Every once in a while I find myself falling prey to the sin of discontent. Maybe you’ve been there too? I compare what I have to what other people have. I rarely choose people who have the same or less than I do so when I am finished my comparisons I end up on the rotten end of the deal.
I know better. I’ve read Philippians 4:11-12 and I remember that it talks about being content whether having plenty or being in need. I can hear my Mother’s voice as she told me repeatedly – comparisons are odious. (If you’re wondering what odious means, here’s the definition: highly offensive; repugnant; disgusting.) I am quite certain that God is disappointed with me for allowing my thoughts to head in this direction because He has blessed me richly.
But the truth is that from time to time, I find myself in Discontent. So what to do?
By the time I was five years old I had memorized many Scripture verses and one of them was Philippians 4:13:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I have repeated that verse thousands of times over the ensuing 46 years, often to support others, but mostly to remind myself of the powerful truth of the statement. It’s encouraging. It’s challenging. It’s powerful. It’s true.
It also comes immediately after Philippians 4:11-12. Do you remember what that passage says? Let me remind you – from the Amplified Bible –
"Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am. I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want."
These verses speak of both pleasant and unpleasant life circumstances. They speak of being content in both types of circumstances to the point that one is not disturbed or disquieted; of being abased – which means belittled or degraded – and humbled. It also speaks of having plenty and abundance, living joyfully, being well fed and having sufficient for one’s needs – circumstances in which one also needs to be content. Throughout life we may find ourselves at either end of this spectrum in many areas. It’s not so hard to be content when you are on the positive end of the spectrum, but when you’re on the negative end that’s a different story.
Not surprising then that we come to the question: How do I do this? So very like God to provide us with an answer that is simple enough to defy logic and complex enough to confuse sensible thought. His solution causes us to wrestle with its simplicity as well as its total dependence on Him. The Amplified Bible explains it this way:
"I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]."
The incredibly powerful yet very simple truth is that God makes it possible for us to deal with all life’s circumstances – good and bad. We will find ourselves in Contentment when we choose to access His storehouse of resources to navigate all that life brings to us. What does that mean practically? It includes being thankful for what we have, relying on God for what we need and believing that He will provide. It may also mean being open to His provision coming in creative and sometimes humbling ways.
As I think about this, I am reminded of Jesus’ words to the rich fool in Luke 12:15:
“Don’t be greedy for what you don’t have. Real life is not measured by how much we own.”
I want to live my Real life to the max and that life is best lived in Contentment. It’s my desire that my visits to Discontent will be come less frequent and much shorter in 2014. He has promised that is possible – through Him.
