Contentment

In Philippians 4:12-13, Paul is talking about contentment:

"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 of hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

I heard a pastor summarize it like this: "Contentment is not about who has the most. It's about who needs the least." In our materialistic society, we have been trained to be pessimistic about our possessions. Instead of being thankful for all the things we have, we tend to lament the things we don't yet have. Said another way, the glass is half-empty. Ask yourself "Do I have any wants that I'm treating like needs?" "Am I discontent because I don't have some of the things my neighbors have?" "Am I overlooking blessings that are right in front of me?" "Am I content with my possessions and my circumstances?"

Yet there is one thing we are supposed to be discontent with… That we are to continuously strive to make better / deeper / stronger... Our relationship with Christ.

Do you know anybody who has these two things reversed? People who are content in their spiritual lives yet discontent in the material things? People who live by sight rather than faith?

Have a great week and a great fast.
Your brother,
Bob

Our covetous nature (5/10/04)

The last of the 10 commandments reads:

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." Exodus 20:17

This commandment takes some of the earlier commandments a step farther - straight to the heart. It takes the 7th commandment about committing adultery to the level of "thinking" about committing adultery.

Take an honest assessment of yourself.
Do you covet materialistic things - wealth, a big house, a nice car?
How about ego things - a title, recognition at work, respect from your peers?
Is it more of a lustful or emotional thing?
Does it happen in an unlikely setting? We can covet as we sit in church Sunday morning (I'd like to be able to sing like that... I wish I could afford nice clothes like those…).

Coveting is about wanting things we don't have and assuming we would be happier or better off if we have them. It's about selfish discontentment - feeding something that is not healthy - feeding an idol - such as greed or pride. It's like saying "Your grace is not sufficient for me. I need something else to make me really happy."

If you find yourself coveting something, look at someone who has that thing and ask yourself "Is that person done wanting things? Was that the icing on the cake that finally made that person happy?" Rockefeller was once asked "How much money is enough", to which he replied "just a little bit more".

So what are we praying for this Wednesday? Well, we are praying about our covetous nature. That our passions are selfless ones that are in line with God's will.

Have a great week and a great fast.
Your brother,
Bob