FROM THE DAWGHOUSE
ARE YOU CONTENT?
How would you answer that question? At Forge a few weeks ago, Pastor Tom Phillips spoke on “Learning from St. Benedict’s Rule”, and for me, his message kept driving me to consider “Am I content with the way of the Lord? Does the grace of contentment live in me?”
Many years ago, a wise pastor shared with me that without contentment, it is impossible to be thankful. And if we are not thankful, it’s because we’re not living in contentment. In other words, when the grace of contentment dwells within our hearts, we tend to be ready to give thanks, always and for everything.
The Bible teaches that covetousness is the opposite of thankfulness, or the opposite of contentment. If we, as sinners, are covetous, if the sin of lusting after what God has not given to us and constantly wanting more and more, if that lives in our hearts, then, obviously, we cannot give thanks to God for what we have. If we live our life dissatisfied with our looks, with our home, with our money, with our job, with our wife, with our husband, with our parents, with our car, with our clothes, with our kids, even with our church, we cannot give thanks.
How often do we go to our closet and express our discontentment? A closet filled with clothes and yet we come out saying, “There’s nothing to wear.” Or we look in the refrigerator and say, “there’s nothing to eat,” while the refrigerator is filled with food and goodies. We have so much! But covetousness is a sin that is deeply present in prosperity. The more we have, the less we’ll be satisfied, by nature, and the more we will want and the less we will appreciate.
What is the answer for us as Christians, swamped in prosperity yet so bankrupt in our thanksgiving?
The grace of contentment, or perhaps St. Benedict’s Rule.
We desperately need to learn what it is to be content. For only out of a soul where godly contentment is living, will one find a thankful heart.
I love Philippians chapter 4 where the apostle Paul and the saints at Philippi seem to be falling over each other in love and appreciation. Remember, Paul is writing from a Roman dungeon. In verse 10 we learn that the Philippians have sent a gift to the apostle. He says, “your care of me has flourished again.” At the same time, Paul does not want them to think that his appreciation for the gift implies that he is in a desperate condition – that he is discontent or wanting.
He says to them, “Oh, my beloved Philippians, I’m OK. Really, truly, I am. I am not talking to you today,” he says, “out of lack. All is well with my soul. Even though I am in this dungeon, I am content in the Lord’s way. In fact, I would like to know what I can do for you.”
What a profession of faith.
Is that your profession today? Are you thankful? Are you content in the Lord? Or are you covetous? Does a pleasant sound of praise emerge because you’re full of God’s love and grace in your heart? Or are you complaining, angry, bitter, resentful?
We are, by nature, covetous.
It makes no difference if we are rich or poor, healthy, or sick. By nature, we always want something different, something fancier to be satisfied. We think that money, leisure, pleasure, jobs, possessions will be the gateway to happiness of the heart. That is covetousness.
Contentment on the other hand, is a grace that comes from Jesus Christ. It is to be satisfied with what He gives us today and the circumstances that have come by His will. Contentment starts with the cross. It is to know a full and complete pardon of sin. Then it is to say, “I have enough. It is enough to have the love and forgiveness of my God. It is enough to have an inward joy and peace that can only come from God’s provisions.”
Easier said than done, right?
Truth be told, contentment will always be a mystery, apart from faith in Jesus Christ.
It is Christ who by His faithfulness infuses His grace and power into our lives. It is Christ who has loved us upon the cross. It is Christ who performs faithfully the will of His Father. He pours out power through the Holy Spirit into us. He uses prayer. He uses daily reading of the Word of God. He uses Christian friends. He uses DAWG.
Then, out of contentment arises the sound of thunder, the anthem, and the song of the church: Thanks be to God who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Joe Bouch
FORGE Winter Springs
