Contentment — the Anti-American attitude

This is from an article written for MIM-YLN in November….

…My brother once said to me when I ask if he was satisfied where he was in his life, he said, “I am satisfied with my dissatisfaction”.

We are a driven people and it brings unrest. Society says drive for more.

Contentment in our society is considered a weakness and an anti-virtue of an American. It is correlated to complacency.

Yet the bible teaches us that contentment is a requirement to live an effective life for Christ.

Can we live with the call for contentment? Especially in business and on the job.

Does this mind set work in your life?

2 Peter 3:11-14

” Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning and the elements will melt with intense heat. But according to His promise we are looking for a new heaven and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless”

From this we can say that the aim of man is his preparation for the return of Christ and to be ready to enjoy Him for eternity.

Philippians 4:10-13

“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. (Ref 1 Tim 6:6-8). I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

From the verses we learn.

My emotional and conditional wellbeing is not dependent upon event or person or circumstance.
Contentment is not dependent upon circumstance. It is a declaration of your status that is outside our circumstance and is dependent upon the truth of God
Contentment which is an attitude, positions us to have gratitude.

Biblical contentment means “It is enough”. We need to view all circumstance and positions and say to God and believe “it is enough”. When Philip ask Jesus to show him God, Jesus said to him…To know Jesus was enough…Contentment.

Contentment is an acceptance of the goodness of God that is expressed in my life’s condition. It is the heart of gratefulness.

Contentment is key to

Servant life
Your giving strategy
Gratitude
Parenting
Good decisions

An author said: “to be well skilled in the mystery of Christian contentment is the duty, glory and excellence of a Christian”. 1536 AD

This Thanksgiving week look around you and take stock.Be grateful for your life, salvation, and place in the world. Is your place in this life “enough”? Is knowing Jesus “enough”?

Be content. This is the heart of Thanksgiving.