Recently I’ve had to install the newest update to my phone which got me contemplating 1 Timothy 6:6-7 (ESV) which reads like this, But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. What kind of gain is godliness with contentment?! GREAT gain! It is great gain to be godly with contentment. However, how often do we seek great gain through trying to find containment in a million other things then by a way of a Holy Spirit infused godly character?!
Contentment almost seems to be the unattainable goal in a world that upgrades every millisecond! We need look no further than our personal cell phone to be reminded of that, right! This mindset only encourages discontentment and an insatiable hunger to upgrade our spouses, our body image, our work place, homes, even our church… you name it and the world has probably offered an upgrade filled with empty promises to satisfy! The secret to contentment cannot be found in this ever changing world but only in the One who remains the same yesterday today and forever (see Hebrews 13:8).
Contentment is not complacent, for the enemy works to make us ineffective and complacent. True contentment only comes by way of a Holy Spirit infused godly like character. Philippians 4:12-13 (NLT) I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Contentment is choosing to trust that God knows what He is doing and can provide for our every true need. He alone can fill the void in the heart He knit together. We don’t need to remake what God made but rather make the best of what He has done, is doing; of what He has allowed. If we truly desire Him, He will teach us how to be content in a discontented world, and we will know great gain, dear one. 2 Peter 1:5-9 (NIV) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Maybe the only upgrade we need is on our viewpoint; moving from that of an earthly mindset to a Heavenly one. When we are fully content in Christ, maintaining a viewpoint from that of His victory, we will not trip up on all the lesser viewpoints that vie for our attentions and affections. Our life’s purpose is to be led forward in the captivating freedom of Christ’s triumphs, spreading the aroma of Him everywhere with the gifted breath in our lungs! Our trials and setbacks that cause discontent on any level begin to hold a lesser weight in our heart and mind when we remember we walk in the wake of The Conqueror, led in His victory over ALL! Matthew 6:33 (ESV) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 1 John 1:7 (NIV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
By His grace may we seek contentment in Christ over EVERY area of our lives dear one. He is enough.
Redeeming Grace 99|1 Ministries 