Christian Contentment

But 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 raiment let us be therewith content. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

The Christian life is a challenging life. Although there are many outward tribulations and trials in it, a lot of the time we face ourselves fighting the old man.

Contentment, I would say, is by far one of the greatest struggles many Christians nowadays face, and unfortunately most of the time are not aware that there is a real battle going on in this area of our lives.

This past week I was again challenged by the word of God on the standards I take for my own living. Is it really necessary to take such pains to achieve or have the things which we consider “ necessary”? -that was my question, then - “ What is really “necessary” ? I was in confusion.

Well, In this week’s devotionals, the command was: Beware of Covetousness!

I just went through some of the emails and was "pretty okay", thinking I wouldn’t have much trouble with it, then I got to the part of the character quality: Contentment. That was tricky!

I have “ studied” contentment before and have done much progress since then. But seeing this quality  explained again at the light of Scriptures and by the very words of our Lord Jesus Christ, has caused me to reconsider my standards on it. 

The word of God describes our needs as: Eat and Clothing. The Lord Jesus talks about having two coats only (Matthew 10:9-10). Hum, talk about challenging.

I was thinking, what is the meaning of carrying only two coats?
Is it to show how pious and simple Christianity is when we go sharing the gospel?
or could the whole point be that if we are risen with Christ, our only focus in this live IS the things which are above ( Col 3:1,2,3,4)?
(...)
All this things ( feeding, drinking and clothing ) shall be added unto us (Mat 6:33). 

To live for Christ is to lay down our cares and worries and take upon ourselves the real things we should be occupying our minds and time with.

Prestige, recognition, accomplishments, are not really necessary to live for Christ. I will never forget what I once heard in a sermon some time ago:

It is not great talents that God uses, but great likenesses to Jesus.

We forget that the way we chose is a narrow way, and that means we can bring very little with us, or we are in danger of “not fitting” into our Master’s highway.

We forget that “ where our treasure is, there our heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).

We forget that as much as our life is a life of "exchanges and transactions"; we will HAVE TO suffer the loss of many things that we may win Christ (Phil 3:8).

We forget that God has given all we possibly need to our present living and will add whatever we can possibly have necessity of in our future and eternity.

...Back to expecting great things out of this life....

If we expect from possessions or people what only God can give, we turn them into idols in our lives and become guilty of idolatry.We are also rendered unable to do our Lord’s service as we will be too busy, wasting our time on our “wants" rather than what will bring glory to our Lord.

If we desire what God has not given to us but what He has given to others, we are guilty of coveting.

How many times we conform (Romans 12:2) to this world just because we assume that what they are living for, are the things we should also be living for? Then we plead to God: "Lord give us this, it is so necessary!" Is it really necessary, or merely something I want?

May the Lord give us a heart that rejoices in things that money cannot buy:

 Health, freedom, a good name, a clear conscience and eternal salvation.

Solo Christo