Numbers 26:52-28:15Luke 3:1-22
Psalm 61:1-8
Proverbs 11:16-17
Luke 3- 14Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay."
John preaches a nice little sermon here. As he tells the soldiers what it is to be like Jesus, he suggests to them that contentment is the key to sinless living. That makes good sense, because this theme seems to be peppered across the ten commandments as well. After all, if people are happy with what God gives them, they won't need to steal, kill, covet, or commit adultery. I want to suggest that when we aren't content, we are telling God that we aren't happy with what he gives us. When we aren't content, sin is just a moment away. Why? Because people who aren't happy with what God gives them, choose to cut their own path without his help. People who aren't happy with the spouse they have, find a new one. People who dislike their role in the world, push themselves into another role. People who aren't content with the power they've been given, force others out of power. Choosing to follow Jesus is the choice to go where he leads us, and walk where he walked. In other words, the Christian finds contentment where he is at.
This has been a difficult thought for me to truly live, as for years I have coveted ministers with more power, more prestige, and more opportunity than myself. God is calling me today to be happy with the place I am at. Honestly, I feel that happiness in a renewed and vibrant way. I desire to share that with others as well.
2 comments:
I think this is one of humanity's greatest struggles. Very few of us, if any, have much natural talent for it. Mother Teresa comes to mind. I've heard it suggested that too much contentment can be a bad thing though - that it leads to a laziness and lack of aspiration. I have to disagree though; I think they've confused contentment with apathy.
I agree with you. It's hard to be content. Still, I think this is what we are being called to.
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