Contentment

Eve, the real “first lady,” has an interesting story. She was the final creative act and was made as a companion for Adam. Her strengths were supposed to blend with his so that together, they could be something that neither could be separately. However, Satan attacked Eve’s contentment and sin entered the world.

Those are notes I took from the introduction to the chapter on Eve from the “Following God Character Series.” The sin of discontentment is something I easily fall into- I’m a person who likes change, so I usually can be described as always looking to the next big thing. Like right now, my life is basically measured by things I have to do right now while I’m in school, and things I’ll do once I’m done (in 32 days- but who’s counting?). I constantly complain about my house, even though it’s such a blessing to even have one or be able to afford one. I constantly complain about school, even though some don’t get the chance to get a college education. I complain about my job, yet I’m blessed to even have one right now with the economy the way it is. I complain about going to the dentist, even though some NEVER go and don’t have teeth by the time they’re 40. Always complaining about the things I have, when I should be content to have them, because all of them are a blessing from the Lord. Who am I to think that I know better than God?

Discontentment can gnaw away at your at your sense of gratitude because you’re always looking at the not so good/attractive side of things. It can devour your peace of mind, as you never have peace about anything because it isn’t good enough. It eliminates any chance you have of enjoying life because you can’t enjoy anything. Discontentment doesn’t only affect me, but others around me. Who wants to hang out with a Debbie-downer or someone who is constantly trying to “one-up” them? Our constant complaining can discourage others and bring others down. Think about the Israelites after they had been freed from slavery in Egypt- I mean, God set them FREE from bondage and they were probably incredibly thankful at first- but then reality set in, and it go hot, the trip was hard, and I’m sure there were plenty of other things to be complaining about. They even became so discontent that they thought it might have been better just to be back in Egypt as a slave.

Instead of focusing on all that they had, and encouraging each other that the Lord never abandons, and that God would bring them through, they focused on what they didn’t have and that is the definition of discontentment: focusing on what we lack, not what we have. We should be content to just rest in our relationship with Christ- instead, we number all the things that go wrong for us, and claim that God is somehow punishing us or just leaving us to ourselves because “How could this happen to me?”

God has a plan. And he doesn’t forget any detail or need. I am awful at event planning. I always forget something, something always goes wrong, and I never can get it right. God isn’t like that- he never misses a THING. And with each manifestation of God’s provision in our life, our faith should grow, trusting that God will meet our next needs, and bring us through our next trial, just like he did the previous one because he has a plan and his plan always is best. Many times, when we think God isn’t meeting our need, so we turn to idols to do so. The Israelites exchanged God for a golden calf. We exchange God for money, job security, meeting other’s needs in an effort to get them to meet ours, and constantly trying to fill a hole in our life that only God can.

One thing is for sure: in a life of discontentment, nothing will ever go well, and you will not be well.

Paul was someone who could be content no matter what. Philippians 4:11-13 says that “Paul was not saying this because he was 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 to being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Paul rests alone, not in his possessions or needs being met, but in his relationship with Christ and the strength he gets from that. Contentment is resting in the fact that Jesus is sufficient.

I say and believe that Christ is the only salvation there is- but I constantly try to have other things in my life meeting my needs. What are those things? How do they let me down? How is Christ sufficient in that area? These are things I, and everyone, should be asking themselves.