Satisfied?
I have been meditating on contentment for a few weeks. Scripture tells us that godliness coupled with contentment is great gain, or worth so much. I have been so blessed to know other sisters in Christ that have less than I do, but have hearts of gratitude and contentment more so than I could ever imagine. They have a secret that I am fighting to get. Contentment.
I struggle with contentment as most of us probably do. But the thing that struck me lately is that I cannot be godly and discontent. Discontentment is unhappiness with what the Lord has provided. It is Satan’s age-old lie to me that I need more, I deserve more, I must.have. more. Satan wants us to believe that we don’t have enough. That God is withholding something from us. He gave that line to Eve, and he gives it to me.
But God tells me something totally different. He says that He will never withhold any good thing from me. He supplies all of my NEEDS.( REALITY SLAP: A Pottery Barn home is not a need. An Audi is not a need. Talbot’s clothing is not a need. You get what I am saying. Americans live in the top 97th percentile of wealth in the whole world- 97 of 100 people in the world live poorer than I do. , but there is always one thing more that I want when the catalogs pour into my mailbox. Just throw them away! I digress. 🙂 )
I was talking with another woman in ministry this past week about contentment. We discussed how easy it is to be discontent when we feel like our “wants” are good, right things (family time, unity in ministry, loving spouse.) It is easy to become self-righteous in our desire for good things. Our desires are okay, but when our desire for those good things morph into demands, look out. You are clenching your fist at God and saying “I need this, and you are withholding it. And I will fight to get it, ” instead of letting God teach you and perfect you through an obvious trial. Assess the situation and choose to count the trial as ” joy.” (James 1 ) God is working. He is in control.
If you are purposing to be content, even in the “bad things”, we are journeying together. Let’s purpose to be satisfied in Christ alone and knowing Him.
Some quotes on contentment to feed your soul:
I Tim. 6:8 “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
Discontent is a sin that is its own punishment and makes men torment themselves; it makes the spirit sad, the body sick, and all the enjoyments sour; it is the heaviness of the heart and the rottenness of the bones. It is a sin that is its own parent. It arises not from the condition, but from the mind. As we find Paul contented in a prison, so Ahab discontent in a palace.
Matthew Henry“Contentment is possible only as we cultivate and maintain that attitude of accepting everything which enters our lives as coming from the Hand of Him who is too wise to err, and too loving to cause one of His children a needless tear.”
– A.W. Pink