Contentment

 

 

I had an emotional meltdown and cried out to the Lord to answer my confusion as He has promised. Thankfully, I received my answer. Inevitably it’s about the way I sinfully deal with my discontent:

·       1 Timothy 6:6-10 But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

Discontent can take many forms and not just the love of money. These misplaced desires can lead to bitterness, regret, jealousy, and disappointment. However, discontent can also serve a good purpose. We should be discontent with our leaking roof, our plugged-up toilet, or with our dysfunctional computer. Hopefully, discontent will lead us to address these problems.

It would be insensitive and wrong-headed to tell our wife “I’m perfectly content with our leaking roof and my filthy body, as the Bible “says”

Well, what does Biblical contentment look like? It is a matter of gratefulness for what we presently have. This contentment recognizes that our Lord is working everything for our good, even the leaking roof and the broken computer. Therefore, we also rejoice in suffering:

·       Romans 5:3-5 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

This also pertains to our weaknesses:

·       1 Corinthians 10:12-13 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Notice that it is our weaknesses and failures — and they cause us to despair of self-trust — that cause us to trust in God alone, our only hope:

·       Psalm 62:1–2 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

We must keep a handle on our desires. Serving our Lord must be our first desire especially when it might seem that He has failed us:

·       Matthew 6:31–33 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

I love God because He delivers me from my many failures and fears, sometimes even promptly:

·       Psalm 116:1-2 I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.”

I needed His mercy today as I descended downward into resentment and self-pity. My hyper-critical mind caused me to resent my precious wife. Embittered and tormented, I cried to the Lord and He heard me and granted me the clarity of mind to recognize my sin of discontent. Therefore, I love Him!!

·       Psalm 34:6-8 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”

Lord, always correct me no matter how painfully!