Be Content

Are you content today? Are you enjoying & appreciating what God has given you for today?
Or are you mournfully looking at what you had in the past? 
Or are you covetously looking at what you want in the future? 

In the (utterly amazing and highly recommended) book Pollyanna, the titular character goes to visit a shut-in. This shut-in gets meals delivered to her by the ladies of the church, but she is infamous for her discontentment & dissatisfaction with whatever she receives. Whatever is brought to her, she wants something else and therefore, she never is happy.

This is a bit of an absurd example, until we realize that we do this too. We are unhappy with summer because it is too hot and can't wait for fall. We are unhappy that it is fall because it is too cold and we can't wait for warmer weather. We are unhappy with the poor roads in our towns, but we are also unhappy with road construction repairing & improving the roads. We are not content because we are always complaining about something.

The Bible talks about the importance of being content. We'll highlight 3 passages here:

1. Paul writes to Timothy "So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content." (1 Timothy 6:8 NLT). If we eat 2-3 meals today and have at least 2 outfits, are we content? Or are we striving after more stuff, nicer stuff, or more comfortable stuff?

2. Paul wrote to the Church in Phillipae, 
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I 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. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13 NIV) Do you catch the significance here? When we look at this whole paragraph, Philippians 4:13 becomes so much more than a pithy little phrase to psych us up into doing something cool. We can be content, regardless of our situation because of the power of Christ within us. We can be content with a full fridge or an empty fridge. Whether our wants & needs are met or we are lacking necessities. We can be content, through Christ. 

3. Finally, the author of Hebrews writes, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”" (Hebrews 13:5 NIV) We are commanded to avoid loving money and to be content with what we have. We can be content, because God never leaves us. This is critical. We may not have what we want or even all we need, but contentment comes from knowing God is with us. 

As November has arrived, we talk a lot about gratitude, but when we are discontent, we aren't practicing gratitude. When we are constantly complaining about the weather, the traffic, or people, we notice the negative things more and more. 
So let's practice being content with what the day brings and expressing gratitude for what God is doing for us today.

What are you grateful for today?
How can you foster contentment?