Being content in life.
A warning from the start. This is a long blog, but worth the read if you are finding life a little disappointing.
A few months ago, Apple gave away a free song from a singer named Ashley Monroe called “Satisfied.” The song really makes a good point in life.
It talks about how nobody seems to ever be satisfied with the mate they have, and they keep looking on to the next best option. Or they live miserable in their current relationship. So I want to go over three scriptures and then I will have a conclusion at the bottom (be sure to read that).
But the great book of the Bible gives us three scriptures that deal directly with contentment.
1. Philippians 4:11-13
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 everything through him who gives me strength.
What a great scripture. I couldn’t have put it better, really our life outside of Christ is just icing on the cake. God is enough to help you do everything.
2. 1 Timothy 6:6-10
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Now this scripture mainly deals with money, but can easily be applied to other areas in life. Maybe its another relationship, job, or church family. Put those items in their, what does it lead to? Ruin and destruction.
3. Hebrews 13:4-5a
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have,
BINGO! Look at the first scripture, it talks about the marriage bed being kept pure and then contentment. I wonder if this ties into sleeping around for a better spouse. Some women (and in the Jewish culture it would have to be a women here) I am sure tried to climb the social ladder, just as they do now because they weren’t content in their current situation.
So what do we have here? A call to contentment; I’ve seen this in my own life. I had my children young (18 years old, and 3 by time I was 23). I had to let go of a life of partying and hanging out for all hours. I had to accept my role as a father and a husband. I had to learn to be content with this, knowing that the call to be a father and a husband has a much greater reward than any night out could ever offer. As I see my children and wife (and myself) grow in love and in the Lord, it makes me smile. Just last year we were given a baby boy. This child has brought out the best part of my family. All of us has accepted him as our own, and now my family would feel incomplete without him around.
So yes I had to let go of what could have been, but embrace what is. That embracement has changed my life, I could have been a bitter man and ended up divorced ruining the lifes of 4 people, and also ruining the chance for redemption that our new baby boy now has in our home. So ask yourself, what would you “ruin and destroy” as the second scripture states, if you followed your desires? Would it be worth it? Could you tell the folks you would ruin and destroy that you chose that desire over them? Could you live with the consequences? The consequences can be harsh. I have a friend who’s dad has chosen a desire over her. Their relationship is forever changed. Think about your life, have you had somebody close to you choose desire over you? How is that relationship now? Do you want to do the same to others?
Learn to get your joy out of your current situation, it is there you just have to change the way you look at it.