CONTENT OR DISCONTENT - IN WHICH TENT DO YOU LIVE? #1

Out of 100 recent Harvard graduates, 3 out of 4 revealed they were discontented! They said in a survey that life is characterized by futility and despair. Not long ago, a mental health survey was given and the shocking result was that only 20 percent of Americans enjoy life. Not only that, but the survey indicated that one out of seven Americans require psychological counseling before the age of 40. Every year in the United States, hundreds of thousands of youth run away from home; close to 50,000 people commit suicide, and nearly 1 million marriages end in divorce.

I don't think it can be successfully debated that a high level of discontent exists among people; and surprisingly even many followers of Jesus would, if truth be told, admit to being discontented. Many suffer from what I call the "If Only Syndrome." If only I had a better job, If only we had a bigger house, If only we could buy a newer car, If only our kids weren't so unruly, If only my husband/wife would be more. . . . . .(you fill in the blank), If only we could move to another city, If only I could retire, and on and on and on the "If Onlys" Go. . .THEN I'd be content! Rev. Charles Swindoll once said, "Many people, including Christians, live with a "Someday Mentality" meaning someday I'll be content."

Contentment in life is at times difficult to experience. First, let's consider three things that it is NOT!

1) Contentment is not CONTAINING MY EMOTIONS! It is not living in a state of denial or holding my emotions inside, just keeping silent or being "numb" to feelings.

2) Contentment is not MAINTAINING MY PRESENT SITUATION! This means that maintaining the "status quo" is not the solution to being discontented! This effort is like saying, I'm not making much progress, but I am well established." Or, "it could be worse, I guess."

3) Contentment is not ATTAINING MORE POSSESSIONS! John D. Rockefeller tried to answer the question, "What does it take to make a person happy?" His response was, "a little more than he already has." Really?

All three of the above options are empty and worthless in finding the joy of being contented. The Apostle Paul testified, ". . .for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances 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 of going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need" (Philippians 4:11-12). We'll explore this testimony further later. But for now, let me illustrate.

Everyone lives in one of two tents - Content or Discontent! In which tent do you live?

a) The contented person looks beyond his circumstances and sees a better day ahead.

b) The discontented person sees his circumstances and believes there is no other way. He has a "clinker in his thinker!" (See my previous blog on that subject.)

c) The contented person understands the purpose for which he was born.

d) The discontented person looks at others' success with a face that is filled with scorn or covetousness.

e) The contented individual has surrendered to a purpose that demands his best in attitude and action.

f) The discontented person has selfishly hoarded much and yet continues to grasp for more and better things and will not rest without them.

g) The one who is content is anchored to clear goals, hardly swayed and exercises patience.

h) The discontented person has no goals that serve as an anchor and is often dismayed, discouraged, disillusioned and defeated in attitude and action.

i) The contented person seriously considers his blessings with a spirit of thanksgiving and praise to God.

j) The discontented individual notices others' blessings, craves his own, but believes he has no enjoyment in life. These illustrations beg the question, In Which Tent Do You and I Live In?

Webster's Dictionary defines contentment as being "happy enough with what one has or is, not desiring something more or different; being satisfied." Here is my simple definition, "A confidence that I measure up to any situation I am facing because of the resources of strength that God truly continues to make readily available to me."

There is a strong relationship between confidence and contentment. Here is a brief formula for looking at the secret of attaining contentment with confidence:

ATTITUDE plus ACTION equals ADEQUACY! THE THREE A'S!

1) Attitude - thinking right about situations! The Apostle Paul wrote, ". . .whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, since there is excellency, worthy of praise, dwell on these things" (Philippians 4:8). This is the greatest counseling verse in the Bible! It will solve more discouraging or depressing situations than you actually have in your life.

2) Action - Doing right in the situation! Paul the Apostle gave this exhortation, "The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you" (Philippians 4:9). The word "practice" means "do". So, insert the word "do" in place of the word "practice" and it then reads. . ."and seen in me, do these things. . ." And it's in the present tense which means "continually do as a life-style, a life commitment" rather than doing on a short-term basis. And note, the "God of Peace" is the God that produces contentment within us!

3) Adequacy - Inner assurance about the situation. This assurance comes from a right attitude and right actions. And this assurance enables us to get this truth: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). Notice, it does not say "some" things, "the majority" of things, the "easy" things or the "convenient" things, but "ALL THINGS!" The sky itself may be the limit to what we can do through the strengthening power of Jesus Christ! Our adequacy comes from Christ!

We also find in this passage of Scripture the DESCRIPTION OF CONTENTMENT!

A) Contentment is A QUALITY THAT IS LEARNED! It is not a skill, talent or trait we are born with, or that we inherit from someone. It is a "LEARNED BEHAVIOR!" Paul said, "I have learned to be content" (Philippians 4:11) and "I have learned the secret. . . ." (Philippians 4:12).

B) Contentment is a quality that DOES NOT DEPEND ON CIRCUMSTANCES! Ben Franklin once said, "He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would have. To the discontented man, no chair is the "easy chair"! If you and I are looking for our circumstances to be ideal so we can be content, we will never find them! You know why? Because the truth is, the ideal circumstances do not exist! GODLY CONTENTMENT RISES ABOVE AND BEYOND OUR CIRCUMSTANCES! Why? Consider C) below!

C) Contentment is a quality WHICH DRAWS STRENGTH AND POWER FROM GOD! Isaiah 44:3 says, "I will pour water on him who is thirsty." This is a promise from God to provide for those who are in need emotionally, physically, materially, and spiritually! If you truly desire to be content in all things, then go to God for your abundant provision for genuine contentment! As a younger person, I had the awesome privilege of often hearing Nikki Stansbury in person sing in her powerful, passionate voice this hymn:

"Ho! Everyone that is thirsty in spirit, Ho! Everyone that is weary and sad; Come to the fountain, there's fullness in Jesus. All that you're longing for, come and be glad!

Child of the world, are you tired of your bondage? Weary of earth joys, so false, so untrue? Thirsting for God and His fulness of blessing? List to His promise, a message for You!

Refrain:

I will pour water on him who is thirsty, I will pour floods upon the dry ground; Open your hearts for the gifts I am bringing; while you are seeking Me, I will be found."

There's a line from another old hymn that says, "Draw from My well that never shall run dry!" Do you want to be fully content? Then, draw your strength and power from HIS WELL! Let's all begin to live in the Tent of Contentment!

Please log in to my blog site to read the second installment on this theme in next Sunday's post!