Tuesday, June 11, 2024
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 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
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