Contentment

As the end of 2014 approaches and we move into 2015, I wonder if we will be grateful. I also wonder if we will be content. You see, these two, gratefulness and contentment, are connected. Contentment flows out of gratefulness.

We have forgotten that the archenemy of gratefulness is discontentment. Remember the quote from a couple of weeks ago:

"Our fall was, has always been, and always will be, that we are not satisfied in God and what He gives. We hunger for something more, something other." - Ann Voskamp, "One Thousand Gifts"

Our discontentment grows when we allow two specific attitudes to be a part of our thinking. They are: COMPARISON and ENTITLEMENT. I could expound on this point, but my wife, Angela, has done a wonderful job handling this in one of her recent blog posts (you can read it here). She summed it up by stating:

"When we compare with others, we give room for entitlement to grow in our hearts, which then gives birth to discontentment which will eventually take up every inch of space leaving no room for gratitude." - Angela Burtis, "For Love Of Words", November 18, 2014

Notice with me these Biblical reminders:

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we will take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with may griefs." 1 Timothy 6:6-10

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because the Lord has said, ' Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" - Hebrews 13:5-6

"I am not saying this because I am 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 of 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 him who gives me strength." - Philippians 4:11-13

It is interesting that contentment is NOT natural, rather it is learned. The Apostle Paul told us that this was something that he had to learn. Throughout his journey, with all of his experiences, he learned the secret of contentment.

And just like him, we need to learn that we begin with nothing and we end with nothing. Through our times of need and in our times of plenty we will learn about contentment. We need to learn that God is always with us, He is always helping us and that He always meets our needs. And ultimately we need to learn to keep our desires in check.

I pray that the year ahead will be one of gratefulness and contentment!