosity
I think that charity and generosity can help us to be content with our lives, because we're using the resources that we have in a way that is a blessing to others and makes a difference. When we give to others, when we use our resources to help those in need, when we support ministries and causes that matter, it makes the world a better place. And there's a joy in that that no purchase can match.
When Possessions Possess Us
Now, I want to be clear: I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with having possessions. God has blessed us with material things, and we can enjoy them. But we must take care to make sure that our possessions do not possess us. We need to guard against the things that we want, the things that we desire, having such a hold on our hearts that we can't enjoy them, that we can't even just let go of them sometimes.
In the Bible it talks about our hearts being like an idol factory—they just churn out idols. And that's a real thing when we deal with the material aspects of our lives and the economic parts of our homes. Anything can become an idol if we let it. That new phone, that car, that house, that wardrobe—even good things can become destructive when they take the place in our hearts that belongs to God alone.
The Question of Debt
Debt is a big part of this conversation, and it's something for us to really think about seriously.
In Proverbs chapter 22, verse seven, it says that "the borrower is slave to the lender."
Now, here in the United States, we really don't like slavery. We spend a lot of time thinking about and talking about freedom here—it's part of our national identity. But the Bible says that debt is a kind of slavery. That's a sobering thought, isn't it?
Now, let me be practical here. Are there situations where debt can be helpful to us? Absolutely. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have bought a house without a mortgage. I probably wouldn't have paid for school without getting loans, although I got some pretty good scholarships that helped with that too. And I'm not driving the car that I'm driving without a loan.
There is a strategic use of debt where you need the money for the upfront payment, but then you manage it in a way that you can live within your means and use those things as a tool for the things that you need for your life. A mortgage that allows you to build equity in a home rather than paying rent indefinitely can be a wise use of debt. A student loan that enables you to get an education that opens career doors might be worthwhile. A car loan for reliable transportation to get to work makes sense for many people.
The key is the word "strategic." We should be intentional and wise about when we take on debt, not casual or impulsive.
The Disposable Economy
There's a lot in our world that perpetuates a disposable economy. There's a constant drumbeat for new, for better, for the latest and the best. And this messaging really does feed our tendency toward greed and covetousness, which are both sins. They're a type of idolatry—longing for these things as a source of blessing in our lives, as if they could give us what only God can give.
Another quote from Economikat that really struck me: "You don't have any money. All of your money is the clutter that's all around your house."
Ouch. But I think that's a thought that's kind of important as we think about the way that we just dispose of the things that we purchase. How much money is sitting in our closets in clothes we never wear? How much is gathering dust in our garages in tools we used once? How much is depreciating in our driveways in vehicles that are far more than we need?
A Different Approach
So am I saying that you should never buy anything new or that you should never buy something purely for your own enjoyment? No, I'm not saying that at all. But perhaps we should be more wise with our spending.
It is okay to buy things that are secondhand. Some of them are in great condition and they're going to last you for years. There's no shame in shopping at thrift stores or buying used items online. In fact, there's wisdom in it.
It's okay to borrow a tool rather than buying it. You know, you might only need that particular saw or that specific specialized equipment once or twice. And you can bless others too by letting them borrow your tools. This kind of sharing builds community and stewards resources better than everyone owning everything individually.
You can learn to conserve rather than simply being a consumer. When you conserve, when you're thoughtful about what you really need versus what you simply want in the moment, you might have those resources at hand when you actually need them. You have margin. You have flexibility. You're not constantly stressed about money.
Room for Celebration
Now, I also think that there's time for frivolity and there's time for celebration. I don't want you to hear this message and think that the Christian life is all about being a miser, about never enjoying anything, about living in constant deprivation.
There's a biblical pattern of fasting and feasting. There are times that we pull back and we're really cautious with ourselves, really disciplined and intentional. But there are other times too where it's a celebration, it's a feast. We see this throughout Scripture—festivals, celebrations, times of abundance and joy.
And when we spend money—maybe even "waste" money by some standards—maybe there's an opportunity to do that wisely, to do it in a way that will actually accomplish something good. Spending money to create meaningful memories with family, to celebrate important milestones, to share hospitality with others—these can be wise uses of our resources even if they wouldn't appear on a strict budget spreadsheet as "necessary."
Living the Abundant Life
Here at Gloria Dei, we have had a lot of funerals lately, and dealing with funerals really impresses upon me that life is short.
I don't know about you, but I want to enjoy it. And I want to live it—to really live this abundant life. Not just in the sense of having the good things of this world, but to live the abundant life that Jesus has given to me, the abundant life that He has given to you. I want us to really live in this fullness of His redemption and His forgiveness, with our lives really focused on who He is and what He's done in our lives.
And being a good steward is part of that. I mean, the main thing is that Christ died for you. He is risen. He is coming again, and He is going to raise you to live with Him in glory. That's the gospel. That's the foundation of everything. But as long as we're in this world, being a good steward helps us to really live the good life that Jesus intends for us to live.
What Makes a Good Steward
Because a good steward, first and foremost, knows that there's an owner and lives in relationship with that owner. So we live in relationship with God, and we use the things that He's given to us for His glory.
That's the key shift in perspective. We're not owners—we're stewards. Everything we have is on loan from God. Our money, our possessions, our homes, our cars, our clothes—all of it belongs to Him. He's entrusted it to us to manage wisely, to use for His purposes, to employ in ways that bless others and bring glory to His name.
When we understand this, it changes everything. It's no longer about accumulating as much as we can for ourselves. It's about faithfully managing what God has given us. It's about asking, "How does God want me to use this? How can this resource serve His kingdom? How can I honor Him with this possession?"
Moving Forward
So let's move beyond those amusements and those temporary pleasures that the world offers to us. Let's seek a deep and abiding joy that's found in Christ, and find our meaning for how we use these physical things in our lives in who He is.
The joy of a new purchase fades so quickly. The excitement of the latest gadget wears off. The thrill of a new outfit or a new car becomes ordinary. But the joy that comes from knowing Christ, from living in relationship with Him, from using our resources for His glory—that's a joy that lasts. That's a joy that grows deeper over time. That's a joy that money literally cannot buy.
Let's receive the spirit, mind, and body, and those economic factors of our lives, as gifts. Let's recognize them for what they are: gifts from a God who loves us, gifts that are to be entrusted to us in such a way that they make our lives rich and allow us to be a blessing to others.
True richness isn't measured in the size of our bank accounts or the value of our possessions. True richness is measured in the depth of our relationship with God, in the love we show to others, in the way we use what He's given us to make a difference in this world.
The Stewardship Journey
As we conclude this series on stewardship, I hope these messages have been helpful to you. We've talked about being stewards of our spirits—how we nurture our spiritual lives and share the faith God has given us. We've discussed being stewards of our minds—how we use our intellect, what we allow into our thoughts, how we develop the gifts God has given us. We've explored being stewards of our bodies—how we care for our physical health and use our physical abilities to serve God and others.
And today, we've tackled being stewards of our economic resources—our money, our possessions, our homes, everything material that God has entrusted to us.
All of these areas are connected. They're all part of living as faithful stewards of everything God has given us. And they all flow from the same source: God's incredible love for us, demonstrated most clearly in Jesus Christ.
Remember, stewardship isn't about earning God's love or trying to pay Him back for what He's done. We could never do that. Stewardship is our response to His love. It's how we live out our gratitude. It's how we participate in His work in the world.
So as we move forward into this year of stewardship, I encourage you to take what we've discussed and put it into practice. Start small if you need to. Maybe it's making coffee at home a few more days a week. Maybe it's taking better care of something you already own instead of replacing it. Maybe it's setting aside more to give to your church or a charity that's making a difference. Maybe it's simply taking time each day to thank God for what you have instead of focusing on what you don't have.
Whatever it is, take a step. And then take another. And trust that as you seek to be a faithful steward, God will guide you, provide for you, and use you to bless others in ways you might never imagine.
May God bless you as you seek to honor Him with all that He's entrusted to you. May you find the deep contentment that comes from knowing Him and living in relationship with Him. And may you experience the joy of being a faithful steward of His good gifts.
If this series has been helpful to you, please share it with others who might benefit from it. And come back next week—we'll have something new to explore together.
God bless you!
— Pastor Eric Tritten
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
Hudson, Ohio
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