Tag Archives: contentment

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

Christian Life, ,

Enough is an open-ended word.
Enough, for some people, is what they need to live a comfortable and carefree life. For others, the operative word is “more”. “Enough” is just around the corner or just over the horison, making their lives a continual struggle for more, even if it means climbing on another’s head to get there.

The Bible has much to say about enough in a variety of contexts. Let’s look at just three uses of enough which are most relevant to us as humans.

Take first, for example, the issue of contentment. A good rule of thumb  puts “enough” like this: “He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.” Now that’s a healthy way to look at life!

Perhaps the most relevant for us is the way Paul relates enough to contentment.

Philippians 4:11-13 NLT
[11] “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. [12] I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. [13] For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

Contentment and enough go hand in hand. For the person who is contented to trust God in every circumstance, enough is what He provides whether it is much or little.
Contentment takes the stress and struggle out of everyday life. Instead of fretting and scheming in times of lack, contentment rests in the goodness of God and learns to live within the boundaries of His provision.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 NLT
[6] “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. [7] After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. [8] So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.”

God’s character and promises take care of the “enough” of our daily lives.

Matthew 6:31-32 NLT
[31]“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ [32] These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.”

Enough also covers the privilege of helping others in need. God miraculously evens out enough and  not enough in His family as we use our sufficiency to help others.

2 Corinthians 8:14-15 NLT
[14] Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. [15] As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

He provides excess for one to meet the need of another until the tables are turned. So, in God’s family, we do life together, pooling our resources so that everyone will have enough in the end. The way to use what He has provided is to hold it lightly.

The second important use of “enough” in Scripture deals with the question, “Am I good enough?” A wealthy young man approached Jesus with this question “What can I do to be good enough for eternal life?” Jesus reply brushed aside every consideration the young man thought was relevant.

“Keep the commandments?” That didn’t work because the enquirer still had doubts about whether he had done enough. He had no confidence in his own achievements to gain eternal life by obeying the law. After all, despite all his efforts, he still had a history of disobedience about which he could do nothing. There had to be more, but what?

Only one change in this man’s life would cut it for him. “Change your allegiance”, Jesus told him. His life was dominated by “enough” or “not enough” money and possessions. He was a slave to the wrong master. “Cut all ties with your slave driver and connect with me.”

The young man walked away because, for him, the price of eternal life was too high and the value too small.

The truth of the gospel is that, however hard we work at “being good”, it will never be enough because we fall too far short of God’s holy standard to be acceptable to Him.

Romans 3:23 NLT
[23] “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

Only what Jesus did by His death on the cross was enough to appease God’s wrath against sin, satisfy His demand for perfection, and make us acceptable to Him. Only by entrusting ourselves unconditionally to Jesus, can we be forgiven and restored to God’s family.

The third “enough” involves God’s way of dealing with the mess we have made of our world.

“There is a point at which God says ‘Enough is enough!’ A point where the sin, the evil, the suffering, has reached saturation point. A point where the judgement must and will fall.”
www.godswordforyou.com/Enough  is enough!

2 Peter 3:9-10 NLT
[9] “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. [10] But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.”

God acted once in terrible judgment on the whole earth with a universal flood, saving only one family and animal pairs to make a new beginning.

Genesis 6:5-7 NLT
[5]”The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. [6] So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart. [7] And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.”

On another occasion, He rained down judgment on an incredibly wicked city.

Genesis 18:20 NLT
[20] “So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant.”

Genesis 19:24-25 NLT
[24] “Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. [25] He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation.”

If God did, in the past, what He said He would do, He will do again, in the future, what He said He will do.

Revelation 21:1 NLT
[1]”Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.”

He will set up His eternal reign on a new earth, under the rule of His chosen King.

Psalms 2:6 NLT
[6] “For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”

Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT
[6]”For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [7] His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”

Only as we receive by faith the gift of eternal life, and live in the contentment of God’s “enough “, will we have a part in that eternal realm where Jesus reigns over His new earth in righteousness and peace.

15 – ENGAGING THE POWERS OF THE KINGDOM – THE POWER OF CONTENTMENT

Christian Life, ,

15 – ENGAGING THE POWERS OF THE KINGDOM – THE POWER OF CONTENTMENT

Perhaps this topic should have been included in our study on generosity. At least, it is a part of generosity, but I think it needs separate treatment so, here goes!

Much of what Paul wrote in his letters flowed from years of personal experience. His life as a believer was eventful, to say the least, full of dangers and deprivations. Yet his conclusion near the end of his life is startling and unexpected but true.

“Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” 1 Timothy 6:3, 6-8 NLT

What is contentment and how do we learn contentment when everything around us is so topsy-turvy?

DISCONTENT – THE HALLMARK OF THE UNGODLY

I think we can best learn what godly contentment is by first examining discontent and the fruit it produces.

Discontent is a powerful force that is driving the levels of crime to where they are in our country today. Why are people so discontented? I think it’s because of an attitude of entitlement which often follows oppression.

The “freedom” people experience after years of oppression develops into an attitude of entitlement as a compensation for what they suffered. “I want this or that. It’s my right. If I don’t get it, I will take it by force.”

The children of Israel developed this attitude when they were finally settled in the Promised Land. They threw off the yoke of God’s rule and became “free” to do as they liked.

“The Lord comes forward to pronounce judgment on the elders and rulers of his people: “You have ruined Israel, my vineyard. Your houses are filled with things stolen from the poor. How dare you crush my people, grinding the faces of the poor into the dust?” demands the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Isaiah 3:14-15 NLT

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? History repeats itself over and over.

Entitlement is, in the end, the expression of lawlessness, rebellion and… greed, and is the way people live out their slavery to sin.

So, marches, strikes, protests, and mass action  fuel the fires of rebellion, resulting in violence and destruction. The end result is more loss and more suffering which produce more discontent. People who behave like this are fools because they never learn. They do the same thing again and again and think the outcome will be different.

This is typically the selfishness that characterises people who are without God and are caught up in the world’s system. “Sheep” is an apt term to describe worldly people. They mindlessly follow the ones who shout the loudest and never consider the consequences of their lawlessness.

CONTENTMENT – THE HALLMARK OF KINGDOM CITIZENS

By contrast, contentment is, or should be, the characteristic of God’s children. God is in the process of reproducing His Son in the lives of His sons and daughters which includes contentment.

(We must not confuse contentment with complacency. A contented person is at peace with his/her situation but, at the same time, will recognise and grasp opportunities for improvement when they come.

On the other hand, a complacent person is one who is apathetic, lazy and unwilling to do anything to change a bad situation even if he/she has the opportunity to do so).

Jesus is the perfect example of a true son.

What characterised His life? (This is something we should never forget)! His loving and willing submission to the Father. Jesus was perfectly contented with His life in the Father no matter what happened.

But Jesus was Jesus!

How can we achieve an attitude of contentment in God in a world of people seething with discontent?

Despite his circumstances in a Roman jail surrounded by Roman soldiers, here’s how Paul did it. “I have learned…” he said.

“How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:10-13 NLT

One of Paul’s early lessons as a believer is recorded in Acts 16. He and Silas, his companion, were thrown into prison for freeing a slave girl from demons. Instead of making a fuss about injustice, they sang songs of praise to God when they couldn’t sleep.

We know the outcome. Paul and Silas were freed and an entire Roman family believed in Jesus. That was tough but he learned by doing.

Contentment is not on the list of spiritual gifts or the fruit of the Spirit. Contentment, like obedience and generosity, is learned through practice. We learn obedience by being obedient. We learn generosity by being generous. We learn contentment by being content. These are choices we make, over and over until they are woven into who we are becoming.

Why is contentment of such importance to us, and to God?

1. Contentment is the expression of our trust in God.

We allow God to be God in our lives. If we are discontented with our lot in life, we are actually challenging God’s love. We are telling Him, “You don’t love me. If you did, you would do a better job of caring for me.”

2. Contentment frees God to make changes for the better in our situations.

Bad situations are a test of our faith in God. Look how God tested the children of Israel in the wilderness.

“Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands. Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 8:2-3 NLT

Their discontent revealed their faithlessness and brought God’s wrath down on them.

Job, on the other hand, trusted God and refused to curse Him despite his suffering.

“Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him… ” Job 13:15a.

After the test, God doubled what Job lost and blessed him lavishly for his faith.

3. Contentment allows Jesus to have the right to supreme authority in our lives. He chooses our situation and circumstances.

He earned the right to be Lord by taking our place in death and paying our debt of sin. Now He lives in us by His Spirit to reclaim us from the sins we still commit and raise us up with Him to reign with Him in life over our old nature and its pull towards sin and death.

4. Contentment protects us from jealousy, envy and covetousness.

Firstly, let’s examine what these words mean.

“Jealousy” has a good and a bad application. To be “jealous for” implies a protective attitude towards what is good. God is a jealous God.

“For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:2 NLT

“Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?” James 4:5 NLT

God is jealous for us because He knows that, without Him, we are nothing.

To be “jealous of” implies that I crave what someone else has, which often includes bad feelings towards the other person.

Envy and jealousy are not interchangeable. They don’t mean the same thing. Jealousy focuses on the object; envy is directed towards the person with the intention to do harm. The attitude of the religious leaders towards Jesus is a classic example.

“As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy).” Matthew 27:17-18 NLT

Envy recognises the good in the character of another and hates him for it.

Jesus told a story which illustrates this attitude.

“… So, when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius.  When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.  ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’  

“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?  Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you.  Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ ” Matthew 20:10-15 NIV

“Covetousness” is an inward attitude that drives both envy and jealousy. Paul recognised covetousness, aroused by the law, as that part of his sin nature over which he had no control.

“What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”  But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.” Romans 7:7-8 NIV

The only cure for covetousness is contentment and the only way we can be contented is by learning to be content through the power of Christ.

“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 all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13 NIV

5. Contentment protects us from worry, anxiety and fear.

Once again, worry, anxiety, and fear are the outcome of mistrusting God’s love. These three attitudes cancel confidence in God’s reliability to keep His promises. They open our minds to the devil’s lying suggestions and accusations that cast doubts on the character of God. They are a slap in God’s face by accusing Him of lying.

These are rough words but mirror the words of Scripture…

“If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.” 1 John 1:10 NLT

6. Contentment protects our minds from the devil’s lies.

It is impossible to think two thoughts at the same time. If you are anxious or worried, you cannot trust God. You mind is attuned to Satan’s insinuations that God is untrustworthy.

If you are grateful and value God’s goodness, you will be immune to Satan’s suggestions. Both thoughts cannot co-exist in one mind.

7. Contentment honours God by giving Him credit for all that He is and does for us.

Contentment is expressed by a grateful heart. Remember the mouth that is the opening to the well of salvation?

“But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honours me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.” Psalms 50:23 NLT

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT

It is impossible to be thankful and discontented at the same time. Therefore, learning to be contented is a simple lesson if we give thanks “in all circumstances”.

“What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the Lord ’s name for saving me.” Psalms 116:12-13 NLT

This verse kept coming into my mind this morning. The more I thought about it, the more I began to understand the role of thanksgiving in our lives that ties in beautifully with the topics we have been studying.

The best way to express our gratitude to the Lord is by “lifting up the cup of salvation”. What does that mean?

The basic meaning of “salvation” is “wholeness”.  God has given us His power in its many facets, the same power that raised Christ from the dead, to overcome the sin in us that produces death, and restore wholeness in us. Therefore, to engage the powers of the kingdom is the best way to show our gratitude to Him and, conversely, not to apply these truths in our various circumstances is the worst form of ingratitude.

It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that we show our gratitude for a gift best by using it. It is the same with God’s gifts. Not to “lift up the cup of salvation” means that we don’t value the benefits of His salvation. Paul pleaded with the Corinthians Church, which was full of sinful behaviour, not to receive the grace of God in vain.

“As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.” 2 Corinthians 6:1 NIV

To continue living in sinful reactions to our circumstances in life is to ignore God’s grace and devalue the power He has put at our disposal to “overcome the world”.

Ingratitude is the first step in a slippery slide that ends in a depraved mind.

21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 Romans 1:28-29

8. Contentment gives us space to enjoy who we are, where we are, and what we have, which all come from God.

“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” James 1:14-17 NLT

When we live in an attitude of contentment, we create space in our minds to move around in our environment without the pressures of wrong desires and wants.

We acknowledge that what we are and have is from God. We are grateful for everything He has given to enrich our lives.

We value and enjoy who we are; we cultivate and use our gifts to bless others; we make good use of what we have and give away what we do not use to benefit others.

We stay where we are because God has put us there. Sometimes, God moves us through creating restlessness in our spirits. We learn to discern the difference between fleshly and divine discontent.

Fleshly restlessness often comes from wanting more or better…

Divine discontent is spiritual awareness that God is calling us away, perhaps to worse circumstances and yet, deep inside, we know it is the right thing for us. If God is in it, we will be contented, no matter what.

9. Contentment is the best way to de-stress your life.

Stress is a major factor in killing people today, either by stress-induced diseases or by suicide. Lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically increased the number of suicides worldwide. Why? Is it because people have reacted to the huge changes in their lives by becoming discontented? In other words, they don’t know how to handle stress.

Stress and contentment are incompatible. If you have learned, like Paul, to be contented in all circumstances, stress will be excluded from your responses to change. Why? After all, God is still in charge.

Can you see, then, what a powerful tool contentment is to ward off the greed and covetousness that drives the world system. With the protection of contentment motivated by gratitude for God’s goodness, we can live in the most confined of circumstances without being driven by what us going on around us.

Through the power that Jesus supplies, we, can be free indeed.

“Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.  A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” John 8:34-36 NLT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

All Scripture quotations in this series

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOLLY AND ME – CONTENTMENT

Christian Life, ,

“Me” time! Do you have “me” time?  From 5 to 7 in the morning is strictly my time – and Molly knows it.

After she has had her little run outside to do the necessary – and sometimes that includes exploring the same garden she has explored dozens of times before – she comes inside and waits patiently for me to pick her up and position her on my recliner.

With a deep sigh of contentment, she lies beside me, puts her head on my leg and continues her sleep as though nothing had intervened, not even an exciting interlude in the garden!

During the day, after my chores are done, I sit in my chair and work with my hands, crocheting, knitting, writing or reading while Molly enjoys a nap in her bed at my feet. As long as she is near me or can see me, she is contented. I watch her and take a leaf from her book.

What is contentment?

The tenth commandment says, “You shall not covet.” I think that covetousness is the antithesis of contentment. Discontent is another word for covetousness. Discontent is a slap in God’s face. In our hearts we are saying, “God, you shortchanged me. Why did you give me such a raw deal?” I look at someone else’s station in life and wish it were mine. He has money, prestige, a better job, a better house/car etc., and in my heart I grumble and complain.

Instead of enjoying what I have and making the best of my life, I waste precious time dwelling on what I don’t have and insulting my Father’s love for me because I think I know better than He does what is good for me.

Like Molly, I want to live in the moment, passionately loving the one who loves and cares for me, and sit one His lap or at His feet, contented to know that He always does what is best for me. I want to be like Paul who said:

I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ who gives me the strength. (Phil.4:12-13)

Surely, nothing can shake the one whose trust is in the love of the Father. We can save ourselves a great deal of stress and all the physical side effects if we settle down in His lap and let Him order our lives for us.

True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into this world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. (1 Tim. 6:6-7)