Scripture Sunday

I couldn't decide between two different topics today, so I am sharing both.

1) "be content"

Last week I learned some things in our Sunday School lesson on the law of consecration. One verse we read was Doctrine and Covenants 42:32.
And it shall come to pass, that after they are laid before the bishop of my church, and after that he has received these testimonies concerning the consecration of the properties of my church, that they cannot be taken from the church, agreeable to my commandments, every man shall be made accountable unto me, a steward over his own property, or that which he has received by consecration, as much as is sufficient for himself and family.

This verse, Hebrews 13:5 , wasn't in the lesson but I found it afterward:
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

During the lesson the Spirit taught me to beware of pride. The purpose of this law and of our lives it to love and serve others. Consecrating helps us be humble instead of prideful. Pride is self-centered; "these are my things." Humility is a recognition that all things come from God and we are accountable to Him. It is sharing, looking outside of ourselves and just our own families, and doing what we can to help those who are less fortunate. Everybody can choose to be content with what they have right now. We're so blessed.

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2) "for the joy"

A member of the Seventy spoke to our stake this morning and had wonderful things to say. The Spirit was there. The speaker said, "God did not send us here to start living the gospel; He sent us here to keep living the gospel." To paraphrase, he talked about life as a race that we have not finished yet. We each need to ask ourselves (and ask Heavenly Father) whether we are doing the right thing with our life. I looked up the verse he quoted part of, and I like the verse after it also. I recognized the second verse but didn't remember the "for the joy" part of it. Beautiful.

Hebrews 12:1-2
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.