ON BEING CONTENT

ON BEING CONTENT!

Heb 13:5

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

In our mind “being content” conjures up thoughts of being not-quite-satisfied. It’s like driving a brand new Nash Rambler when you would rather be driving a previously owned Lincoln Town Car. Both are cars. Both may be buffed to a bright shine and both might turn heads, although for different reasons. 

Contentment is like the character “Ralphie” in the classic “A Christmas Story.” The end of the show finds him sitting on the floor amidst wrapping paper and toys. All the family seems wrapped in a dreamy Christmas aura except for Ralph. Dad asks if everything was alright and Ralph answers that everything was fine. Then Dad spies something in the corner behind the desk. It is one forgotten Christmas package and it is shaped like his greatest hope. Could it be? How could it be? Ralphie rushes to the corner and tears open the box to reveal his heart’s desire. Yes! It is a Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock and “a thing that tells time!” So Ralph rises from contentment to wild exuberance!

This world will not allow the believer contentment! – We are citizens of heaven. This world is not our final home and is like a cheap motel compared to the mansions in heaven. The accommodations are adequate at best. But we are content.

John 16:33

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

We battle greed and the deceit of consumption by being content! – Of the sixteen times the word “content” is used in scripture, several times the word is used to urge us to be satisfied with our wages.

Luke 3:14

14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he [Jesus] said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. (The occupying soldiers were extorting money from the people.)

Phil 4:18

18 [Paul said] But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

So here we sit, like Ralphie on Christmas morning, surrounded by presents and wrapping paper. We are warm, although a beautiful light snow falls gently outside our windows whispering a hush to the world. We are “content” although the desire of our heart has not been met. Then suddenly a trumpet blast shakes us from our daydream and we are invited to “come up here.” Contentment explodes into wild exuberance. Oh! Think about it!

1 Thess 4:16-18

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Dear Lord, I look around at all my blessings and I am content but there is a deep longing in my heart unsatisfied. Let me live expectantly waiting on you and waiting for you! AMEN