I've been thinking about contentment. One old Hillbilly who went to a shopping mall for the first time was asked, "What did you think of that?" His reply, "I ain't never seen so many tings I could live without." A sign in an old country store reads, "If we haven't got it, we'll show you how to live without it."
I recently read a great definition of contentment:
"Contentment means that you have everything you need right now. If you needed more, God would give it to you."
"When you want what you already have, you've discovered the rare jewel of contentment."
Ray Pritchard in Something New Under the Sun
The story is told of a farmer who had lived on the same farm all his life. It was a good farm, but with the passing years, the farmer began to tire of it. He longed for a change-for something "better". Every day he found a new reason for criticizing some feature of the old place. Finally, he decided to sell, and listed the farm with a real estate broker who promptly prepared a sales advertisement. As one might expect, it emphasized all the farm's advantages: ideal location, modern equipment, healthy stock, acres of fertile ground, etc. Before placing the ad in the newspaper, the realtor called the farmer and read the copy to him for his approval. When he had finished, the farmer cried out, "Hold everything! I've changed my mind. I am not going to sell. I've been looking for a place like that all my life."
Someone has said, "We are most content when we're grateful for what we own, satisfied with what we make, and generous to those in need."
Paul, a New Testament author wrote these words, "Godliness with contentment is great gain.", or a growing, trusting relationship with God the provider. He said in another place that he had "learned to be content, whatever the circumstances."
Learning to be content with thankfulness doesn't seem to be a natural human tendeny. Why don't you come learn with us?
Pastor John Giesbrecht
