Over the past four weeks I have been teaching a series on contentment. Up to this point, the texts we’ve used have commended contentment as a desirable trait to possess. The text in Hebrews, however, takes a more direct line and commands that we be content. Here it is. Don’t love money; be satisfied (content,…
Category: Contentment
Dump and Chase
When we lived in St. Louis I followed the St. Louis Blues hockey team. I had never been exposed to hockey and was trying to learn the rules to the game and the offensive and defensive strategies the teams employed. The local sports talking heads described the Blues offensive attack as “dump and chase,” which…
The Benefit of of Being Content
The first century Stoics viewed contentment as the state of being freely independent; self sustained and self contained without any external influences. Paul Christianized that thought, asserting that contentment was those same things in the context of a relationship with Jesus Christ. In Christ we find the strength to do what we need to do…
The Pathway to Contentment (part 2)
How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on…
The Pathway to Contentment
Are you content? Before you answer that question, you have to interpret the meaning of contentment. Generally that question falls on our ears as “Are you happy?” or “Are you satisfied?” Any dictionary from your bookshelf will confirm that hunch, affirming that contentment is “the state of being happy or satisfied.” But in my opinion,…
The Problem with Contentment (part 2)
Before we can get a grip on managing our desires we have to first understand how desire works. The reformers gave some consideration to this and proposed the following helpful framework. First, we become aware of a desire. I won’t spend any time on discussing where the desire originates because I’m not sure its cut…
The Problem with Contentment
Why is it that we have more of everything than we’ve ever had, yet are relatively less content than former generations? Why is it that we are more bored with life and all of its accessories than children in third world countries who only have rocks and sticks to play with? We know that the…
Jesus on Worry
On Sunday I tried a pulpit experiment. I asked our congregation to take out their cell phones and to text me in one or two words what they were worried about. Within one minute my phone “blew up,” and I received about 50 texts from our members. Their list of worries could be categorized as…
The Man Who Needed Nothing (part 2)
I think Jesus’ most helpful words concerning contentment are found in the Sermon on the Mount. Upon examination of these verses, it would appear that Jesus is giving three independent thoughts. But something larger is at work. I want to break down the three thoughts and then help synthesize them into Jesus’ point. 1. Your…
The Man Who Needed Nothing
Half of my overseas travel has been to third world countries for some kind of missions project. One thing I’ve noticed about the people we served was the sense of contentment they enjoyed, especially among the children. Seeing children play with rocks and sticks, flat soccer balls, and whatever else they could pick up off…
