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Many people are not content. That is why advertisements for get-rich-quick
schemes are so attractive to people. Who would really pay someone
thousands of dollars a week to just mail envelopes or read books?
Christians must be content. Paul said: "Let your conduct be without
covetousness, and be content with such things as you have. For He
Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'" (Heb.
13:5). Christians are not to covet material possessions and worldly
relationships. We should be content with God's blessings knowing
that He will never forsake us.
Jesus said: "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate
the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one
and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore
I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or
what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? . .
. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all
these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own trouble. Sufficient
for the day is its own trouble (Matt. 6:24-25, 33-34).
If I have faith in God, I'll be content with the things that I
have and will not worry about the things that I do not have.
Secondly, I would like to point out that contentment is something
that is learned. To the Philippians Paul wrote: "Not that I speak
in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to
be content" (Phil. 4:11). The apostle Paul had to learn contentment.
You and I are no greater than the apostle and we must also learn
to be content. Paul also said: "I can do all things through Christ
who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13). Paul was content because of His
confidence in Jesus Christ to strengthen him to endure every situation
he encountered in life. The Lord also strengthens us. And if we
place our confidence in the Lord, we will be content knowing that
the Lord provides for every necessity.
Let me suggest that Paul's instruction to the Thessalonians reveals
the basic secret to happiness and contentment. To Christians Paul
wrote: "See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always
pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do
not despise prophesies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.
Abstain from every form of evil" (1 Th. 5:15-22).
Think about the type of person that always does what is good. Think
about the person who is always seeing the good in every situation
and rejoicing. Think about the type of person who is always praying
to give thanks to God. Think about the person who always tests things
to see if they are good or bad and thus abstains from every form
of evil. This person is a Christian who is content because of his
faith in the Lord.
Take a minute and think about yourself. Are you content because
of total and complete faith in the Lord? Or, are you dissatisfied
with your life? Are you content being a Christian?
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