One of my favorite verses penned by the apostle Paul reads: "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Phil 4:11-13).
Life full of undulations, waves both of plenty and of little, of happiness and of sadness, and of health and of sickness. Solomon writes that there is a time for everything in the introduction to Ecclesiastes. This reality can lead to a sense of vertigo, to be sure, but God has provided us the ultimate source of stability regardless of circumstance: Himself.
Believers have been given the ultimate gift of grace that is access to the presence of God through faith in Christ. His presence is an ever-present comfort, a constant stabilizing companionship, and the only source of true contentment under any condition. This is more than a nice sentiment; it is a reality that should compel how we live and handle the tempests and deserts of the human life. Let us always take joy and comfort from this reality and let it seep into the depth of our hearts!
Showing posts with label contentment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contentment. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Rear-Ending Envy
A stylish young professional was driving around town in his brand new Ferrari. As he stopped at the light, an old man driving a moped pulled up next to him. The old man gazed at the sleek new car, eyes sparkling green with envy and he remarked, "That is a nice car, young man. What kind of car is it?" The young man proudly replied, "A Ferrari GTO."
The old man leaned in towards the car and asked, "Do you mind if I take a look at it?" "No problem," answered the young man, "You won't see many of these driving around. It cost more money than most people make in their entire lives."
"Why does it cost so much?" asked the old man. "Because it goes over 200 mph. It is the fastest street legal, production car you can buy in America." The old man peered inside, lusting after the crisp leather seats and shining electronics before sitting back on his moped and howling with a smile, "Wooeee! What a beautiful car!"
Just then the light turned green and the young man, having a captivated audience, decided to show off and slammed on the gas, going over 100 mph in a matter of moments. The young man, feeling proud, looked back into his rear view mirror to see the old man in the distance but catching up. Astonished by the speed of the moped, the young man slowed down slightly only to see the old man fly passed him. The young man, feeling a bit competitive, hit the gas again to pull ahead of the old man to the next stop light.
As he stopped, the young man looked in his rear view mirror just as he heard a huge thud. He quickly got out of his car to see the old man lying on the ground and the moped crunched into the back of his new car. He ran over to the old man, "Hey man, you were flying. Are you alright? I'll call 911; is there anything I can do for you?" The old man peered up from the pavement, "Yes...please...unhook... my suspenders...from you mirror."
Covetousness is a green monster that lurks around in wait to trap us in his snares. Solomon says that, "A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot (Pro. 14:30)." It is no wonder why God commands us not to be envious of our each other but to be content with what we have: it is for our own good. It is then no wonder why Paul would include covetousness in his list of character traits that we are to put to death (Col. 3:5-6).
What we admire and desire has a way of ensnaring and enslaving us. We must be on guard against such ploys of the evil one to distract us from our purposes in God. Additionally, God aks us to be content in Him. When we are envious, we are in fact dissenting to the blessing of God. This should not ever be so. Let us then protect our minds and our hearts from the barbs of envy by remaining constantly vigilant in thanksgiving to the Lord!
The old man leaned in towards the car and asked, "Do you mind if I take a look at it?" "No problem," answered the young man, "You won't see many of these driving around. It cost more money than most people make in their entire lives."
"Why does it cost so much?" asked the old man. "Because it goes over 200 mph. It is the fastest street legal, production car you can buy in America." The old man peered inside, lusting after the crisp leather seats and shining electronics before sitting back on his moped and howling with a smile, "Wooeee! What a beautiful car!"
Just then the light turned green and the young man, having a captivated audience, decided to show off and slammed on the gas, going over 100 mph in a matter of moments. The young man, feeling proud, looked back into his rear view mirror to see the old man in the distance but catching up. Astonished by the speed of the moped, the young man slowed down slightly only to see the old man fly passed him. The young man, feeling a bit competitive, hit the gas again to pull ahead of the old man to the next stop light.
As he stopped, the young man looked in his rear view mirror just as he heard a huge thud. He quickly got out of his car to see the old man lying on the ground and the moped crunched into the back of his new car. He ran over to the old man, "Hey man, you were flying. Are you alright? I'll call 911; is there anything I can do for you?" The old man peered up from the pavement, "Yes...please...unhook... my suspenders...from you mirror."
Covetousness is a green monster that lurks around in wait to trap us in his snares. Solomon says that, "A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot (Pro. 14:30)." It is no wonder why God commands us not to be envious of our each other but to be content with what we have: it is for our own good. It is then no wonder why Paul would include covetousness in his list of character traits that we are to put to death (Col. 3:5-6).
What we admire and desire has a way of ensnaring and enslaving us. We must be on guard against such ploys of the evil one to distract us from our purposes in God. Additionally, God aks us to be content in Him. When we are envious, we are in fact dissenting to the blessing of God. This should not ever be so. Let us then protect our minds and our hearts from the barbs of envy by remaining constantly vigilant in thanksgiving to the Lord!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
The Stonecutter
Once upon a time there was a stonecutter who lived alone. He made his living by forming stone and cutting rocks into various forms and tools. For years he worked tirelessly in his workshop along the main road of the city. One day, as he was hammering granite he heard a crowd shouting cries of herald for the king. He felt such envy and discontent that he cried out: "Oh if I could only be a king with subjects that shouted joys and praise to my greatness."
Immediately, he was transformed into a powerful king with a whole kingdom full of adoring subjects. "This is power," he would often think to himself. For weeks, the man enjoyed his new life until one day he realized that the sun was much more powerful than he was, casting its powerful gaze and light upon the whole world. So, like before, he boldly asked, "If I could be the sun, then I would have all the power in the world and be content." Instantly, he was the sun.
As the sun, the man enjoyed bringing warmth and light to all the world. He relished in the fact that everything depended on his presence. Until one day, a cloud broke his gaze and hindered him from shining his light upon the world. He could not accept being stripped of his power, so he exclaimed, "If I could become a cloud, then I would be more powerful than the sun and be able to be content." In a moment, he became a cloud.
As a cloud, he pooled all of his power to form a gigantic rain cloud. Wherever he went he would pour down rain with such torrential force that the most powerful of men would hide from his presence. Rivers were cut and grain was watered by him. Everything was in awe at his power. Only the massive rocks were unaffected by his power. So, like the times before, he cried out in a loud voice, "I would like to be a huge rock and then I would be powerful and content."
As a rock, he was massive and powerful. The sun and the rain did nothing to him at all. He felt free and strong until one day, a man walked up to him with a chisel and hammer, and began to chip away at the rock. The rock cried out, "I want to be a stonecutter!" And he was transformed back into a stonecutter, living out the rest of his life content with making a living by forming stone and cutting rocks.
Sometimes it is easy to be discontent with our life or with our station. But no matter where we go, there we are. We should not try to leave the vocational stations that God has called us to but be joyous that God has made us for a specific reason. As Paul writes, "Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him (1 Cor. 7:17)." Let us then be content in whatever God has called us to and to do it with absolute excellence!
Immediately, he was transformed into a powerful king with a whole kingdom full of adoring subjects. "This is power," he would often think to himself. For weeks, the man enjoyed his new life until one day he realized that the sun was much more powerful than he was, casting its powerful gaze and light upon the whole world. So, like before, he boldly asked, "If I could be the sun, then I would have all the power in the world and be content." Instantly, he was the sun.
As the sun, the man enjoyed bringing warmth and light to all the world. He relished in the fact that everything depended on his presence. Until one day, a cloud broke his gaze and hindered him from shining his light upon the world. He could not accept being stripped of his power, so he exclaimed, "If I could become a cloud, then I would be more powerful than the sun and be able to be content." In a moment, he became a cloud.
As a cloud, he pooled all of his power to form a gigantic rain cloud. Wherever he went he would pour down rain with such torrential force that the most powerful of men would hide from his presence. Rivers were cut and grain was watered by him. Everything was in awe at his power. Only the massive rocks were unaffected by his power. So, like the times before, he cried out in a loud voice, "I would like to be a huge rock and then I would be powerful and content."
As a rock, he was massive and powerful. The sun and the rain did nothing to him at all. He felt free and strong until one day, a man walked up to him with a chisel and hammer, and began to chip away at the rock. The rock cried out, "I want to be a stonecutter!" And he was transformed back into a stonecutter, living out the rest of his life content with making a living by forming stone and cutting rocks.
Sometimes it is easy to be discontent with our life or with our station. But no matter where we go, there we are. We should not try to leave the vocational stations that God has called us to but be joyous that God has made us for a specific reason. As Paul writes, "Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him (1 Cor. 7:17)." Let us then be content in whatever God has called us to and to do it with absolute excellence!
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Godly Dimples like Golf Balls
An aeronautical engineer once remarked that a perfectly smooth golf ball would not fly further than 130 or 150 yards. Over a century ago, golf balls were made by stuffing a small leather sack with as many feathers as could fill a top hat. The feathers were stuffed into the leather pouches boiling hot and as the feathers cooled they expanded while the leather tightened, created a hard, dense ball. After some time, golfers began to notice that the balls were nearly useless at first, as they would fly erratically off the tee. However, once the balls had become dented and imperfect, it was discovered that they flew more controllably and predictably.
The golfers got wise and begin to "age" their golf balls before use in order to make them fly better. The trend continued and modern golf balls are manufactured with between 250-450 dimples. The dimples drastically improve the aerodynamics of the balls and make their flight paths predictable and useful for the game of golf. It seems odd to think that it is in fact the perceived "blemishes" and "distortions" on the balls that makes them purposeful at all.
Humans are like golf balls designed by the heavenly ball designer. He has put certain dimples and, what we would call, imperfections into our design but only to increase our flight paths. Each of these is for His purposes and, ultimately, our good. If we could recognize that God desires to use us for a specific purpose and that He has designed us in such a way fitting that purpose, then we will take joy in who we are, knowing that God has made us a certain way for His reasons.
The psalmist writes in Psalm 139 that, "You (God) formed my inner parts, You knit me together in my mother's womb," and "I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works and my soul knows them well." If we remember this reality when scrutinizing ourselves or critiquing our exteriors, we will be able to breath and to thank God that He has created us in His perfect way. Let us then cling to God, pressing into Him so as to receive His revelation as to what purpose He has created us for!
The golfers got wise and begin to "age" their golf balls before use in order to make them fly better. The trend continued and modern golf balls are manufactured with between 250-450 dimples. The dimples drastically improve the aerodynamics of the balls and make their flight paths predictable and useful for the game of golf. It seems odd to think that it is in fact the perceived "blemishes" and "distortions" on the balls that makes them purposeful at all.
Humans are like golf balls designed by the heavenly ball designer. He has put certain dimples and, what we would call, imperfections into our design but only to increase our flight paths. Each of these is for His purposes and, ultimately, our good. If we could recognize that God desires to use us for a specific purpose and that He has designed us in such a way fitting that purpose, then we will take joy in who we are, knowing that God has made us a certain way for His reasons.
The psalmist writes in Psalm 139 that, "You (God) formed my inner parts, You knit me together in my mother's womb," and "I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works and my soul knows them well." If we remember this reality when scrutinizing ourselves or critiquing our exteriors, we will be able to breath and to thank God that He has created us in His perfect way. Let us then cling to God, pressing into Him so as to receive His revelation as to what purpose He has created us for!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Contentment Over Coveting
When Jeffrey was a child, Billy, his neighbor and best-friend, got a brand-new bike for his birthday. Jeffrey was so jealous for Billy's bike that he spent the whole summer mowing lawns and pulling weeds to make enough money to by a new bike himself. It was late fall before he had enough to buy the bike. When he finally purchased it, he could only ride it once before he had to put it away for the winter.
When spring came and Jeffrey took out his new bike to ride, Billy whizzed down the street with a new go-kart. The mere sight of that glistening red machine sent Jeffrey's heart a flutter and he vowed to get one for himself. He spent the whole summer mowing lawns, picking weeds, walking dogs, and babysitting in order to buy a go-kart for himself. He worked so hard that he barely rode his bike at all.
But, by the time the first snow began to fall, Jeffrey had his go-kart, that he parked next to his bike all winter long. When spring came Jeffrey proudly pulled his go-kart out into the street. But when he got it started, he saw Billy pull into the driveway with a new car. And again, Jeffrey looked with envy upon what his friend possessed to the neglect of what he himself already had.
Consider this classic story: a reporter once asked John D. Rockefeller, one of the richest men ever, "How much money is enough?" Rockefeller looked at the reporter with a coy look and quickly answered, "Just one more dollar."
The theme is coveting, the desiring of what another possesses to the disregard of contentment and cultivation of what one already has. Quite simply, covetousness is sin. To desire the goods and gifts of another while neglecting how God has personally blessed us leaves us perniciously perched for sin. The pertinent perspective to combat our proclivities towards covetousness is a matter of Christian contentment.
Jesus warns quites plainly, that we should "be on guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions (Luke 12:15)." Christian contentment is based on our relationship with the Holy Lord Almighty. If we feel malcontent, it is either because we do not know God personally, or we have not received the fullness of grace that He so freely gives to those who come to Him in faith.
To be sure, the world, which is in the power of the evil one, will always have new flashy objects and spectacles of fancy to garner our attention and energy. These are but hollow distractions to take us away from His presence while we scramble for the newest gadget or next remodel. This is not to say that to have new things is inherently evil, but to keep us on guard lest we fall prey to our own exaltations of accumulation.
Instead, let us remember the words of Paul, that with nothing we came into this world and with nothing will we leave, but let us be content with having enough food and clothing (1 Tim. 6:6-8). The point that Paul is teaching Timothy (and us) is that contentment should not be dependent on how much or how many, but only on our status as adopted sons and daughter of the Holy Lord through the work of Christ.
The issue at heart is satisfaction. For this we should take on the mind of Solomon, who writes in Ecclesiastes 6:9, "Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite," loosely paraphrased, enjoying what you have in front of you is far better than fretting over what you do not. Let us then be satisfied in Him who provides!
When spring came and Jeffrey took out his new bike to ride, Billy whizzed down the street with a new go-kart. The mere sight of that glistening red machine sent Jeffrey's heart a flutter and he vowed to get one for himself. He spent the whole summer mowing lawns, picking weeds, walking dogs, and babysitting in order to buy a go-kart for himself. He worked so hard that he barely rode his bike at all.
But, by the time the first snow began to fall, Jeffrey had his go-kart, that he parked next to his bike all winter long. When spring came Jeffrey proudly pulled his go-kart out into the street. But when he got it started, he saw Billy pull into the driveway with a new car. And again, Jeffrey looked with envy upon what his friend possessed to the neglect of what he himself already had.
Consider this classic story: a reporter once asked John D. Rockefeller, one of the richest men ever, "How much money is enough?" Rockefeller looked at the reporter with a coy look and quickly answered, "Just one more dollar."
The theme is coveting, the desiring of what another possesses to the disregard of contentment and cultivation of what one already has. Quite simply, covetousness is sin. To desire the goods and gifts of another while neglecting how God has personally blessed us leaves us perniciously perched for sin. The pertinent perspective to combat our proclivities towards covetousness is a matter of Christian contentment.
Jesus warns quites plainly, that we should "be on guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions (Luke 12:15)." Christian contentment is based on our relationship with the Holy Lord Almighty. If we feel malcontent, it is either because we do not know God personally, or we have not received the fullness of grace that He so freely gives to those who come to Him in faith.
To be sure, the world, which is in the power of the evil one, will always have new flashy objects and spectacles of fancy to garner our attention and energy. These are but hollow distractions to take us away from His presence while we scramble for the newest gadget or next remodel. This is not to say that to have new things is inherently evil, but to keep us on guard lest we fall prey to our own exaltations of accumulation.
Instead, let us remember the words of Paul, that with nothing we came into this world and with nothing will we leave, but let us be content with having enough food and clothing (1 Tim. 6:6-8). The point that Paul is teaching Timothy (and us) is that contentment should not be dependent on how much or how many, but only on our status as adopted sons and daughter of the Holy Lord through the work of Christ.
The issue at heart is satisfaction. For this we should take on the mind of Solomon, who writes in Ecclesiastes 6:9, "Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite," loosely paraphrased, enjoying what you have in front of you is far better than fretting over what you do not. Let us then be satisfied in Him who provides!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The Sting of Death
Death is a mirror that reveals our mortality. To gaze into its depths we would truly see that we are but mists of a storm, here today but swept away like the lightest of feathers that is lifted abroad by the gusts of the western wind. We can choose to ignore the mirror and thus disregard how we like blades of grass will whither, but inevitably the prevalence of death will pervade through the shells of all our haughtiness and cut like the iciest of winter storms to the bones of man disclosing the facade of our pride and removing the masks we wear to prevent us from remembering the stark truth that death will come.
It is a sad but honest truth that some barely consider their mortality until a death strikes. Yet at that moment the same questions that have perplexed mankind for all the centuries enter their minds just as they do our own: why? what is this life for? is this the end or is there more? These questions are sincere and important but should be understood for their roots. Truly, the mortal coil is as tender and breakable as the slightest of threads. Death reminds us of this fact. Evenmore so, death presents us with a reality that many would just as soon never have to know: that ultimately, in the end, we are not in control.
As Christians, death has no victory over us, no fatal sting to destroy. For Christians, death is but a transition from this imperfect perishable world to an imperishable perfect one in the presence of the Holy Lord Almighty. For Christians, whose hope is firmly fixed and made secure in Christ, death is but a departure to be with the Lord, a far better state than any this world could offer (Phil. 1:23). Yet, because of the ever-present fear of death in a world that would rather go on without it, many people think of death as a bee that is lurking around, waiting for its opportune moment to sting.
There's a classic story to this regard: a father and son are driving through the countryside on a summer's day. It's warm and the air conditioning isn't doing its job, so the pair has the windows down. At some point a bee flies into the cab of the truck and buzzes around. The young boy, who is deathly allergic to bee stings, starts to panic. The father watches the bee, pauses, and with the swiftness of a cheetah he grabs the bee and clenches it in his fist. After some time, the boy again sees the bee and clams up in fright. The father noticing his son's fear, holds out his palm for the son to see the stinger and says, "don't worry, I took the stinger. It can't hurt you now."
In a similar way, our Heavenly Father has taken the sting out of death through the victory won by Christ Jesus on the cross (1 Cor. 15:54-57). Therefore, we who believe on Him shall not perish in death but have an immovable and perfect eternity with our Holy Lord by the blood of Christ Jesus. Therefore, death should be thought of a the sweet nectar of departure from this sinful world to an arrival into the holy throne room.
And while this should excite us who believe upon the Lord for our salvation and entry in God's presence for all eternity, it should also be taken with a bit of sobriety at the responsibility we have to preach the Good News to those who are perishing and whose departure from this world is an entrance into eternal damnation.
There is an old and appropriate adage that goes like this: for some, this world is as close as they get to heaven. For others, this world is as close as they get to hell. Let us pray to be of the latter. Praise be to God who has taken the power of the grave upon His own flesh to save us and bring us into His holy presence!
It is a sad but honest truth that some barely consider their mortality until a death strikes. Yet at that moment the same questions that have perplexed mankind for all the centuries enter their minds just as they do our own: why? what is this life for? is this the end or is there more? These questions are sincere and important but should be understood for their roots. Truly, the mortal coil is as tender and breakable as the slightest of threads. Death reminds us of this fact. Evenmore so, death presents us with a reality that many would just as soon never have to know: that ultimately, in the end, we are not in control.
As Christians, death has no victory over us, no fatal sting to destroy. For Christians, death is but a transition from this imperfect perishable world to an imperishable perfect one in the presence of the Holy Lord Almighty. For Christians, whose hope is firmly fixed and made secure in Christ, death is but a departure to be with the Lord, a far better state than any this world could offer (Phil. 1:23). Yet, because of the ever-present fear of death in a world that would rather go on without it, many people think of death as a bee that is lurking around, waiting for its opportune moment to sting.
There's a classic story to this regard: a father and son are driving through the countryside on a summer's day. It's warm and the air conditioning isn't doing its job, so the pair has the windows down. At some point a bee flies into the cab of the truck and buzzes around. The young boy, who is deathly allergic to bee stings, starts to panic. The father watches the bee, pauses, and with the swiftness of a cheetah he grabs the bee and clenches it in his fist. After some time, the boy again sees the bee and clams up in fright. The father noticing his son's fear, holds out his palm for the son to see the stinger and says, "don't worry, I took the stinger. It can't hurt you now."
In a similar way, our Heavenly Father has taken the sting out of death through the victory won by Christ Jesus on the cross (1 Cor. 15:54-57). Therefore, we who believe on Him shall not perish in death but have an immovable and perfect eternity with our Holy Lord by the blood of Christ Jesus. Therefore, death should be thought of a the sweet nectar of departure from this sinful world to an arrival into the holy throne room.
And while this should excite us who believe upon the Lord for our salvation and entry in God's presence for all eternity, it should also be taken with a bit of sobriety at the responsibility we have to preach the Good News to those who are perishing and whose departure from this world is an entrance into eternal damnation.
There is an old and appropriate adage that goes like this: for some, this world is as close as they get to heaven. For others, this world is as close as they get to hell. Let us pray to be of the latter. Praise be to God who has taken the power of the grave upon His own flesh to save us and bring us into His holy presence!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Christian Contentment in a Consumer World
There's an old story that goes something like this:
A mother and her son were walking through the woods one day when a storm fell upon them. Within minutes the two were being bombarded by blasting wind and pelting rain within a tempest. Suddenly a funnel cloud began swirling around them. The mother clung to a tree while her son was clinging to her. The woman was holding to the tree so tightly that she barely noticed when her son was swept away by the tornado. She began to cry out to God, saying in a loud voice, "Oh Lord, please bring me back my son! If You bring Him back I'll never ask for anything and I'll worship you for the rest of my life! Please Lord! Please." Immediately her son fell to the ground as the storm subsided. He was unharmed as the mother ran to him to comfort him. She kissed her son's face and hugged him tightly. Abruptly, she withdrew from her son and looked him over before looking back up to the sky and said, "He had a hat, Lord. Could we get that too?"
In a world that bases satisfaction on how much and how many, the biblical model of contentment seems even more relevant to understand and apply today. Our understandings of contentment are so influenced by the consumer culture we liv in, that is inundated with planned-obsolescence and short-lived shelf life. For Christians, though, God is the ultimate source of our satisfaction and contentment. Once we claim this, it will not only change how we deal with consumerism, but also how we will deal with our own state of contentment.
God is the source of our contentment. Because our contentment is based on an eternal and sovereign Lord, our contentment is always secure. This flies in the face of the temporal contentment of the World. Instead, we find our pleasure, our satisfaction, and our contentment in being in relationship with the Holy Lord. Claiming this contentment requires that we draw closer to the Lord in praise and worship. Remembering that we rely on a Holy Lord in all thankfulness is the essence of contentment.
While there are many Scripture passages that speak about contentment (Psa. 16:2; Pro. 15:15, 19:23; Job 1:21; Matt. 6:25-34; 1 Tim. 6:6; Heb. 13:5). But the most important Scripture about contentment is Paul's exhortation in Philippians 4:11-13. The point Paul makes, and that we should agree with, is that because God is the source of our contentment we should always be content in any circumstance void of abundance or poverty. Let us then be content and thankful, praising God for His provision and grace!
A mother and her son were walking through the woods one day when a storm fell upon them. Within minutes the two were being bombarded by blasting wind and pelting rain within a tempest. Suddenly a funnel cloud began swirling around them. The mother clung to a tree while her son was clinging to her. The woman was holding to the tree so tightly that she barely noticed when her son was swept away by the tornado. She began to cry out to God, saying in a loud voice, "Oh Lord, please bring me back my son! If You bring Him back I'll never ask for anything and I'll worship you for the rest of my life! Please Lord! Please." Immediately her son fell to the ground as the storm subsided. He was unharmed as the mother ran to him to comfort him. She kissed her son's face and hugged him tightly. Abruptly, she withdrew from her son and looked him over before looking back up to the sky and said, "He had a hat, Lord. Could we get that too?"
In a world that bases satisfaction on how much and how many, the biblical model of contentment seems even more relevant to understand and apply today. Our understandings of contentment are so influenced by the consumer culture we liv in, that is inundated with planned-obsolescence and short-lived shelf life. For Christians, though, God is the ultimate source of our satisfaction and contentment. Once we claim this, it will not only change how we deal with consumerism, but also how we will deal with our own state of contentment.
God is the source of our contentment. Because our contentment is based on an eternal and sovereign Lord, our contentment is always secure. This flies in the face of the temporal contentment of the World. Instead, we find our pleasure, our satisfaction, and our contentment in being in relationship with the Holy Lord. Claiming this contentment requires that we draw closer to the Lord in praise and worship. Remembering that we rely on a Holy Lord in all thankfulness is the essence of contentment.
While there are many Scripture passages that speak about contentment (Psa. 16:2; Pro. 15:15, 19:23; Job 1:21; Matt. 6:25-34; 1 Tim. 6:6; Heb. 13:5). But the most important Scripture about contentment is Paul's exhortation in Philippians 4:11-13. The point Paul makes, and that we should agree with, is that because God is the source of our contentment we should always be content in any circumstance void of abundance or poverty. Let us then be content and thankful, praising God for His provision and grace!
Friday, March 9, 2012
Christian Contentment
One of the fundamental quests of life is the search for contentment. Entire lives could be expended in the longing for contentment. Plainly speaking, contentment is a state of being, particularly, the state of being content. The fundamental definition of contentment is dense because it encompasses a litany of simultaneous states: peace, joy, and hope. All of these states fall under one large umbrella, namely the knowledge of the Lord.
Because of the depth of content in true contentment, the source of contentment must be the Lord. Any sense of contentment that is not derived from the Lord, is thus but an echo of true contentment. Instead, to be content requires, above all else, an intimate dependence on the Lord based on trust in who He is. When we are content, we are fully satisfied and thankful at who God is and what He has done for us.
There are a number of relevant Scripture verses, however, a few warrant particular insight into the nature of contentment. The first is Philippians 4:11-13, in which Paul describes that he has learned that the source of contentment has nothing to do with the circumstances and happenings of life but has everything to do with the Lord and who He is. This is the very essence of contentment.
Understanding that the Lord is the provider and securer, the sustainer for all of life is the essential starting point for any discussion of contentment. Contentment is reliant on the Lord. To be content is to recognize that the Lord has everything under His control and that all is made secure in Him. Thus, let us look to the Lord to be our contentment!
Because of the depth of content in true contentment, the source of contentment must be the Lord. Any sense of contentment that is not derived from the Lord, is thus but an echo of true contentment. Instead, to be content requires, above all else, an intimate dependence on the Lord based on trust in who He is. When we are content, we are fully satisfied and thankful at who God is and what He has done for us.
There are a number of relevant Scripture verses, however, a few warrant particular insight into the nature of contentment. The first is Philippians 4:11-13, in which Paul describes that he has learned that the source of contentment has nothing to do with the circumstances and happenings of life but has everything to do with the Lord and who He is. This is the very essence of contentment.
Understanding that the Lord is the provider and securer, the sustainer for all of life is the essential starting point for any discussion of contentment. Contentment is reliant on the Lord. To be content is to recognize that the Lord has everything under His control and that all is made secure in Him. Thus, let us look to the Lord to be our contentment!
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