July 17th, 2005
Today marks halfway through my summer break. I was pondering some of the things I’ve gotten to do so far and looking forward to the things that are yet to come before I head back to the office. Some of the things I wanted to do were replaced by the unexpected, but I also did things I hadn’t planned that I enjoyed. Some highlights of my summer so far include endless reading and napping, seeing the red tide in Southern California, painting my end tables with my mom, lunches with Missy, starting a girls Bible study, Mario Kart and visiting our family in Texas. I’m thankful for the time I’ve had off from work so far and am excitedly anticipating the month and a half I have left.
Tonight at the girls Bible studywe were confronted to take our desires and discontent seriously. I shared some thoughts on contentment from 1 Timothy which says:
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world,
And it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and clothing,
with these things we shall be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare,
and into many foolish and harmful lusts
which drown men into destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil,
for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness,
and pierced themselves through many sorrows.
But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience gentleness.
Fight the good fight of faith.”
1 Timothy 6:6-12
As I read this passage and shared with the girls I realized that contentment is a revealing and substantial topic for most everyone. We all took a little quiz that asked questions such as, “Have you complained this week?”, “Do you ever worry about your future?” and “Do you ever feel inwardly jealous when else gets something you want but can’t afford?” These questions and the many verses we studied showed us pretty quickly that we are prone to having ungrateful and self-centered hearts. Maybe we aren’t all greedily swept away by our love for money, but it isn’t hard to see that we are swept away by many other things. Our love of all things that are not the Lord lead is into so much evil and harmful temptations and lusts. We often do not trust that God is working things rightly or that we are getting our due. We worry about our needs being met and envy others for their family, circumstances, popularity, appearance or possessions.
I started thinking how sad this situation of discontent really is in light of the magnitude of the sacrifice for our salvation. Christ has given us life and yet we want so many other things. It’s almost as though He is not enough for us. I was convicted to see that discontent even in my own heart is due to an improper focus on the physical temporary things of this world rather than the spiritual reality of the fight of faith. I like how Missy encouraged me by saying that it isn’t that we are stuck in our discontent, contentment is a mindset. Being convicted of this sin we can choose to think and respond differently on matters of contentment by trusting God’s will, seeking “first His kingdom“(Matthew 6: 33) and being diligent to obey the things He has set before us in His Word. We can discipline our thoughts to find ultimate joy in God and learn to get over ourselves by focusing our lives on others in service and ministry.
You are the only one I need
I bow all of me at Your feet
I worship You alone
You have given me more than I could ever have wanted
I want to give you my heart and my soul
For You alone are Father
And You alone are good
You alone are Savior
And You alone are God
July 18th, 2005
Yesterday both Sunday School and the sermon talked about thankfulness. Bruce said that wen we are complaining or discontent we are calling God and His goodness into question. That really struck me because complaining is practically the American pastime. And in the summer Texas weather it comes so naturally. I have been challenged again to “in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess 5:18)
July 18th, 2005
Sis-
Thanks for the great entry on contentment. I was particularly encouraged/exhorted by the 1 Timothy verses. The awesome thing is that when we flee from our sin and purse righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness, we find that contentment we were looking for. I’m glad your summer is going great!
-Ben
July 18th, 2005
I’m so glad to see you back, Christa!
I am getting better at contentment, but it’s definitely a process. It’s so easy thing that our discontent is a desire for things to be better, but then we need to ask ourselves “better for whom?”
July 19th, 2005
Staying content is hard. Some people will try to just make crazy instead of staying content, mix things up so they don’t have time to be uncontent. I think that Christians do that, too. At my x-youth group there were kids that were always doing thing like summer camps (multiple) and volunteer work and worship band without ever sitting down and just being content with God. At our lowest, I think that we should be, at the very least, hopeful that God will be good and recollective of God’s goodness. I hope that some day thats the lowest I can go.
Anyway, great post Christa! Seeya at 9:30 sharp, Major! haha.
July 20th, 2005
great post. i liked Drew’s comment. I see that kind of business all around me. how can we change this culture?
July 21st, 2005
hey,
I think that it can be changed by focus. That group was more focused on getting people involved and saved. Maybe through edification and by keeping it real with ourselves and God with whats going on in our hearts and minds we can and teach about God’s nature, and not just his goodness or his works.
You’re studying youth ministry? I recommend that you stay really sharp on the facts of life and just reality with the kids you teach. Don’t let them do the ’spiritual high’ thing, and then be discontenyt all year ’round.