Most folks set their sights too high. They demand too much of life…. Let me tell you…the happy man is the man who is content with just what he needs…just so he has it regular.”
–Louis L’Amour (Where the Long Grass Blows)
“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”
–Psalms 73:28 (NIV)
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“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”
–Philippians 4:11(NKJV)
Paraphrase: “I find a sufficiency of satisfaction in my own heart, through the grace of Christ that is in me. Though I have not outward comforts and worldly conveniences to supply my necessities, yet I have a sufficient portion between Christ and my soul abundantly to satisfy me in every condition.” (Jeremiah Burroughs) We see that contentment is closely related to yesterday’s study regarding gratitude and thankfulness.
I recall an old Gene Autry movie (yes, I know some of you don’t have a clue). There was one scene that comes to mind. An eastern woman was posing as a cattle rancher. Gene asked her what kind of cows she raised. She hadn’t a clue, then spotted a box of condensed milk that had on the label, “our milk comes from contented cows.” She immediately said, “we raise contented cows.” No clue, and more, we don’t have much of a clue today what contentment is. We have the means, the availability, the goods, and yet we are probably the least contented people in the world.
We have to realize that contentment is a soul business. It is being satisfied with what God does; knowing you are in good condition. External contentment doesn’t last long. Man wants freedom, he claims that he is free, even in Christian circles, but they are slaves to their passions, their desires, their want of material things, and it doesn’t stop there as the next step is more, better, bigger, louder. People stand in line for a movie, a game, a new phone. The one who is discontented will also find that their heart is unruly. They are not satisfied for any length of time with what they have, therefore it comes forth as anger, bitterness, and hatred.
There is a need for the soul to be silent before God. Yet so many prefer the noise of the crowd, the stadium, the concert. No wonder they cannot have a quiet spirit. No wonder they are in turmoil. Jeremiah Burroughs says that, “Christian contentment is that sweet inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every direction.” Contentment being a soul business is being satisfied with what God does; knowing you are in good condition. The world seeks to deceive us by presenting contentment as having more than we already have. We have not only enough, but we have all we need. It is important as we go through this life that we realize the things of the world are temporal, they are but momentary and not everlasting. We need to be good stewards in the things we already possess. We need to fulfill our duty of serving God in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. It is the battle between self-sufficiency versus God-sufficiency.
Let me finish with some thoughtful words by Richard Dresselhaus. Perhaps if we would evaluate ourselves more we might be more content. He says:
Gratitude–you can’t complain and give thanks at the same time.
Grace–you can’t complain and still live in the fullness of God’s favor.
Worship–you can’t glorify God while complaining about His ways.
Service–you can’t have a positive impact on people…and be negative at the same time.
The words of the Amplified put it this way, “satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted.” Learn to be thankful, learn to be content. As these become part of your lifestyle and character then more will be added. Know this, “It is possible to have enjoyment all your life if you take it from the hand of God.” (Ray Stedman)