October 20, 2019
I have to admit, I struggle with it. If you are honest, I’ll bet you struggle with it as well. Our culture sure doesn’t embrace it, in fact, it encourages just the opposite. What in the world am I talking about? It can be summed up in one word, and that word is CONTENTMENT. People spend a life time looking for it. We go to school for years in order to land that perfect job. We marry that perfect spouse and buy that perfect house in that perfect city. We raise perfect children. In fact, everything is perfect…except pretty soon, it isn’t. It almost is, but perfection and contentment continue to elude us, just barely. We keep telling ourselves that it’s just right around the corner. If I only had a Master’s degree. If only I could get that promotion. If I had a house that was just a little bigger, or a car that was just a little newer, or faster. If I could make $75,000 dollars a year instead of what I make now. I’m not happy with my wife, but my NEXT wife….let me tell you. Contentment doesn’t come naturally to us. It seems that we are born determined to be unsatisfied with what we have. If you don’t believe me, how many babies have you known who remained blissfully silent when they were hungry, wet or just wanted to be held? Satan uses phrases like “my next ________ (car, house, job, spouse…fill in your blank)” and “if only _________” to keep us mired in the instability of discontent. Paul reminds us that living in the state of contentment is something we learn, not something we obtain. He tells us “I have learned in whatsoever state I find myself, I am content,” (Plank’s paraphrase Philippians 4:11). Quite often, the discontent in our physical lives is a byproduct of the discontent found in our souls. Contentment isn’t something that can be bought with money, education or social status. In fact, remember when Jesus asks “What does it profit a person to gain everything, even the whole world, yet lose his/her own soul or what would a man/woman trade for their soul,” (Plank’s paraphrase Matthew 16:26)? When our souls find peace and satisfaction, that same peace and satisfaction will spread out to other areas of our lives. I pray that I am learning to be content. I just wish I was a faster learner
Be blessed and be a blessing…Bro. Andy
