Contentment

 

There are times that we, as Christians stand guilty of finding contentment in many things except God.  Contentment can be sought in our titles, our jobs, our possessions, our relationships, our intellects, our reputations, and even our egos.  There is a real temptation for us to strive to find satisfaction in these things apart from God.  However, what if we had nothing but food and clothing; could we truly be content?  Could we be content living at the local rescue mission or living in an apartment versus our private, furnished homes?  What if we didn’t have cable television, the Internet, or Netflix?  Most of us love our things and life’s small amenities that keep us comfy and happy.  I’m concerned that life’s luxuries have become our necessities in order for us to be happy and content.

God encourages His people through His Word to find contentment in Christ alone plus nothing else.  The Apostle Paul said, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”  (NIV, 1 Tim. 6:6-11)

According to Scripture, there is a real danger in being desirous of the things of this world.  God’s Word says that those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap that leads to many harmful desires for us.  Although it is impossible to identify what all those dangers might be, a part of this danger is finding satisfaction apart from God and seeking things that God has not willed for His children to have. Some people allow money and material things to drive their lives and motivate them.  Some Christians would consider their lives very good, while they have very little substance in their relationship with God.  Could we be so bold as Christians to ask God to help us to loosen our grip on the things that we have become used to and that we find important to us?  Could we be so bold as to ask God to remove anything in our life that is keeping us from knowing, loving, and serving Him better?  Please know this type of bold prayer to God could be very painful.

Ultimately, are we willing to get back to the basics of finding contentment in the person of God alone for all of our joy and contentment.  Have we slowly drifted over the years only to find ourselves docked at the wrong harbor where God cannot be found?  Could we lay everything before our great God and ask Him what He would have us to pick back up?  May we find contentment in the goodness of His character and in His love for us.