CONTENTMENT

 But godliness with contentment is great gain

(1 Timothy 6: 6, NKJV)

Strange word, contentment, not heard often in our days. The language of our times rarely looks at situations which are positive, complete and satisfying, we tend to talk more of what is not happening or what is not right.  When we meet each other and we offer greetings, we hear words like, “we are hanging in there” suggesting that we are not in a good place.  Ironically, even when someone has been blessed of God, they prefer to talk back-handed and so the response will be “it is not too bad” and at times I wish we could just say “it is good” calling it as it is and not being ashamed of acknowledging that all is well.  In my understanding, this accepted messaging is a reflection of our hearts and I wonder whether we are being ungrateful or if we are fearful that the good we have is just for a moment and, there is an unspoken expectation of coming trouble round the corner.  This could be an area for each of us to ponder on, with the objective of establishing where the disposition is coming from.

 God in His mercy has given us a word for each situation.  Our struggles and negative talk including self-talk, often comes as a result of being discontent in our hearts.  This does not mean that God has not blessed us at all, but it means that we are putting aside what we have received and are focusing on what else we feel we do not have. Paul in writing to Timothy in the above passage, he suggests to us that part of the reason why we could be discontent is because we are greedy, there is a need to be controlled in our wants (1 Timothy 6:3-10) so that we do not fall into temptation. The word contentment is described as a state of happiness and satisfaction, our hearts experience the emotion of contentment and it gives us physical and emotional rest.  Beloved, that is the place that the verse above is calling us to, it is not asking us to deny that we have concerns for we are in this earth, but it reminds us that our concerns should not negate our state of contentment. 

 Our needs are known by God and we are advised to belief that He has good plans on how He will meet them. Ours is to ask of Him, make our requests known to Him and let His peace fill our hearts, (Philippians 4:6-7) with God’s peace we will live in contentment. We are admonished not to be anxious about anything, but to present our prayers and needs to God with thanksgiving.  Our posture of thanksgiving is important for one cannot be thankful and yet be discontent, it helps us to take a position of contentment as we wait on God.  Our Father confirms that He cares and values us so much, so that nothing happens to us without His seeing it, He is just waiting for us to align to His will.  I am always left in awe when I think of the hair that falls from my head, yet my Father has a count of them all (Matthew 10: 29-31).  That level of detail of my own life is not known to me, yet my Father keeps it in His knowing, this is to show His concern. Nothing is too much for us to expect from Him, if and when we pray according to His will.  We have the confidence that He hears us when we ask for anything (1 John 5:14-15).  This my beloved should draw us to a place of rest for it is not about our ability, but it is about Him.  Let us not hesitate to present to Him our concerns, He is able to handle them all, He is not short of ability or resources to help us, He owns the world and all what is in it (Psalm 50:10-12), nothing is too much for us to ask of Him.  May our hearts find God’s peace and contentment in Him, even as we expectantly look up to Him to handle our concerns.  There is great gain promised to us when we seek His contentment.

Thoughts:

Is there a burden you are struggling with?

Who are you looking up to for your help?

Will you trust it to your Father?

How does putting down the burden feel?