Content–Be Quiet, not disturbed. Having a mind at peace with God’s unfolding plan. Easy and satisfied so as not to object or oppose His will. 1828 Webster’s
Last week in our Monday evening small group we were discussing the sins we purposely feed to fill the insatiable lusts of the flesh. We began to identify the sins we feed: anger, lust, lying, gossip, apathy, and pride to name a few. However, we all agreed that the “Gateway Sin” that leads to these in majority of our lives is Discontentment. We are not satisfied with where our lives are or where they are going. We are discontent with our marriages, our families, our jobs, our faith…and the list continues.
When we feed this “discontent” in our lives, this sin of selfishness, we launch towards other sins and begin to feed those as well. We are discontent with our spouse so we seek out others who will satisfy the selfish desires of our flesh. We are discontent with the way our life is going so we get angry at that life and our anger becomes the character that everyone sees. We are discontent with our character and we begin to gossip or spread little white lies to make our character look better than those we speak about. We are discontent with God and we pull further away from His word and His truth. Remember, Lucifer was discontent with his position in Heaven and thus pride took control of him.
So now that we have defined discontent, how do we turn from sin and turn to God? First and foremost, turn to God. Spend time in prayer, spend time in His word, spend time with those who are daily seeking to grow in an intimate relationship with Christ. Begin to own what Paul teaches us in his letter to the church at Philippi. “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:4-7 Notice that we are to rejoice IN the Lord: His presence, His love, in Him. We are to be in prayer and daily communication with God through His Word. His peace, God’s Peace, will guard and protect our hearts and mind from discontent.
However, this takes action on our part. We must choose to seek Him with all of our heart mind and soul. We must daily practice the Truth and step towards Christ. It is during that journey that we will learn to be content in Christ and Christ only.
Paul begins to close his letter to the church at Philippi with words of contentment, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Phil 4:11-13
Seek God to reveal to you your discontentment today and begin to seek Him first daily to be filled with His Peace.
A Growing Bond-Servant of Christ,
Joe
PURSUIT OF MARRIAGE 