Lessons on Christian Contentment

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ON CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT?

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

I once watched a video clip and keenly listened to a Nigerian preacher as she lamented about the folly of the affluent people of society who amass millions in property only to leave their vast empires in the hands of people who end up squandering their hard earned fortune.

This is perhaps one glaring irony of life! 

I agree with the moral behind the story. No matter how much one accumulates on earth, they will never take their resources with them when they die.

MORAL LESSONS FROM SCRIPTURE

This brings to my mind two relevant exhortations in Scripture: 

First, Job's godly response to his tragedy recorded in Job 1:20-22 is instructive. The Bible says, "Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,

And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong." (NKJV). 

At the instigation of Satan, Job lost all his children and his possessions. Finally, Satan struck his body with leprosy and his wife, not able to bear the affliction any further, asked him to curse God and die. Her frustrations had hit the snapping limit!

Despite his massive wealth in livestock, and the blessing of many children, Job recognized that his true worth did not consist of his material wealth or in social prestige but on the integrity of his covenant relationship with God. His humbling acknowledgement of God's sovereignty over his resources is perhaps a powerful edict on the arrogant and self conceited men of this world whose only identity lies in their riches. 

Job rightly recognized that God alone assigns and takes away riches, and indeed anything we can ever own on earth, including our very souls.

Reading on through the Book of Job, we learn that Job remained steadfast in his faith and God restored him in the end.

The second text is 1 Timothy 6:6-8 that says "Now 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 clothing, with these we shall be content."

This passage actually amplifies the message of Job 1:20-22. More significantly, however, is the exhortation to godly contentment for the Christian community. No matter how much we may accumulate on earth in terms of material riches or how much power we may wield in society, or honor we receive among men, our spiritual worth does not consist of all these things.

We should always distinguish between our spiritual values and our devotion to God on the one hand and the affinity to material things that will soon pass away.

Jesus warned the warring brothers in Luke 12:15 saying, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

The two brothers had asked Jesus to arbitrate between them on their dispute over the heritage that their father had left to them. One of the brothers was most likely acting unreasonably because Jewish culture clearly defined for them how the heritage should be shared among the sons. The first son received a double portion.

This incident triggered Jesus' tale on the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21). This is another illustration on the folly of ungodly focus on riches. Notice the concluding statement in Luke 12:21 that says "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

The problem is not about the vastness of the riches we can possess on earth. Jesus never taught that believers should take a vow of poverty or that they should abstain from riches! Far be it!

Contrary to some false doctrines taught by certain cults today, Jesus' exhortation never implied that the pursuit of earthly riches is ungodly or evil for Christians. Believers should robustly engage in enterprise and generate wealth. We require sufficient resources for our sustanance and for honoring and serving God and impacting society. 

In any case, all earthly resources ultimately belong to God (Psalm 24:1-2, 50:10)

The danger beckons when riches become the overriding object of our focus and ultimately obscure our relationship with God. Again, elsewhere in Scripture, Jesus warned that we cannot not serve God and Mammon (Luke 16:11-13). Notice that the rich fool initially started well in his personal enterprise. He grew his farming business in a legitimate way. His turning point came when he forgot about God's providence and attributed his success to his own effort. 

We should honor God for every increase in our lives by whatever description. Divine increase is not necessarily about financial growth only. There are many ways by which God gives us increase in life.

Here are a number of examples: the blessing of a job or growing business; good health; the blessing of years on earth, the blessing of children (and grandchildren), the blessing of an enduring marriage in a world in which divorce, marital conflicts and separation is commonplace.

For the young people on this page, academic progress and God's providence to the parents or guardians for school fees and upkeep is a reason for which to thank God. 

Some of our senior brethren on this page have either retired or are about to. Imagine the years that God has given us in career life and in raising our children and serving the Lord in the church in whatever capacities. That too is a reason to celebrate and glorify God.

The list is long....

One does not have to be a dollar millionaire to be grateful to God or celebrate God's blessings! For the much that the Lord has blessed us, we ought to be thankful even as we seek His provision for our needs.  This is the essence of Christian contentment. 

We should never compare ourselves with others as the people of this world often do and end up boiling with jealousy, strife and covetousness when they witness the progress of their neighbors or relatives and seek to "catch up"! 

CONCLUSION

God blesses us differently in His divine wisdom. Some of the richest men today cannot enjoy their riches because of failing health or diet restrictions.  Others worry too much about their business empires and develop mental complications.

There's always something lacking in one person that another person is blessed with. Let us therefore be grateful for what God has blessed us with even as we petition Him for more...

I recall someone who one time muttered in a sombre mood as we conversed, "kwani sisi wengine tulimfanyia nini Mungu...(what have some of us done to God to deserve the circumstances we are going through). 

None of us can deny that we have experienced unpleasant situations in life where we wondered if God is still with us. No believer is immune to earthly afflictions.

This again reminds me of Psalm 34:19 that says "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all." 

God takes us through difficult seasons of life, all for the purpose building our spiritual integrity. He never abandons us, no matter what prevails around us. 

David proclaimed in Psalm 37:25-26 "I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; And his descendants are blessed."

Christian contentment is key to moral prudence and stability in life. We ought to embrace it to the glory of God. 

Shalom. 

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2021