Contentment
Another Day Along the Way
Friday, October 27, 2006
Another day,
Tuesday morning, I listened to a friend. She spoke to more of my friends - the students, faculty, and staff at Emmanuel College. At least, I hope she spoke to them. I hope the message wasn't only for me.
Kristi Cain, who works as editor of the new Faith Cafe curriculum I write, titled her topic "Contentment." When she told me the title, I felt content. I knew people needed to hear it without realizing how much I was one of those people.
Kristi said, "Becoming content is not easy, it is not simple. It means to be satisfied with the circumstances of our lives." I took notes as her words took me, taught me, challenged me, reminded me.
She emphasized how we live in a world of negative people who are obsessed with a desire to move up and obtain more, newer, and better things. What a contrast, Kristi said, to the steady calmness and peace God longs to give us on the inside. Rather than the cultural commercial world which teaches dissatisfaction, our hearts and minds can focus on the positive. We can (1) live a conscious life of thanksgiving and (2) learn to deal with the idols in our lives.
Here are a few of my notes as I listened to Kristi: "Live the discipline of thankfulness. I often remind myself by listing five things I should be thankful for. Anything that takes the place of Christ in our lives becomes an idol. We are to love the Lord with all our hearts, and have no other gods. Take inventory. Idolatry is today's drug of choice, even in churches where buildings and success and worship can become idols. There is a real treasure in contentment. Pursue God and find satisfaction in His Kingdom."
See what I mean? See why I knew she spoke truth? See why I needed it?
Still, I don't think the message was only for me. As I listen and notice, as I hear and observe, so many of us need so much more contentment. Pause today and pray for such peace. Avoid the drug of choice and become satisfied in this life God has designed.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. (Philippians 4:11-13; The Message)
Friday, October 27, 2006
Another day,
Tuesday morning, I listened to a friend. She spoke to more of my friends - the students, faculty, and staff at Emmanuel College. At least, I hope she spoke to them. I hope the message wasn't only for me.
Kristi Cain, who works as editor of the new Faith Cafe curriculum I write, titled her topic "Contentment." When she told me the title, I felt content. I knew people needed to hear it without realizing how much I was one of those people.
Kristi said, "Becoming content is not easy, it is not simple. It means to be satisfied with the circumstances of our lives." I took notes as her words took me, taught me, challenged me, reminded me.
She emphasized how we live in a world of negative people who are obsessed with a desire to move up and obtain more, newer, and better things. What a contrast, Kristi said, to the steady calmness and peace God longs to give us on the inside. Rather than the cultural commercial world which teaches dissatisfaction, our hearts and minds can focus on the positive. We can (1) live a conscious life of thanksgiving and (2) learn to deal with the idols in our lives.
Here are a few of my notes as I listened to Kristi: "Live the discipline of thankfulness. I often remind myself by listing five things I should be thankful for. Anything that takes the place of Christ in our lives becomes an idol. We are to love the Lord with all our hearts, and have no other gods. Take inventory. Idolatry is today's drug of choice, even in churches where buildings and success and worship can become idols. There is a real treasure in contentment. Pursue God and find satisfaction in His Kingdom."
See what I mean? See why I knew she spoke truth? See why I needed it?
Still, I don't think the message was only for me. As I listen and notice, as I hear and observe, so many of us need so much more contentment. Pause today and pray for such peace. Avoid the drug of choice and become satisfied in this life God has designed.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. (Philippians 4:11-13; The Message)
9 Comments:
On days like today I guess I need to be a lot more grateful and content than I usually am. Thank you and thank the speaker.
Again, just what I needed.
v
"Peace and contentment" are what I need more of these days, as I continue to 'expire' as the docs predicted; yet I won't go by what they tell me, since I live by the Word of God and try my best in my current medical situation (ahd to make 5 corections as i typed this just now)
brother Greg
I sort of think I need to hear than every single day.
l
Greg, I pray for God's blessings to be yours. Thanks for honesty in the blog. Chris has helped me understand the importance of true confessions.
A. L.
After reading your words and those of Ms. Cain I decided to check my own level of contentment. Athough I profess to be content and thankful in all circumstances, I am realizing that I have a tendency to add a few supplements to my life to make me ocntent. That isn't true contentment. I do not know how to be truly content.
c,
you have taught me to read the Psalms. that helps me. maybe it will help the others.
g
There is truth in that we need to be content with circumstances that we deem "negative" solely because they do not go the way WE intended them to go; however, I think there is also another side to that argument where we are not to be content. We are not to be content when the souls around us are on a steady path to destruction, we are not to be content in "settling" for things when God has so much better for us (i.e. a girlfriend/boyfriend), we are not to be content with the way this kingdom is being run until the True King comes to retake control. When it comes to worldly things like possessions, friendships, jobs...etc., then yes, we are to be content.
True contentment can help us have the courage to move forward, take new steps, and venture into new lands. It helps us examine our motives and pursure proper goals. As we find it, we cannot choose to do nothing in this life. We must be world-changers for God.
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