Better Off

Our level of satisfaction as believers in Christ cannot be measured by dollars and cents, by the balance in our bank accounts or IRA's.  Not even our material possessions.  True satisfaction for believers is 
measured by our heavenly riches, which you can consider to be intangible and inward. 1st Timothy 6 states:
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Our level of satisfaction should not be determined by worldly criteria.  Jesus wants to give us abundant life, and even though we may have abundance in earthly possessions, we can keep in mind that He is the one who blesses us according to His will.  But, even in challenging times, when there is a virus on the move and economic peril that may ensue, we can continue to derive our joy and peace from the Lord who lives and is working in and through us.

+++++

We can worship God because of how we see His goodness expressed toward us. Psalm 103 reminds us:
(1) Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

We are bombarded by a steady stream of polls these days - national polls that indicate how voters are responding to the Presidential race, as well as more targeted polls in the so-called "battleground" states.  There are polls about Congressional races.  But, the fact of the matter is that the only poll that counts is centered around next Tuesday, November 3 - and you have an opportunity to participate.  It's been described on this program as a "responsibility" and a matter of "stewardship" - so make sure that you pray and vote.

Gallup doesn't seem to do a lot of election polling, but it does "take the temperature," it seems, about Americans' opinions on various issues.  And, even in the midst of a pandemic and prevailing tension, Americans actually express some satisfaction.  

The Gallup website notes:

During his presidential campaign in 1980, Ronald Reagan asked Americans, "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?" Since then, this question has served as a key standard that sitting presidents running for reelection have been held to.

Gallup's most recent survey found a clear majority of registered voters (56%) saying they are better off now than they were four years ago, while 32% said they are worse off.

This poll was taken in mid-September.  This compares to 45% who said in 2012 that they were better off than in 2008 - in a poll taken just after President Obama was re-elected.  In 2004, during President George W. Bush's re-election bid, the number was 47%.  

The Gallup poll shows that coronavirus is greatly on people's minds, with almost one-third saying in a poll taken earlier this month that the virus was the most important problem.  23% said government and/or poor leadership was the most important, with race relations and/or racism placing at only 10%.

So, even though COVID is still around, Americans are feeling pretty good.  And, this polling data reinforces the notion that the coronavirus is the major opponent of President Trump in his bid for re-election. 

Gallup does point out that, "This doesn't mean the economy won't be an important factor in the 2020 election. In fact, the economy ranks as the No. 1 issue that voters say will matter to them in their vote for president. However, 2020 presents an unusual situation in which members of both major political parties may have strong incentives not to mention the economy as the nation's top problem."

So, in summary, we can say that despite the virus, in spite of politics, most Americans feel their lives have improved.  Now, the results are general and I do not see what respondents shared were the reasons that they regarded that they were better off.   Could be economic, could be mental or emotional, maybe even spiritual.  While this is intended to be a political poll, it certainly takes the temperature of how Americans are feeling, and I have to admit there is a demonstration of Americans' resiliency here.

So, the question for the Christian is that: what determines our level of satisfaction?  It certainly should not be completely determined by the rise in the stock market or the victory of a political candidate.  The coronavirus has certainly been a robber of satisfaction, but we know that Scripture teaches that we can be joyful even in tribulation. And, Gallup points this out in another article, with information based on a September poll:

Americans' satisfaction with the state of the nation is holding near historical lows, even as their evaluations of the U.S. economy are slightly better. Currently, 14% of Americans are satisfied and 85% dissatisfied with the way things are going in the U.S., essentially unchanged from 13% satisfaction readings in July and August and seven percentage points above the record low 7% satisfaction in October 2008. As recently as February, 45% of Americans were satisfied.

Because we know Christ, we can experience deep satisfaction that is not based on what we experience in this world.  We can measure our degree of satisfaction by Biblical factors.  Because God loves us and we know Him, as we abide in the Lord, we can experience the fruit of His Spirit, which includes joy and peace.  Even when things don't seem to be going our way, we can continue to rejoice in Him because we know He is with us.