CONTENTMENT Have you noticed the word "contentment" seems to have little to no place in today's vocabulary? I am sorry to say it seems to be a dying ideology in our church teachings, as well. Some friends and I have been meeting for a weekly Bible study leading up to the celebration of Resurrection Day. At one of those meetings, we were discussing the pull of the world. I am not talking about outright sin. Hebrews 12:1 advises us to “lay aside every weight.” When we deal with everyday earthly business, it carries weight. It carries thorns which are the cares of the world choking out the seed of the Word of God (see Mark 4:19). We become distracted to pay attention to what happens in our world rather than the spiritual aspect of our daily routine. I believe that has played a role in causing us to become a society that is discontent with most things. If we have to sit ten minutes in a fast-food drive-thru, we become impatient. Impatience is most certainly a product of discontent. What kind of world do we live in when life is never fast enough to suit us. We wish one day away to get to the next. Before we know it, weeks, months, and even years have passed...leaving us feeling life is slipping away. Yet, we continue to hurry it along. Yep, our lifestyles today have no place for contentment. We must work longer to have what we never needed to begin with. We channel flip to find that even more entertaining television show. We are on our electronics while indulging in television. The money spent on weddings and Christmas is beyond comprehension. It is truly easy to see the discontent we have bred in our children. They play some new video game for a few days to only want the next one which comes out. Oh, they will just die if they do not have it; but it only holds their interest for a very short time. Fashion has become way too important to them as well, even at a very young age. "Fads" have definitely helped to create a discontent generation. They must have the latest brand name shoes or jeans. This then pressures the parents to provide what they cannot afford so the child will not be laughed at or feel outcast. Isn't it a little frightening? If we as adults are never satisfied, what condition are today's children going to be in when they reach adulthood? Yesterday, a reel popped up in my Facebook feed. It was from a page titled Armor up Kids. This kid was discussing Philippians 2:14, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings.” He discussed how grumbling can be a product of discontentment and lack of gratitude. Both his video, and our Bible study discussion prompted me to write this today. Old Testament Israel gave us a prime example of discontentment and it's results. It is such an important lesson to us today, the Lord addresses it in the New Testament. I Corinthians 10:1ff, shows how God supplied spiritual food (manna) for them, spiritual water (from the rock), yet; "nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased...now these things happened as examples for us that we should not...grumble as some of them did and were destroyed by the destroyer." I agree with the kid in the video, grumbling is certainly a byproduct of discontentment. Israel, while wandering through the wilderness, was given miracle after miracle; but it was never enough. Let things get a little boring, or even somewhat difficult, and they were ready to turn back to the enemy for their provision. The same enemy who enslaved them, beat them, made their lives miserable and would not even let them celebrate their God. In their forty years of wandering, God had to punish them ten times. Of those ten accounts, seven were due to grumbling. I would say Israel was having a problem being content. Well guess what, we are all the worse! We are not living in tents in the wilderness. We are not walking. We are not even eating manna as our only food. We are in the lap of luxury compared to Israel, yet we grumble every day. MYSELF INCLUDED! Believe me, to write this, meant I had to first study it for myself. It is painful, but the Truth shall make us free! When John the Baptist was preaching repentance, the Roman soldiers asked what they could do. John had a simple answer..."do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages." Wow, these are the same soldiers who terrorized the Jewish people, who held them captive. Yet, one third of John's answer was for them to be content with the wages the Roman government gave them. That addressed their own hearts, not how they treated others. In fact, it had nothing to do with their relationship with God's people at all. I ask, are you content with your wages? We want to live for Jesus. Can we do this one simple thing? I used to work for a nonprofit Christian Drug Rehabilitation program. My beginning salary was $200.00 per month. (I was also given room and board.) That was before taxes. This seems more shocking when you realize that I have a B.S. degree in Psychology and was the only qualified counselor at the center. There were employees paid much less than I. We used to sit around and joke about how much an hour each of our wages came to. Some were three cents. One night, the Lord told me to stop indulging in this type conversation. He said, very clearly, "when you become content with the salary you make now; then, and only then, will I increase it..” The next time this issue arose, I told my co-workers what God had spoken to me. I then removed myself from the room so I would not be tempted to "chime in". Within two weeks, I was promoted to Program Administrator, only second to the Directors. I worked there for three years. When I left, I was making $500.00 per month plus room and board. This may not seem like much, but it is a 150% increase, and I had no debt. It seemed like a fortune considering I had paid off a car and a student loan during my time at this ministry. Paul addresses our need for contentment in I Timothy 6. Let's look first at v.6, "But godliness is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment." Hopefully, we as Christians, are striving for godliness. If so, we need a good understanding of this verse. I studied the Strong's Concordance, Lexicon Aid, and Webster's Dictionary to find the following as a clarification of what God was telling us through Paul: "But godliness (piety or devotion toward God of which the principle foundation is the whole of true religion) is a means of great gain (furnishing, procuring, i.e. moneygetting, acquisition) when accompanied by contentment (self-satisfaction)." Ah-hah, this seems to contradict itself. If I have a desire to attain money, then I obviously am discontented. How can we deny the Truth of that statement. Let's do some housework. Let's clean up this confusion by backing up to the previous verses to get the crux of the whole Truth. Start with I Timothy 6:3ff. Paul warns against advocating any doctrine different from that of Jesus' concerning godliness. Whoever does advocate such doctrines is "conceited and understands nothing." He goes on to say how such a one indulges in controversy giving rise to envy, strife, etc. One such person causes "friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain." Yes, he is saying, if our godliness is a means to gain money or acquire things; then we are conceited, understand nothing, of a depraved mind, and deprived of Truth. Strong Words from the inspiration of a Strong God! We may try to fool ourselves into believing we are not like that; BUT remember, our Lord looks at the intent of our hearts. We cannot fool Him. Our pulpits are full of this depraved teaching. Give to get. What happened to giving to God just to show our love for Him. This concept is destroying marriages. People are looking to their spouse to fulfill their emotional/physical "needs". This creates discontent with one’s spouse. Of course, Paul does not stop here. In v.8, he continues, "And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction." Now, I am going to continue the next verse by once again expounding on the translation. "For the love of money (avarice, greedy desire for wealth, retaining that which one has by accumulation and to multiply it) is a root of all sorts of evil and some by longing for it, wandered away (erred, were led astray, strayed from the Truth, were seduced) from the faith and pierced themselves with many a pang (sorrow). But flee (shun, run away) from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance (remember: impatience is product of discontentment) and gentleness. Philippians 4 is another place Paul addresses our need for contentment. Vs.11-12, "...for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances ... See Signs of Life - Page 15 GLAD TIDINGS 7 APRIL 2026 Signs of Life from The King's Highway Evangelistic Ministries SARA GOLDSTEIN
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