Contentment, Part II

It is important for us to be content with what we have and understand that God has blessed us with life and to be a part of His creation. We should be content with only the basic needs of life and be simple people living out our lives in thanksgiving for what God has done for us. He may bless us beyond imagination but we live for the simple pleasures in life and enjoying the world that God has given us.

We trust in the Lord. We are right where He wants us to be and He knows what is best for us even when we are going through distress and hard times, He has better things for us down the road. Contentment and thanksgiving play a pivotal role in a Christian's life. It is an important part of our worship and being patient while trusting in Him. In obedience and service to the Lord, we will reap not only eternal life but prosperity and good things in this life as well as the next.

^{Job 36:8-11}

⁸ But if men are bound in chains,
held fast by cords of affliction,

⁹ he tells them what they have done—
that they have sinned arrogantly.

¹⁰ He makes them listen to correction
and commands them to repent of their evil.

¹¹ If they obey and serve him,
they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity
and their years in contentment.

Contentment

Now we know that we are saved by grace. A gift given by God to us through Jesus Christ. Christ makes us righteous so we have no need to be righteous in order to receive salvation and eternal life. However, in receiving Christ we repent of our sinful ways. This means we turn from our old lifestyle and renew our minds to a new way of living so that we may honor and love the God who has done such great things for us. Is it possible to live a sinless life? Yes it is. We may struggle at making it absolutely consistent, but we are able to truly be righteous in word and deed.

How do we do this? Through joy and contentment. Sin is a by product of desire (lusts) which come from our selfish inner man. Desires are there for a reason as God created the man as well as the desire within him to suit his purposes. However, it is when we go beyond that purpose that desire can become sin.

We must be content with the life God has given us. No matter what situation we are in. God is in control of all things and every intricate detail of your life. Sin is wanting more and more and more. Eventually, someone or even everyone is bound to get hurt. This is the core root of sin. Joy is a decision we make. To make the best of the life God has given us and be content with that (knowing that he knows what is best for us).

So true contentment and joy are produced by faith and it kills the desire to sin. This is why Paul says to put on the whole armor of God and that the shield of faith puts out all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Sin cannot stand when love, joy, and peace are present within your mind and heart. Satan would much rather you play the victim. Stay down and defeated, stay stressed, anxious, worried, and depressed. Such things are caused by fear which is the opposite of joy. I am just happy with what God has given me and I am content with that. If He decides to give me more, so be it. If not, so be it. I could care less. This attitude kills the desire for overindulgence and seeking out things (such as material wealth) or really anything that is beyond what I already have. To be selfish, to be constantly desiring new things and feeding our insatiable appetite for more is simply about not being happy with your life. The problem is that just like the belly, the appetite can be appeased for a short time but the hunger will always return.

Philippians 4:11-13

11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.