SOUL AWAKENING CONTENTMENT
Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NLT)
It seems for many of us, the default setting is discontentment. John Rockefeller was asked how much is enough, and he said, just one more dollar. For many of us, it’s one more dollar, one more promotion, one more pound, one more weekend or one more purchase. It’s not a bad thing to be a driven person. I’m that way. I love the feeling of accomplishing tasks and setting goals, but I’ve also become convinced that sometimes, in my ambition, I don’t experience the contentment we’re called to. Contentment is only possible when my eyes are on Jesus. If my eyes are on this world, discontentment fueled by comparison will creep in.
Leonard Ravenhill once said, when I need the entertainment of the world, it’s because I have lost the joy of the world. I haven’t forgotten this statement and think about it often. Contentment in this world only comes from deep joy in the Lord. It’s like when someone falls in love, they’re content because they have a deep love for the person they’re with. Contentment isn’t the absence of joy and life; it just means we have those so deeply in Jesus that we don’t need them in the world. I personally don’t believe you can ever find contentment outside of Jesus because the voice of more will start to take over.
In the verse above, contentment is referred to as great wealth. It’s because when we allow ourselves to become poor in spirit for this world, we will be full of spiritual life. Also, the more our eyes are on Jesus, the more we become aware of the physical blessings we already have. It’s ironic that the more my eyes are off Jesus, the more I think about what I don’t have in this world. Yet when my eyes are on Him, I realize how much He’s physically blessed me with. I become a person of gratitude and contentment. Put your eyes on Jesus and let joy and peace take over your life that creates contentment, where you can truly say, like the saints before, and like the apostle Paul, I count it all as rubbish for the sake of knowing Christ Jesus (see Philippians 3:8-10). Truly, if we have Jesus, we have everything.
APPLICATION: Put your eyes on Jesus today and let contentment rise.
PRAYER: Ask the Spirit to reveal where your heart and affections are. Are they for Jesus or more for the world? One will win out. Ask the Spirit to strengthen your love for Him!
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?