I Can Do All Things

We often confuse contentment with complacency. Random House says that complacency is “a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.” Biblical contentment is being “sufficient for oneself; independent of external circumstances; contented with one’s lot, with one’s means, though the slenderest.”

Paul wrote, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Contentment is not the opposite of drive. True spiritual contentment will not cause us to be complacent; it will actually be a catalyst to spur us forward.

Pastor Shannon O’Dell recently wrote Transforming Church in Rural America. In it, he states that “Leadership is resisting the urge to settle.” It would be good to broaden that a little bit and say that “Living is resisting the urge to settle.” When we are content, that shapes us into believing that we can do all things through Jesus who strengthens us. That will truly free us to live.

When we allow success, appearance, some activity, or happiness to be the gauge of our inner peace, then we will never have contentment and will never be able to accomplish anything of any significance because we will be too cowardly and afraid.

We need to understand that which Joseph understood at the end of the book of Genesis. We are left with this thought:

‘As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” [Genesis 50:20 (ESV)].

When you feel that you have hit rock bottom, realize that God will use this for good.  If Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers, imprisoned, and had to endure captivity before seeing better days, could recognize that good came from the bad, then we need to keep that in focus when we are going through our valleys.  This pit will eventually be good for us; we just don't have that full perspective yet.

I once heard the story of a man who was contemplating committing suicide. But instead of killing himself, he decided to smuggle Bibles into China. If he was caught and killed, that would be fine with him. But instead, through the process, he found meaning in his life.

I don’t know if that story is true or not, but it illustrates the point that we truly live when we die to ourselves and begin to live our lives for Jesus. We can get out of the situation we find ourselves in, but you are the only person who can pick up the shards of your dreams and go with them into the future. You are the only one that can surrender your will to God’s will. You are the only one that can say, “I will look for what God wants me to learn in every situation.” In that, you will find true contentment and meaning in life.

May we build our lives on the rock, Jesus Christ.

Finding Contentment in our Busy World

There was a prosperous businessman visiting the ocean on vacation.  He was disturbed to find a fisherman sitting lazily beside his boat. "Why aren't you out there fishing?" he asked. 

"Because I've caught enough fish for today," said the fisherman. 

"Why don't you catch more fish than you need?' the rich man asked. 

"What would I do with them?" 

"You could earn more money," came the impatient reply, "and buy a better boat so you could go deeper and catch more fish. You could purchase nylon nets, catch even more fish, and make more money. Soon you'd have a fleet of boats and be rich like me." 

The fisherman asked, "Then what would I do?" 

"You could sit down and enjoy life," said the businessman.

"What do you think I'm doing now?" the fisherman replied as he looked placidly out to sea.

(Modernized and adapted from Our Daily Bread, May 18, 1994.)

Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Philippi.

“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”  [Philippians 4:11b-13 (ESV)].

Contentment.  We seek to find it, but we get distracted from its true source in the mad rush of life.  Contentment is not found in consuming the most products.  It won’t be in the next movie, an increased paycheck, the next vacation, the next visit with family, or the next product we buy.  We have been bamboozled, time after time, into thinking the “next” thing will bring us more contentment, but it won’t.  We should realize that by now.  A contentment that cannot be experienced in the midst of the situation we currently find ourselves living in is just a false peace.  True contentment can withstand the depressions, sorrows, and tragedies of life.  It can withstand broken dreams and broken promises.  It is immune from outside influences.  It is found living in the presence of God.  Living, not just dwelling.  There is a big difference.

The goal of spiritual growth is to live all of our moments in Jesus.  In our resting we will dwell on Him, His works, and His will.  In our working, we will and look for opportunities to serve others and bring about His will.  Everything we do, when we are living in Him, will be about doing His will to the best of our abilities.  Then we can rest assured that the outcome of all of our actions is in His hands.  We are only responsible for being faithful and doing our part.  This frees us from the stress of the outcomes, which allows us to live our lives in God’s will as if we are already victor.  Let Him worry about the results.  He’s God; He can handle that.

May you grow in Jesus to the point where you are living in Him during your resting and your working.  May you find the contentment that God designed you to experience.