This week I have been thinking a lot about discontentment. I think God wants to teach me something. Why is it that Christians who have all they could ever need in Christ become discontent in their life? What is that we are longing for that keeps us so unhappy, is it worldly goods, or a better life, friendship. Do we not realize what it is we truly have in Christ. I know that there have been times in my life where I feel discontented as if something is missing in my life. I have all that I could ever need and more physically speaking. I have my health, a home to live in, and a family that loves me (at least some of the time), and I have enough food and clothing. So what is it that we are seeking to find fulfillment in life. What causes people to feel so discouraged about what they don't have. I think we set up for ourselves expectations of what our lives "should" look like and then we begin to be discontent, looking at what we could have had. If our focus is on the greatness of what we have in Jesus and if we are looking to him to fulfill our desires, then and only then can we truly be content. 1 Timothy talks about having great gain in godliness which brings true contentment. 1Ti 6:6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 1Ti 6:7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 1Ti 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 1Ti 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. When we begin to desire more then we have or need, we fall into temptation. We begin to covet the things we don't have, desiring more and more. But Timothy tells us that we fall into a snare into harmful desires. Discontentment can lead us into so much more than feeling unfulfilled in life. Hebrews tells us this: Heb 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Our contentment comes in the form of a loving God who promises he will never leave us or forsake us. We have so much more in Christ (His salvation) than we will ever have here on this earth. I am ashamed to think that I too have fallen into discontentment at times. 2 Corinthians also talks about contentment during trials and difficulties. 2Co 12:10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. It seems funny to hear someone say you should be content in weakness, but according to this verse when we are weak we will be made strong. I guess God is trying to teach me to be content in everything. I know that he is working in my life and in my heart to change me. Blessings to all.
