The Importance of Being Content

I want to share with you the idea of being content. It really is a paradox of human nature. We live in California and we want New York style pizza. We live in New York, and we want California style pizza. We see memes on social media during the summer about longing for fall weather, and then when it gets cold, we see memes about longing for summer to return!

A Never-Ending Cycle of Discontent

While traveling in my mission’s work, I see other countries that advertise for skin whitening cream for those who are brown to become lighter, and here in America people flock the tanning beds so that those who are white can become darker! It seems to be never ending!
Somehow folks have gotten the idea that things are never good enough. We never have enough money, our house is never big enough, our car is never new enough, we're never thin enough, strong enough, or good enough. It’s no wonder mental health issues are on the rise in this country. It’s because so many have bought into these lies about the impossible pursuit of more and have forgotten that they fearfully and wonderfully made by God.

The First Lie Ever Told

This was the very first lie Satan used against Eve in the Garden! He made her think God was not giving her enough! Know today that God made you just as you are and loves you just as you are. Of course it's not wrong to want make improvements in your life but when those improvements are just worldly things that will fade at the end of our lives, is it worth the stress to ceaselessly pursue it? Is it really worth the cost you have to pay?

Biblical Wisdom on Contentment

Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:6, 

“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of this world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”

Choosing Contentment in a Materialistic World

I admit that it’s harder to pursue contentment in this materialistic world than gain. But I do believe it's possible. Once we get there, we'll find the peace that passes all understanding that the Apostle Paul spoke of. The pursuit of contentment relieves us from the worldly stress of gain for things we often don't even need. God knows exactly what you need and you're told by the Lord Jesus Himself to seek first the Kingdom of God and then there's other things will come your way. Not always what you want, but what you always need.