THE LINK BETWEEN CONTENTMENT AND GRATITUDE!

 

Friday, November 20, 2020

 

THE LINK BETWEEN CONTENTMENT AND GRATITUDE!

 

Luke 3:14

14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

 

           This question was asked of John Baptist as he was baptizing. He was preaching repentance, and many wanted specific instructions as to how to rectify a twisted life. These were either Roman soldiers or soldiers of Herod or Philip. They were notoriously guilty of extortion. According to my research, Roman soldiers were paid 225 denarii per year, beginning in the first century BCE and continuing until the reign of the emperor Domitian (ruled 81-96 CE), who raised the rate to 300 denarii. That would represent about 972 grams of silver or 64.8 grams of gold (a bit over two troy ounces). Today’s value would be about $50.64 but too much research can make one miss the point.

 

           How much are you worth? That is the point! The word “content” is the Greek arkeo and it has a variety of applications but here it basically means “to consider something enough or sufficient.” The key is how we view ourselves and not how we view our wages. If we look at our wages, it is never enough, and we will never be content.

 

Heb 13:5

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

 

           The word “leave” means “to let up or to slacken.” The word “forsake” means “to leave behind.” As toddling children of God, we have the precious promise that God will not “let up” in His care for us and he will never leave us behind. The result is ENOUGH, and the feeling is contentment. The reaction is thanksgiving.

 

Dear Lord, be near to the fatherless today and let your provision be bountiful. AMEN