Are You Content?

We have a great Friday morning group that gets together for breakfast and conversation. We do read and study, but at times the conversation takes a path toward many different issues. Recently, we were discussing faith and the topic of being content in life’s circumstances came up.

I don’t think I added any real value to the conversation, but it did cause me to think, to study about this and to pray. We talked a lot about how difficult it is to be content with our desires to do more and be better. We talked about being content should be easy given the blessing we have. We talked about learning to appreciate what is “really” important in life.

What troubles me is that our discussion should have gone a little further. Philippians 4:11-13 reminds us;

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 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. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

As I thought about our discussion I realized that as we discussed contentment it seemed to focus on things – plenty of things. In this land of plenty it seems as if our contentment hinged on cars, houses, jobs. It appears that the object of our contentment is askew. I believe Calvin once said “our hearts/minds are perpetual forges of idols.” So with our broken natures it is easy to have very material objects of contentment and therein lies the problem. We must ask ourselves what is the object of our contentment. Could the object or our contentment be the secret that Paul spoke of in Philippians?

So for us to be truly content in this world perhaps we need to change our focus. Tullian Tchividjian in his new book “Jesus + Nothing = Everything” challenges us;

“So I urge you once more: examine yourself. Dissect your heart. Recognize reality. What are you looking to (instead of Jesus) for meaning in life, for purpose, significance, security, direction, acceptance, approval? Ask yourself the same bold and probing question that Leo Tolstoy famously asked: “Is there any meaning in my life that the inevitable death awaiting me does not destroy?” What are you living for? What are you depending on to provide the freedom, worth, and value that you crave? The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.”

So from this we can take that if we are looking to objects as the secret of being content we will never get there. There will always be more objects, more stuff, more money. We must examine our hearts; we must focus on Christ as the object of our contentment. Then and only then can we rest and truly be content. Does that mean that we should never strive for better; no! It means we should look to Christ in all of life’s circumstances as the source of contentment. We should treasure Christ above all treasure as the one that by His work has sacrificed all that we might have true contentment and security; that we might have an eternal relationship as an adopted child of God. Amen!

Hebrews 13:5 says:

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

How comforting, how encouraging, how hopeful! Thank you Jesus that by your work on the cross we can be content, we can rest in your almighty arms, we can know what is truly important, we can love you and love others. We can know that you will never leave us or forsake us.

Grace and Peace!

Broken Bones

I have a friend who recently went through some trying times. Demands from work, health concerns just scratch the surface and can’t we all relate? I have recently struggled with a severe flare-up of arthritis in my knee. So severe that my wonderful wife had to help me with my socks and while it I am much better now when struggling through these times it can be tough.

Recently I was reading Psalm 34 and this just seemed to offer great relief;

19 The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; 
20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

It comforts me when I think from an eternal perspective, when I see with eyes of faith. Those that know me know that I read a bunch of Charles Spurgeon’s writings; anything I can find! Spurgeon was known as the Prince of Preachers and offers great insight on many things. Spurgeon also suffered with many health issues, as did his wife. It is believed that Spurgeon suffered from lung and kidney disease, arthritis, and depression while his wife was so ill she was confined to the house much of their married life.

Of these verses Spurgeon writes:

"This is great comfort to a tried child of God, and comfort which I dare accept, for up to this hour have offered no real damage from my many afflictions. I have neither lost faith, nor hope, nor love. Nay, so far from losing these bones of character, they have gained in strength and energy. I have more knowledge, more experience, more patience, more stability than I had before the trials came. Not even my joy has been destroyed. Many a bruise have I had by sickness, bereavement, depression, slander and opposition, but the bruise has healed. The reason is not far to seek. If we trust in the Lord, He keeps all our bones; and if He keeps them, we may be sure that not one of them is broken. Come my heart, do not sorrow. There are no bones broken. Endure hardness, and bid defiance to fear."

Lord, thank you that you are our God and we can trust you in all things; thank you that we can trust and take comfort that even in our trying times you are there to protect our very bones. Amen.

Grace and Peace!

A New Year; A New Command

Happy New Year!

People sometimes start each new year with a list of resolutions – a list of things we are going to try and be better at; lose weight, exercise more, be a better friend and the list could go on. I know that when I try this by February I have usually forgotten these resolutions. How about you?

I looked the word resolution up and found this definition; a course of action determined or decided on…I kind of like that. This definition has caused me to ponder. What will 2012 bring? What course of action will I take?

I was reading and came across John 13:34…

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

That is a powerful statement when you think about who said it and that he says it from a position of loving us despite all our broken resolutions; despite our shortcomings,he loves us still! Amen.

Wouldn’t that make a wonderful resolution for us all? If we could just love each other a little more this year, what would the results look like? Would we be better fathers, mothers, friends? Would there be less suffering and anger? We can only imagine unless…

Father God, this new year help us all to love one another. May your Spirit move us to love and love just as Christ loved us. Father, this is my prayer for 2012 and I pray this in the precious name of Jesus Christ; Amen and Amen!

Grace and Peace!