Examine yourself - Contentment 001

I'm beginning a series on Contentment.  Why"  Well because "things" are tough for a lot of us right now and if you're like Patti and I, it's is really easy to get bogged down in them.  I'm not writing form some ivory tower but from the trenches where "hand to mouth," is a very  uncomfortable reality.  We are struggling on living "God to mouth," and it's tough - contentment is a real challenge.

Examine yourself - Contentment  001

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  (Philippians 4:11-13 ESV)

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.   (1 Timothy 6:6-8 ESV)

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" 

(Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV)

One of the signs of our maturing in the faith is contentment.  I don't know about you - but for me that's a tough one.  From my studies I see contentment as the resulting sense or composure of trusting in God's goodness and the goodness of His providence.

If you read the verse above closely it is obvious that what battles against contentment is - well - stuff.  By stuff I mean everything in this world from food to all that neat goodies.  Regardless of the stuff we look at (food or cultural signs of prosperity) contentment is tough.

Contentment is not just sucking it up and carrying on.  There is a definitive element of satisfaction in true contentment.  It's a "This is fine," perspective on our present conditions and provision.  Like I said, it's tough.

Of course the clearest demonstration of the lack of contentment is seen in Israel's exodus from Egypt.  Once they were out they immediately began to grumble and mummer against God.  Basically they felt that all He had done was not sufficient for them to trust Him and they didn't see what He was doing as "good enough."

They "murmured," or "grumbled," against God and His provision.

They were DIS-contented.  Discontent has within it elements of bitterness and anger so we may assume that contentment is, at least in part, an absence of bitterness and anger.

But here's my conundrum.  I find that event though I don't express bitterness and anger at God's provision I am still anxious and fretful about it.  I also have to admit that when His provision is not what I wanted or expected I fall into a rather grudging "suck it up and take it," mode.

What I want to do is to live with praise and thanksgiving in my heart for what He has given me right now.  That is number one.  Then, number two is to joyfully and expectantly look forward to whatever He has for me in tomorrow.  

I find the worst word that can com to my mind is, "but."  

BUT;

It's not what I wanted

It's not what I expected

It's not what I needed

It's no what "I" ---------

BUT:

Will He provide for this need I know it coming and what do I do if He doesn't?

Will He give enough?

Will He determine that I am to go through a trial concerning this?

Then there are all the possible negative scenarios that may result.  Then there are all the possible ways I can fix it.  The there are all the reasons that He should just ell me that I made my bed and I'll have to lie in it - alone.  Then there are all the reasons I know I don't deserve for Him to do anything.

Yeah, it kind of snowballs in your head and weighs heavily on your heart.  

Working backwards, the passage from Hebrews is a help.  The writer begins with the admonition to, "Keep your life free from love of money,"  Nice translation but a little short.  Actually the word means "unavoritious," or "un-coveting."  of course the idea is to not love money but it is bigger - much bigger than that.

Money is a means - a means of power and a means of provision.  This is why Jesus tells us we can either love Mammon (money) or God but not both.  We can get want we want and need via money (a mere means)- or we can get what we truly need (wants are another matter) from God.

Here's the conflict.  Money I can "get" or God I must trust.

So this is where we begin - hope you'll follow along!

This and That Discontent’s Downfall 091712

No: a mourner in Zion you may and ought to be, but a self-tormentor you must not be; complain to God you may, but complain of God (though but by the language of your actions) you must not.  Flavel, John (2010-08-03). Keeping the Heart (Kindle Locations 465-466).  . Kindle Edition.

“If God is sovereign, why did He let this happen?”  The answer is, “Yes, God is sovereign.”

I once thought I was the sun and all the planets – everything revolved around me.  I believed that I should have what I wanted, when I wanted it and how I wanted it.  I really believed I knew what was best for me.

Then the Spirit healed my blindness and I saw the depth of my sin and the greatness of my need.  I also saw the glory of the grace which God was pouring out to me in His Son.

And then, in Christ:

I thought, “in Christ,” I was the sun and all the planets – everything revolved around me.  I believed that I should have what I wanted, when I wanted it and how I wanted it.  I really believed I knew what was best for me.

It is a long journey from “Jesus saved ME,” to “God is sovereign. “ It is a long journey from “I am His,” to “He is sovereign.”  It is a long journey from, “My way,” to “His will.”  It is a long journey from “Yeah me,” to “such worm as I.”

Along the way there was a period of self-judgment and self-condemnation, a period of puffed-upends, a period of apathy, a period of great but meaningless activity, and of course trials and tests and tribulations.

I was grateful to be saved but not grateful enough to submit.  I wanted to be a better “me,” and did not even consider being a better, “His.” 

As you may well imagine, when “my” fancies and imaginations where not met I doubted Him.  When tough times came I blamed Him.  When I was thwarted he was the enemy.

Then it became a matter of thinking that I was not doing enough.  Though my salvation was free everything else came with a price.  He was making it too hard, He was demanding too much.  He was unfair.

If there is a “hell on earth,” both of the above conditions were it.

So I know what it are to be a “self-tormenter,” and a “complainer of God.”  Trust me – you don’t want to go either place and if you find you are there, you need to leave.

So what changed?  I don’t know if I can pin-point it exactly.  Perhaps it was a series of things but two verses are now important to me.

1Pe 2:12  Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

And

1Pe 4:16  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

Also the Reformation motto, “Soli Deo Gloria,” “To God only be glory,” have helped me reorient my mind and heart.

Oh, I still struggle with complaining and self-condemnation but I take it to Him and confess it and ask for His power to relieve and reject it.

I also changed a lot of what I let into my mind and heart.  I used to read a lot of fiction which only served to incite my “me-ness.”  I used to watch a lot of action movies but they just made me want to be my own hero.  I used to listen to a lot of conservative radio but that just took my focus off of Him.  I used to have a lot of, “I wish I was……….,” but that just made me discontented.

Now I read a lot of the classic works by the Puritan, now I study the Word and sometimes I just wander through it for fun.  I don’t watch many movies and TV is not much of a draw for me. 

In moving into and through these changes I’ve found a new dis-content.  I am dis-content with the world and the flesh and the devil.  Many of their offerings that I once thought insignificant are now absolute dangers.  Many of their offerings now leave me flat.  I find it hard to get “fired-up,” about many of the things about which I used to get, “fired up.”

Instead of becoming self-tormenting I am self-examining.  Instead of being a complainer of God, I am a complainer to God. 

Yes, it is a struggle.  The “old man” still wants his say and his way.  But the questions, “Does this glorify God?” and “Would this lead a “gentile” (unbeliever) to glorify God on the day?” play a greater role in my thinking, feeling and choosing.

Also, knowing that I am for God alone but not alone for God is a great blessing.  I have brothers and sister throughout the world who have greater cause to struggle even complain and question than I ever will.  Focusing my heart, mind and prayers on them does much to get my mind and heart and prayers off of me.

As Patti and I pass through our current speed-bump we are learning more about Him, more about His providence and most of all more about ourselves.  We are learning how to not torment ourselves for our sins but to rely upon His grace to forgive and His power to overcome.  We are learning to complain to God is  a humble and submissive way seeking first an appreciation for all He has done and then patience to wait upon what he is doing.