Contentment is only found in God
This is another devotional writing of mine from last week. I've been wanting to share it on here, but haven't had the chance to write it out until now. Although Sunday's service at Willow Creek Baptist Church (midhurst, ontario - share us a visit!!) was a total confirmation that God has really been putting this on my heart for a reason - so I'm glad I got to taste that before sharing this with you. Anyways, here we go...
During a time of high stress and frustration, I'm reminded today to:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
As I was reflecting on this passage, I kept coming back to one of my favourite passages that has a very similar idea behind it; Paul's teaching to be content in any & every circumstance. Paul says:
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 or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
Philippians 4:11-13
So what is the secret to being truly content?
Contentment is only found in God.
Some may think they are content, they may feel at ease, but their contentment only comes from money and material things. If they lose all of that, they are lost. They are no longer able to be productive for the Lord because their focus becomes exactly what they were dependant upon: worldly things. We must remember that if we are dependant on the Lord and if we are content with only Jesus, then when troubles come we will focus all the more on what we believe will get us through: God. Jeremiah 17:5-7 says, "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his own strength... blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
*In some way, not being rich; not having an abundance of materials things { the things that are SO easy to crave and long for} - is a blessing in disguise (in disguise because it is so hard to have this lifestyle in this money-run world, it goes against the pull of society) BUT it may actually make it easier to not love the world or find our contentment in the world, but rather in God*
What makes Paul able to say He knows how to remain content when in plenty AND when in need? He "can do all things through Christ who gives {him} strength".
Only Christ can bring contentment. A lot of the time people miss the actual context of this verse, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength". We apply it to almost every situation you can think of, which isn't wrong - but the verse is actually specifically referring to how is Paul able to be content and remain content through the ups and downs. Being content has nothing to do with what you have, or what you own. Rely on Christ for everything. It may even be better translated, "I have strength for all circumstances through him who strengthens me."
Without Christ, we don't truly have the ability to enjoy life to its fullest. Our joy will be taken from us with every hardship, every trial, every failure, every disappointment etc. And I think we can all agree that these things happen all the time. We may have days where we don't feel happy {but thats just an emotion, and the bible tells us that emotions are fleeting}, our JOY however, will remain because we know that Jesus always remains.
1. Greed {Hebrews 13:5-6}
2. Envy
3. unhealthy sense of entitlement {1 Timothy 6:6-8}
1. Give. Giving will adjust your priorities and remind you of your blessings.
2. Be thankful and SHOW your appreciation constantly.
Contentment ultimately is an outworking of our faith, it is actually not something to be over-looked, it is key to our relationship with Christ. The closer our personal relationship to God is, the more we trust Him and the less we will be bothered by the circumstances of life. We can rest easy because we are resting in his power and sufficiency, not our own.
- - - - - - - - - After hearing a missionary from Japan speak on Sunday, sharing of the major challenges they faced after the earthquakes and tsunami's in Japan, I was reminded of Paul's crucial message of contentment, {Ironically enough, this specific missionary's name was also Paul}.
Despite life's challenges, big or small, we can do ALL things with CHRIST's STRENGTH
IF we learn to find our contentment in Christ Alone. He will steady our feet when the path before us is rough, He will hold us up when the waters rise, He will be our light through the ever increasing darkness. We will trust in Him to provide our every need and we believe that he makes beautiful things out of dust.
No comments:
Post a Comment