The Reality of Contentment

Note: The following was written as a follow-up to a sermon on contentment on July 21, 2019.

In our recent sermons series on the Lord’s Prayer we considered how Jesus taught His disciples to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.”

We reflected on the way that God had fed Israel in the wilderness with manna (daily bread) and concluded that for us to sincerely pray for ’daily bread’ we must acknowledge...

• That God provides;
• That we are dependent on God; and
• Our contentment with God’s provision.

After being freed from Egyptian slavery the nation of Israel grumbled, a sign of discontentment, because they preferred the variety and quantity of food they enjoyed in Egypt. God then provided them manna to see if they would trust him. For forty years they had no variety and had enough, but only enough for each family member for each day. (Read Exodus 16.)

Contentment accepts the current circumstances without grumbling. However, contentment does not promote apathy or laziness. It is fine to set goals and strive for excellence. Competition and work hard are good. The question is, “What is your attitude with the outcome of each day?”

Do you remember Job’s reaction to the calamity in his life? After losing family, servants, and flocks and herds…

He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
—Job 1:21

When Job was overcome with sores his wife encouraged him to “Curse God and die!” Yet Job responded:

“Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” 
—Job 2:10

Job was in physical misery and devastated over the tremendous loss he had experienced. Yet, he accepted his circumstances: Contentment.

Israel was not in that kind of misery when they grumbled for a greater variety and quantity of food. In all likelihood, YOU are not experiencing circumstances like those of Job either.

What was Job’s secret to accepting his circumstances?
He didn’t think God or anyone else owed him anything. He embraced reality.
So, let me ask…
For all of who were born in the United States and enjoy the privileges and the rights afforded by the constitution...did you DESERVE to be born in the U.S.?

My simple point is this: Neither you nor your parents had any control over you being who you are. Yes, they shaped your character, as did your environment and other things. But the soul that exists in your skin with your consciousness, how did it end up in your home, in this country? The brutal reality is that you deserve nothing just because you were born in the U.S. or because you were born with the parents you have, or anything else.

Grumbling is just another way to mask a self-centered attitude. Discontentment is another face crying out for entitlement: “It’s not fair!”

Contentment is all about learning how to live without PRIDE in nationality, race, sex, wealth, education, athleticism, family pedigree, school colors, age or anything else. Contentment is about accepting where and when you were born and the place you now live; it’s accepting life in your own skin...right now.

Without contentment you will surely be consumed with self. Humble contentment is the gateway to love and service.

Choose contentment!

Mark Stinnett