Tuesday, May 19, 2009

How to Find Contentment

1 Timothy 6: 6-11


But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness

It's 3:55am. Been up since 2am. Between Braxton kicking me, the cat on my head & Amber (when did she get in my room?) making tons of noise and rolling into the wall & kicking the contents of my bed table Braxton emptied yesterday I can't sleep. Bedtime started out beautifully. I kept Braxton from a nap so he would go to sleep early. Around 8:30 I took him to my bed to lay down and watch Dumbo (I need Elephants he says). I love bedtime with Braxton because it is the only time he lets me be close to him and love on him. He snuggled in to me and let out the longest sigh. I did the same. I thought to myself how wonderfully content I was and I would just close my eyes and go to sleep too. Lots of late nights lately.

I'd like to say my family let me sleep but y'all know they kept coming in waking me up out of a beautiful and deep sleep. I kept thinking, don't they see my eyes are closed? Anyhoo, I thought it funny that I went to bed feeling so contented and then here in the middle of the night I read the scripture above. I love http://www.christianity.com/ 's Bible In A Year. I decided to log on and read a little and that scripture really jumped out at me.

I've learned a lot this past year about how important it is to be content with my circumstances as they are. I don't always succeed but of course I have come a long way. I have been seeing a lot of people lately wanting to get back to basics . (??? I was watching my favorite food network chef Ina Garten do some shows "Back to Basics" and she made Lobster Pot Pie. ??? Huh? Those Hampton people....) Simplicity. Many of us are yearning for it but have no idea how to get back to it.

The scripture says godliness with contentment is great gain. Joyce Meyer has hammered that into me too. To be content where you are. Sometimes that is a really hard thing to do. Sometimes you have to start at finding moments that you can be content with. That is what I had to do. It started with small moments and gradually I have built into large blocks of time that I feel quite content. I also find that due to our financial circumstances I have learned to be very content at being able to have the basic necessities in life. To have a home, to have food, utilities, gas in my car, clothing. It may be old and worn but it fits and it covers right? These are things that I used to take for granted and now just having them makes me feel like the luckiest person in the world. The scripture said if we have food and clothing we will be content with that. Yep.


Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Okay, I could go on and on about this one part of the scripture! So true so true. Some may read that and think it concerns people doing things immoral or illegal. I think not. Might this apply to some of us who are eager for our "stuff", our networking, working like dogs so we can afford our "stuff" so much so that there is no time for God in our lives and no time for contentment?
"I'm too tired to go to Church. I worked hard all week and I just want to rest." Wouldn't you like to have a dollar for every time you ever heard or said that?

Verse 11 says But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

You know,it's all right there. How we should all live our lives and we would find contentment, happiness and a personal relationship with God. It's all right there in 1 Timothy 6:11. Six things to do. Six things we can't seem to do.

Don't pursue a 5,000 sq. foot house with brick and stone?

Don't pursue a $200 purse?

Don't pursue an expensive car that shows people how well we are doing?

Don't pursue a life of finery, club memberships, and every kind of indulgence that will make our lives easier?

Aren't these the things that make us happy? A big house, a nice car, trendy clothes and accessories, the mani/pedi ? Don't those things fill the void? Don't they make us happy?

Society would tell you that those things will make you happy. And they do have their place, don't get me wrong. But I have learned that those are not the things that need to be what I am pursuing, what I am going after. They cannot be the foremost things on my mind. They are better left as rewards and treats. Not my whole being. For awhile now I have realized these things in my own life. If it were possible I would sell my home and down size. I would and I am getting rid of a lot of my "stuff". I don't want to be a slave any longer to my "stuff". I don't want to owe anybody anything. We used to be a cash only family except for the mortgage and cars. I am getting back to that. I want less TV, less computer, less stuff and more Bible study with my kids. More time on the trampoline. More time at the park. More picnics with the entire family. More laughter. More of God. More of Jesus. That sounds so much better than the pursuit of money. Being content, God wants that for us. And I see how silly I am because it's all right there. All we have to do is read it and do it. Why is it so hard to figure out? I had no idea before that I was working so hard to pay for my stuff. I was so tired out and couldn't enjoy my life because I worked so many hours so I could have such nice stuff. I thought that stuff was what was going to make me happy? How can you be happy if you are too tired to enjoy your life? Or too stressed out to enjoy your life, to enjoy your kids, to enjoy your spouse?

I think I need to print out this scripture. I know there are nice fonts I can download and I will print this out and place it in a frame. It shall hang on the wall as a reminder. I'll have to take a picture when I get it done. This really spoke to me. I don't ever want to go back to where we were. Sure we had great stuff but we had no true contentment. I find so much more contentment when I am relaxed and full of Him. Now that's contentment.

3 comments:

Faye said...

What a beautiful post.Such a blessing to me.Please keep me in your prayers. I go back to the doctor tomorrow.There is just something about the C word that is so scary.I know what ever happens God will be with me every step of the way.Hope you have a great day! Blessings, Faye

ocean mommy said...

Our pastor taught on contentment and the Joy that comes with it just last Sunday. :)

Beautiful Post!!

Hugs
steph.

Rhonda Parker said...

Thank you for a great post. I signed up to be a follower. Nice to "meet you" in blogland.

Rhonda
Citrus Heights, CA