Contentment...
Because of the nature of my job right now I haven't been able to regularly attend church. But as my schedule would have it, this last Sunday I got to go...and it was like God hand-picked the sermon just for me. For the first time in quite a while the message struck every chord in my body.
I have heard several sermons in my day on the topic of contentment - specifically coming out of Philippians 4. But this sermon was different. It wasn't vague. It didn't leave me feeling like there was something wrong with me because I haven't felt content in a while. And I feel one of the most remarkable things about this sermon is that it was given by a man who would have every reason in the world to be discontent with the twists and turns his life had taken him, but there was a glow in his eyes that said, "Those things aren't going to keep me down."
A few things that I learned about contentment...
1. Contentment is a LEARNED state (Philippians 4:11). That's right. It's not given. Nobody OWES you contentment in your life. It is a DECISION that you make for your life. It is a decision to be at peace with where you are and who you are in Christ.
2. Contentment is NOT found in circumstances. You got a promotion at work? So what...the contentment that you feel because of it is only temporary because sooner or later you're going to want another one. Contentment is not about what we do or do not possess. It is an attitude of gratitude. GO...RIGHT NOW...and listen to "Gratitude" by Nichole Nordeman and you'll see what I'm talking about.
3. Contentment is learning to appreciate what we have in Jesus Christ alone. Compared to knowing Christ, everything else is rubbish.
A few ways on how to be content...
1. REFUSE to compare yourself with others. There is always going to be someone who you feel is better than you, smarter than you, prettier than you. God made you the way you are and that should be good enough for you because He doesn't make mistakes.
2. Accept people the way they are and not as you would like them to be. You, me, my mom, your sister, we are all being transformed into the likeness of Christ and that is a process. It doesn't happen overnight.
3. Learn to act better than you feel. Let your mind and not your emotions control your behavior. It's like Tom Buchanan always said in choir, "You have to make the decision to smile even if you don't want to because the emotions will soon follow." Alcoholics Anonymous has a saying "Fake it 'til you make it." "Be patient and stand firm" (James 5:8).
I have been meditating the last couple of days on this subject and I have to admit that it is hard. There are so many excuses I could make for not being content, but none of them hold firm against the truth that God has given me. So hard as it has been, it has been a peaceful couple of days and my heart is at rest.
I have heard several sermons in my day on the topic of contentment - specifically coming out of Philippians 4. But this sermon was different. It wasn't vague. It didn't leave me feeling like there was something wrong with me because I haven't felt content in a while. And I feel one of the most remarkable things about this sermon is that it was given by a man who would have every reason in the world to be discontent with the twists and turns his life had taken him, but there was a glow in his eyes that said, "Those things aren't going to keep me down."
A few things that I learned about contentment...
1. Contentment is a LEARNED state (Philippians 4:11). That's right. It's not given. Nobody OWES you contentment in your life. It is a DECISION that you make for your life. It is a decision to be at peace with where you are and who you are in Christ.
2. Contentment is NOT found in circumstances. You got a promotion at work? So what...the contentment that you feel because of it is only temporary because sooner or later you're going to want another one. Contentment is not about what we do or do not possess. It is an attitude of gratitude. GO...RIGHT NOW...and listen to "Gratitude" by Nichole Nordeman and you'll see what I'm talking about.
3. Contentment is learning to appreciate what we have in Jesus Christ alone. Compared to knowing Christ, everything else is rubbish.
A few ways on how to be content...
1. REFUSE to compare yourself with others. There is always going to be someone who you feel is better than you, smarter than you, prettier than you. God made you the way you are and that should be good enough for you because He doesn't make mistakes.
2. Accept people the way they are and not as you would like them to be. You, me, my mom, your sister, we are all being transformed into the likeness of Christ and that is a process. It doesn't happen overnight.
3. Learn to act better than you feel. Let your mind and not your emotions control your behavior. It's like Tom Buchanan always said in choir, "You have to make the decision to smile even if you don't want to because the emotions will soon follow." Alcoholics Anonymous has a saying "Fake it 'til you make it." "Be patient and stand firm" (James 5:8).
I have been meditating the last couple of days on this subject and I have to admit that it is hard. There are so many excuses I could make for not being content, but none of them hold firm against the truth that God has given me. So hard as it has been, it has been a peaceful couple of days and my heart is at rest.
