Content?

4/30/2022

1 Timothy 6:6-11 "Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into this world, and we cannot take anything 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. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs" "

As I have shared before, I long to live on the water. Truth be told, I look at lake homes pretty much daily. It is a far-flung dream, and yet I pray one day God blesses us with just such a situation. I guess I will never give up hope. I know my family thinks that this longing means I am not content with our current living situation. Now, I do love our home and I feel blessed to have a perfect set up for our family. We live in a nice neighborhood in a lovely little town that is very coinvent to everything. We can walk the dog for miles with all the side roads that connect and wind. We even have a park on the water that is just a few blocks away, and at certain times of year we can see the water from our front yard. It is a wonderful spot, and I am grateful. Yet the desire and draw of the water is always there. 

Contentment is a funny thing, and often times difficult to maintain. We may be happy with 95% of our lives, but there is that small 5% that wants something a little different or maybe just a little more. You can really boil this down from the big things in life to just wishing your living room was a different color. Satisfaction is tricky, I guess. 

In Philippians 4:11-13 Paul speaks of contentment. "...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." As a believer, my contentment should not be based on the temporal things of life but rather on my relationship with Jesus. If all I do is look around me at the things of this world, I will never find that peace. However, if I keep my heart, mind, and soul focused on my Savior and His will I will not only find contentment but also joy. 

I am, as always, a work on progress.