{"id":3588,"date":"2026-08-26T16:03:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T16:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=3588"},"modified":"2026-08-26T16:09:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T16:09:46","slug":"living-how-to-be-content-during-economic-hardship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=3588","title":{"rendered":"Living: How to be content during economic hardship"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>*<strong><em>If you face financial anxiety, how can you avoid making unwise decisions?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Web Editor | ConsumerConnect<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Because of the high cost of living and the uncertainty about the future, my wife and I decided to move abroad to find better work. We intended to bring our children later. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;However, our new life was more difficult than we expected, and we couldn\u2019t send for our children as we had planned. <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;I was told by the brothers back home that our children were rarely seen at Christian meetings or in the field ministry.\u201d<\/em><em>\u200b<\/em><em> &#8211;Samuel A.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"75lm0vrSy8\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=3592\">GOCOP mourns ex-President Dotun Oladipo<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cGOCOP mourns ex-President Dotun Oladipo\u201d \u2014 Consumer Experience Is A Top Priority\" src=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=3592&amp;embed=true#?secret=D8Zn0pIbB8#?secret=75lm0vrSy8\" data-secret=\"75lm0vrSy8\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Many of God\u2019s servants live in areas where there are limited job opportunities or where there is widespread poverty.<\/p>\n<p>Because of these circumstances, some have made decisions that they thought would improve their situation without considering all the consequences.<\/p>\n<p>Some have left behind their spouses or minor children, and have moved abroad in search of a better life.<\/p>\n<p>Others have invested in get-rich-quick schemes that left them worse off financially.<\/p>\n<p>If you face financial anxiety, how can you avoid making unwise decisions?<\/p>\n<p><strong>The secret of contentment <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Apostle Paul learned what he called \u201cthe secret\u201d\u200b\u2014how to be content despite his circumstances.<\/p>\n<p>He wrote: \u201cI know how to be low on provisions and how to have an abundance.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In everything and in all circumstances, I have learned the secret of both how to be full and how to hunger, both how to have an abundance and how to do without.\u201d\u200b \u2014Philippians 4:11, 12.<\/p>\n<p>Note that Paul had to learn to be content. Let us consider four Bible principles that can help us to do the same.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bible Principle #1:<\/strong> \u201cLet your way of life be free of the love of money, while you are content with the present things. For he has said: \u2018I will never leave you, and I will never abandon you.\u2019 \u201d\u200b\u2014Hebrews 13:5.<\/p>\n<p>How this principle helps. Love of money may drive you to compare your financial situation with that of others.<\/p>\n<p>Such love robs people of peace and contentment. If we fight against that love and learn to appreciate what we have, we will find contentment and peace of mind.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>What you can do.<\/em><\/strong> Focus on what you have, and on what you can realistically afford rather than on the lifestyle that others seem to enjoy.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, Jehovah promises to provide necessities for those who put spiritual matters first. (Matthew 6:24, 33)<\/p>\n<p>He makes no such guarantee to those who put the pursuit of money first in their life.<\/p>\n<p>Always appreciate Jehovah\u2019s provision of the basic necessities. Paul wrote: \u201cHaving food and clothing, we will be content with these things.\u201d\u200b\u20141 Timothy 6:8.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bible Principle #2:<\/strong> \u201cNever be anxious and say, \u2018What are we to eat?\u2019 or, \u2018What are we to drink?\u2019 or, \u2018What are we to wear?\u2019<\/p>\n<p>For all these are the things the nations are eagerly pursuing.<\/p>\n<p>Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.\u201d\u200b\u2014Matthew 6:31, 32.<\/p>\n<p>How this principle helps. When we have confidence in Jehovah\u2019s care and support, we may worry less about the what-ifs, such as \u201cWhat if things get worse?\u201d or \u201cWhat if I cannot provide for my family?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Eric, from Ghana, admits that he had such thoughts.<\/p>\n<p>Now, though, he has adjusted his view.<\/p>\n<p>He said: \u201cContentment doesn\u2019t mean that we deny the reality of our struggles.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRather, it means that we choose to focus on what we can control and that we are grateful for what we have, even during hard times.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>What you can do<\/em><\/strong>. Pray to Jehovah about your specific needs, and ask him for wisdom. (James 1:5)<\/p>\n<p>Talk to mature Christians about your situation, and consider how they have dealt with similar hardships. (Proverbs 20:18) Take note of how Jehovah provides for you each day.<\/p>\n<p>This will help to reduce your anxiety about the future and help you to focus on your present needs. (Matthew 6:25-30, 34)<\/p>\n<p>Never forget the words of the psalmist David, who said: \u201cMany are the hardships of the righteous one, but Jehovah rescues him from them all.\u201d\u200b\u2014Psalms 34:19.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bible Principle #3<\/strong>: \u201cThe shrewd person sees the danger and conceals himself, but the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences.\u201d\u200b\u2014Proverbs 27:12.<\/p>\n<p>How this principle helps. Advertisements and social media posts may present opportunities to get rich quick that can be enticing when you are struggling financially.<\/p>\n<p>However, many who have invested in such schemes have ended up disappointed. (Proverbs 18:11; 1 Timothy 6:9)<\/p>\n<p>Shrewdness will help you to avoid such traps.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>What you can do. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Bible says: \u201cThe naive person believes every word, but the shrewd one ponders each step.\u201d (Proverbs 14:15)<\/p>\n<p>So if someone promises that you can make a lot of money very easily, be extremely cautious.<\/p>\n<p>Do thorough research before making any decision.<\/p>\n<p>And by all means, do not allow your heart to be seduced by get-rich-quick schemes or offers that would require you to engage in dishonest practices.\u200b\u2014Proverbs 28:6, 20; Jeremiah 17:9.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Bible Principle #4<\/em><\/strong>: \u201cWho of you wanting to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense to see if he has enough to complete it?\u201d\u200b\u2014Luke 14:28.<\/p>\n<p>How this principle helps. A job opportunity might solve some problems but create others.<\/p>\n<p>When you count the cost of any offer you receive\u200b\u2014weighing both the pros and the cons\u2014\u200byou can make a wise decision and spare yourself the harmful consequences of making a hasty one.<\/p>\n<p>What you can do. Carefully think through any opportunity that comes your way.<\/p>\n<p>For example, moving abroad might increase your income, but it might increase your cost of living as well.<\/p>\n<p>Also, consider the emotional and spiritual cost if you were to leave behind your spouse or children.<\/p>\n<p>Further, take into account how your Christian activity might be affected.<\/p>\n<p>Will you still be able to serve Jehovah \u201cwith your whole soul\u201d?\u200b\u2014Luke 10:27.<\/p>\n<p>The brother from the opening image conducts family worship with his wife and young children.<\/p>\n<p>Protect your family by staying together<\/p>\n<p><strong>The benefits of contentment <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If we learn the secret of contentment, we will grow ever more convinced that Jehovah loves and cares for us all. (Psalms 34:8)<\/p>\n<p>We will gain ever greater appreciation for his daily provisions and for his loving care.<\/p>\n<p>Samuel, quoted at the outset of this article, found that to be true.<\/p>\n<p>He says: \u201cAfter praying to Jehovah for wisdom, my wife and I decided to return home, resume our previous jobs, and take care of our children.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We now have a routine of studying the Bible with each of them and taking them to meetings and in the field ministry.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Being focused on spiritual things has reduced my anxiety.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We do not regret our decision to return home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Never forget that we serve \u201cthe happy God\u201d and that his holy spirit can produce joy in us\u200b\u2014regardless of our circumstances. (1 Timothy 1:11; Galatians 5:22, 23).<\/p>\n<p>Soon, he will bring about a world in which there will be an abundance of good things for everyone.\u200b\u2014Psalms 72:16; 145:16. (Piece adapted from JW.ORG)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>*If you face financial anxiety, how can you avoid making unwise decisions? Web Editor | ConsumerConnect \u201cBecause of the high cost of living and the&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3584,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"Photo: JW.Org","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","_customify_content_layout":"","_customify_sidebar":"","_customify_page_header_display":"default","_customify_disable_header":"","_customify_disable_header_top":"","_customify_disable_header_main":"","_customify_disable_header_bottom":"","_customify_disable_page_title":"","_customify_disable_content_vertical_padding":"","_customify_disable_footer_top":"","_customify_disable_footer_main":"","_customify_disable_footer_bottom":"","_customify_breadcrumb_display":"","_customify_header_transparent_display":"default","footnotes":""},"categories":[20,3,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-highlights","category-infoeducation","category-special-reports"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Family-at-Worship-cc.png",672,365,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Family-at-Worship-cc-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Family-at-Worship-cc-300x163.png",300,163,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Family-at-Worship-cc.png",672,365,false],"large":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Family-at-Worship-cc.png",672,365,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Family-at-Worship-cc.png",672,365,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Family-at-Worship-cc.png",672,365,false]},"author_info":{"info":["ConsumerConnect"]},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?cat=20\" rel=\"category\">Highlights<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?cat=3\" rel=\"category\">InfoEducation<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?cat=15\" rel=\"category\">Special Reports<\/a>","tag_info":"Special Reports","comment_count":"2","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3588"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3588\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3600,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3588\/revisions\/3600"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3584"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}