“I know what it is to be in need,
and I know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret of being content
in any and every situation,
whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do everything through him
who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:12-13 NIV
Because of their examples I too made the choice to endeavor to practice
contentment. I do not do it perfectly but it is always on my mind. When I
choose contentment I am at peace and my cup of joy is overflowing.
On those days when I let discontentment weasel its way into my
thinking, Satan shows up and snatches my joy. Then he runs for all he is
worth and hides what he has stolen from me. Much to his surprise, the moment I
look up to Jesus and I remember why I am able to be content my joy miraculously
returns. I have observed that people who
live contented lives do so because their heart is not cemented to the things of
the world but rather to the riches that are theirs in Christ Jesus.
Discontentment is only one step away from coveting what another person
has. One of God’s commandments is, “thou shall not covet”. It is easy to
try to skirt around that commandment. When I believe that as long as I don’t
want to take what my neighbor has and leave him with nothing, it’s okay to want
what he has. The problem is that often desire can move from “that would be
nice” to “I must have that in order to be happy”. When the later thought begins
to dominate and consume all of my thinking, I am in trouble.
It is possible for us to experience discontentment on many levels.
Discontentment with our possessions:
- Never being satisfied with what I have.
- Being embarrassed by what I have.
- Always wanting to have bigger and better and the latest and greatest.
- Lusting for things I don’t need.
- Trying to keep up with what others have.
- Wanting to purchase things to impress others.
- Feeding my need for instant gratification.
Discontentment with our situation:
- Wanting our spouse to change
- Wanting a different spouse
- Wanting a different church
- Wanting a different job
- Wanting a more understanding boss
- Wanting freedom from responsibility
- Wanting our children to be older, smarter, more successful
Discontentment with who we are:
- Wanting a thinner body or to be more physically fit
- Despising our insecurity
- Loathing our imperfections
- Wanting to be important
- Scrambling for control
- Wishing for a more exciting and interesting life
- Unhappy with our own measure of success
Any one of those scenarios can blow up in my mind and take control of
my thinking. I must be acutely aware that Satan is always standing by,
ready to steal my joy. His purpose is not to take my joy but to steal my joy so
I become an unhappy, moody, angry, depressed, dissatisfied, and discourage
person. These negative attitudes always affect my godly influence and can cause
me to become an ineffective Christian. I must not be deceived. Satan could care
less if I am happy but he most certainly is seeking to destroy my Christian
influence.
The only way I can practice contentment is to learn to look for the
good in my circumstance, my life stage, and be grateful for what I have. I
must read God Word and learn who I am in Christ Jesus. I am a child of the King
and nothing on this earth can ever compare with the riches that are mine
because I am his precious child. A life of beauty grows from the inside out.
When I focus on the little miracles of life and I open up my heart to experience the
blessed life God has already given me I become content. A heart of gratitude
most definitely results in a life of joy and peace.
I am also attempting to learn how to practice the spiritual discipline
of simplicity. A simpler lifestyle, fewer possessions, and a calendar that
has at least one empty square each week! Even God rested on the seventh day! My husband and I
are drowning in the collection of our possessions. The up keep is often
overwhelming! We keep things we will never use, we purchase things we don’t
need, and we hoard because we may need it someday. I believe that we will experience joy
when we finally discover that less really is more.
We must not loose heart. This
life is temporary and in heaven we will have more than our minds can
currently imagine. In heaven we will be like Him, all that he has will be ours,
and we will be at peace. The struggles of life will be behind us and the word “discontentment”
will not exist.
Unchecked discontentment steals our joy, dumps on our spirit, and
fosters depression. It can end a marriage and sever a relationship. It can
open the door for lust and coveting, and it can cause us to incur great debt. Discontentment
can make us sick and shorten our life. It directs negative thinking inward and
causes all manner of stress in our life. It is driven by the fear that we will
never have what we want and it can make us greedy, angry, and self-centered. Discontentment
can ruin our life!
When our contentment depends upon what we have, where we live, or our position
in life, our self worth can become severely damaged. Comparing ourselves to
others is the biggest mistake we can make if we are trying to learn to be
content. Someone will always have more! Someone will always be thinner. Someone
else will always have a larger stock portfolio and be able to take early
retirement. Someone else will always have a bigger house, a better car, and
take more vacations. Someone else will always have smarter kids and a more
appreciative spouse. Someone will always earn more money than we do. Plain and
simple comparing ourselves to others is disastrous. Don’t go there!
Living a life of regret is also dangerous because it pushes God away.
Gratitude brings God near. I am not suggesting that we do not do things to
better ourselves, nor am I suggesting that we should not have nice things. But
I have found it benefits me greatly when I examine my heart’s motivation
regarding these things. What is my attitude as I pursue my dream? What will
happen to me if I do not get what I desire? How devastated will I be? Do I try
to fit into God’s plan for my life or am I trying to fit God into my plan? How
can I be more content with what I already have? Is my heart still full of joy
or is it empty and void of joy? Am I at peace? Is God the object of my peace or
do my desires drive me in wild pursuit of what I think will bring me happiness?
The good news is that I can do
everything through him who gives me strength.” In my own strength I may not be able to choose contentment over
discontentment, but if I will give this matter to the Lord in continual prayer
he will strengthen me each and every time discontentment rears its ugly head. God’s
Word says that I can do all things when I rely on my Lord for his strength.
Questions:
- Do you consider yourself to be a contented person?
- If not, where do you experience the greatest amount of discontentment?
- Are you willing to give up the one thing that has you by the throat?
- Can you find anything to be thankful for in your unwanted situation?
- Do you believe that God can help you become a contented person?
- Will you take time to pray about your discontentment?
- Will you strive daily to practice gratitude?
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Forgive me for practicing the sin
of discontentment. I am beginning to understand that my discontentment is not
pleasing to you. I also see that my discontentment is hurting others and
damaging my body and mind. Lord, help me to practice gratitude in all things.
Even if I hate my job help me to be thankful for it. When I am upset and
dissatisfied with my spouse, help me to see their good qualities and be
thankful. Lord, help me to love myself as you love me. Father, I am so grateful
for all I have. Sure, there are others who have more, but there are plenty of
people who have less. Free me from the lusting after that which I can’t afford.
Fill me with your joy and peace that only comes from a contented heart.
In your name I pray. Amen.
