Contentment for the Christian

Contentment for the Christian.          a few thoughts by Brian Dodd (21/7/2019)

                What  pictures come into our minds when we think of contentment? Sunbathing on the beach with our favourite book or magazine perhaps? Going for a walk in the countryside.  The offer of our dream job? A neck and  back massage ? Our pet dog or cat curled up on the mat near the fire?

                Whatever we have in mind , whether in the images above or others , contentment often seems illusive, temporary and for many unattainable. This is often because it’s related to our finances or lack of it! Health and physical wellbeing, safe and loving relationships or  holidays to name but a few.

                As a teenager of average intelligence, who did reasonably well at exams and became a keen sports enthusiast,  I can honestly say that throughout  my teen years I was generally discontented. I was not a Christian back then and therefore unregenerate, self-willed, lacking in confidence and anxious about many things. I had no burning ambitions, yet like a good many friends, I drifted into university on the back of a few useful A-level grades. At university it soon became apparent  that I was not going to be a high-flier at my chosen subject, Maths! I found coursework difficult and more than once thought of giving up !     I sought solace in downing a few pints  of beer at the local or student bar,  and life seemed often felt empty or meaningless . It was only after God sought and found me during my second year that life took on a brand new meaning, and gave me a new hope , a new direction !     I experienced a measure of contentedness I’d not known before.

                As I read more of the Bible, I learned about the life and letters of the apostle Paul who, when addressing the Philippian church,  says, ’ Not that I complain of want, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. I know how to be abased and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. I can do all things in Him ( through Christ) who strengthens me.’ Philippians 4:11-13                                           Contentment in ALL things! In ALL circumstances ! And this statement is  from a man who had suffered so much persecution for the sake of the gospel. He once said that  he ‘even despaired of life itself’ 2Cor 1:8   Persecuted, beaten, imprisoned, stripped, humiliated and yet he could say content !

                How was such a level of contentment possible and is it really possible for each of us to be content?  The world’s view of contentment or happiness is vastly different. It greatly relies on  circumstances, as already mentioned , health , wealth and prosperity, living life ‘to the full’,  ‘ eat, drink and be ,merry for tomorrow we die’ !    Now there’s nothing wrong with a person enjoying all the good things God chooses to give us and receiving them with joy . In fact we have much to be thankful for. Jesus promised abundant life to those who chose to follow Him !      Yet sadly these very things; clothing, homes, food and drink often become an end in themselves will little thought of God or the  deeper issues of life  such as living peaceably with others, learning to forgive and  dealing with unforeseen circumstances. Today people become anxious or obsessed with their appearance, attaining recognition , misusing a powerful position or at the other end of the scale wondering where they will get their next meal from or how to find a roof over their heads. Whether we fall into the ‘haves’ or the ‘have nots’   many still experience   discontentment.

‘ Contentment makes poor men rich.                                                                                                                                     Discontent makes rich men poor’ Benjamin Franklin.

‘Contentment does not mean that I desire nothing but rather , it’s the simple decision to be happy with what I have.’                 Paula Rollo

                Why is there such an abundance of ‘self-help- books out there today? My own take on this is that more and more people are dissatisfied in some way with their lives and will do almost anything to find peace and contentment. They may have tried drink or mind-numbing drugs  but have simply slipped further down the long and unrelenting slope to self destruction. They buy the books, follow the words of the latest guru and vainly hope to find the way to a peaceful, rewarding, contented existence. No doubt that some of the advice within the pages they read do help them, at least for a while......but lasting peace?

    This is a quote I read recently.                                ‘Contented people live  a simple life . They love and enjoy what they have. They are grateful and optimistic. They attract goodness and radiate positivity. They focus on their blessings and accept adversity as a part of life. they are at peace and pleasant to be around. They are simply inspiring’

       I haven’t met many people like this and I, for one, do not think it reflects my own life either ! So can a measure of contentment ever be our experience? Are we expected to simply sit around with some benign ‘Mona Lisa’ smile whatever life throws at us?  C’est la vie ! No! The Bible does not say we will not experience troubled emotions. Yes, we can have joy but often there is confusion, sadness, pain, disappointments, loss or suffering. When Jesus heard that his friend Lazarus had died he wept! The Bible tells us  we may ‘weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who     rejoice’ !           The Lord is not unmindful of the tough times we go through!

 ‘Not throned above, remotely high,
untouched, unmoved by human pains
but daily, in the midst of life,
our Saviour, with the Father reigns...’........   words by Brian Wren

            The apostle Paul  writes in 2 Corinthians 1v4 of a God    ‘   who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  ‘                                      In all his many afflictions we do not read of Paul complaining of  his lot .

  In 2 Corinthoians 12v7-10    Paul says,  ‘ 7Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.’!

            When I read this I often think, ‘What only 3 times?’  If I am in the least amount of pain or discomfort I would seek God earnestly  a great many more times!  Yet in these verses Paul says God’s power is made perfect in our weakness !

   Contentment is not usually a word I  associate with suffering or confronting adverse circumstances. Maybe in these situations the word TRUST is better (see Proverbs 3: 5,6)

            One thing is certain. We cannot resolve a given predicament by self-effort, thinking ourselves out of it by ‘our own insight’ I know that I’m the sort of person who thinks’ ‘ I know what’s best’ instead of ‘He knows what’s best’ !

I love the words from this hymn by                 Horatio Gates Spafford :-

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul. 

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.

Remarkable words!  Despite  everything in life  ‘ It is well with my soul’ !   We are in a daily battle. We have an enemy who knows how to exploit our weaknesses.  It is during these difficult times  that we must  as Paul says, ‘.. demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.’   2 Corinthians 10v5

The battle is in our thought life –this is where it is won or lost !

            Personally.     I find it very hard to be content all the time especially if I feel I’ve been let down, rejected, criticised whether fairly or unfairly. My whole being wants to react, ‘That’s not fair !’ This is my ‘achilles heel’ , being too easily irritated or annoyed ! It’s an area of my life that I must ‘take myself  ‘in hand’ and learn to exemplify the fruit of the Spirit, self-control, hold my tongue, count to ten or just take ‘time out’ to reflect and pray.. Sometimes, though it may be uncomfortable and go against my natural inclinations, I need to address the particular  situation and confront issues ! Either way I have to remind myself of God’s presence and commit my way to the one ‘ who judges justly’ and leave things in His capable hands.

            So is there a secret to contentment?      No, not really.   It’s only a secret to those who choose to stay hidden from God’s amazing grace. Jesus said , ‘Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the WORLD gives to you....’  Yes the world can give a peace of sorts,  a cosy lifestyle, prosperity, friendships etc. , not bad in and of themselves,  but is this real peace and contentment? Real contentment is found in Christ alone.

             Lastly, I leave the final words to the 17^th century monk Brother Lawrence . In his well read booklet ‘Practising the presence of God’ he says,

    “ We should fix ourselves firmly in the presence of God by conversing all the time with Him__ we should feed our soul with a lofty conception of God and from that derive great joy in being His. We should put life in our faith. We should give ourselves utterly to God in pure abandonment in temporal and spiritual matters alike, and find contentment in the doing of  His will, whether he takes us through sufferings or consolations.”