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Are You A Content Person? – by Jim Nelson

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A few months ago, Lynn and I were visiting with my 88-year old Mother, I asked her what her favorite Bible verse is? She responded quickly with “the verse about being godly and content.”

That verse is; 1 Timothy 6:6-7. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”

Another contentment verse we talked about was;

Philippians 4:11-13; “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

These verses have real life application for my Mother. When she was only 38 years old, my Dad died from cancer. She had 5 small children and a farm to run. She was a great role model to us, she lived by faith and not by sight. Mom modeled to us that daily Bible reading and prayer provided her with great comfort, strength, peace and contentment. She planted the seeds in us to become students of God’s Word. She would always tell us as we started to feel sorry for ourselves to “simply count our blessings.” As I grew older, I started to say these blessings out loud and found this to be very helpful as I focused on the many blessings coming from our Lord. Mom taught us a lot about biblical contentment. Thanks, Mom!

This also made me think about our recent study in the book of Exodus by Pastor Tony. Reviewing chapter 15, we are reminded of the constant discontentment, whining and complaining by the Israelites in the desert.

Actually, the Israelites were on a spiritual journey, a pilgrimage that reveals the pattern of our own Christian life. At least, it does for me!

The spiritual geography of Israel’s exodus from Egypt can be mapped onto the experience of our own souls. Although there are times of refreshing, usually they do not last long. Soon it is time to head back into the desert, which is a place of testing and spiritual growth. I’ve seen this in my life and my family’s. Warren Wiersbe writes about Exodus 15; “Life is a great laboratory, and each experience x-rays our heart to reveal what we really are.” What a true statement! We will never find contentment in the externals, a bigger house, a different job, more money, a political party, and the list can go on and on.

Discontentment and whining was Israel’s besetting sin. The grumbling continued more or less for 40 years, as they became a nation of malcontents. Israel’s attitude is a strong warning to us about the great sin of complaining. Our own complaints are not caused by outward circumstances; rather, they reveal the inward condition of our heart. Really, the Israelites had nothing to complain about. They were not running out of food but were confusing what they wanted with what they needed. This is often the source of our discontentment: thinking that our greeds are really our needs. WOW, does this hit home for me.

We need to be honest about the fact that all of our dissatisfaction is really discontentment with God. Usually, we take out our frustrations on someone else. But God knows that when we grumble and complain, we are finding fault with Him. Frankly, a complaining spirit indicates a problem in our relationship with God.

God has always given us exactly what we need even if we don’t see it at the time. For the Israelites, in Exodus 15, this was daily manna, for us it means the true Bread of Life, Jesus Christ. As Christians, we live our life to worship, honor, and glorify Him today and will for all eternity. We are In-Christ and we are being transformed (sanctified) into His image, what an amazing truth to hold onto. We can only find true contentment as we live our life being In-Christ, this is a constant and important teaching from the Apostle Paul. Please review and mediate on the following verses;

In-Christ, we are free forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2).

In-Christ, we have been redeemed and forgiven of our sin (Colossians 1:14).

In-Christ, we are seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 2:6).

In-Christ, we are born of God and the evil one cannot touch us (1 John 5:18).

In-Christ, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and assured of eternal life (Ephesians 1:13-14).

As believers in Christ Jesus, may we hold onto these beautiful and powerful truths and become truly content in Him.

Since this writing, my dear and godly Mother went to be with our Lord and Savior on April 13th. I had written this pastoral pondering two weeks prior to her death. It brings me deep joy knowing she is now with the Lord and no longer suffering.

Your brother In-Christ,
Jim Nelson

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