Tag: Contentment

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Ecclesiastes Devotionals

Content, enjoying life, blessing others?

Ecclesiastes

One of the big themes in this chapter is contentment. Solomon writes, 

Better what the eyes see than wandering desire. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. (Ecclesiastes 6:9)

We cannot enjoy life if we are not content. How often do we fail to enjoy the good things we have because of the things we don’t.

Solomon talks of a man blessed with many children. But because he is discontent, he fails to enjoy his relationship with his kids, and he dies unloved and unburied. (3)

But it is not enough to simply be content.

The man in Jesus’ parable in Luke 12:16-21 was very content. The problem was that he was also very selfish. And because of it, God brought judgment on him.

Perhaps Jesus was thinking of Ecclesiastes 6:2 when he told this story. 

God has called us to be a blessing to others. And as we bless others, we find the truth in Jesus’ words:

It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)

Do you want to enjoy the life God has given you? Then learn to be content. And as God has blessed you, bless others. 

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Hebrews

What we love, what we put our trust in

Hebrews

I’ve gotta admit, having money makes life easier.

It makes it easier to deal with serious health problems, as we can afford more expensive types of treatments. It allows us to have better cars or homes when our old ones are breaking down.

And of course, it not only makes life easier, it can make life more comfortable and enjoyable as well.

But I suppose the question we need to ask ourselves is, “What do we love?”

And just as importantly, “What do we put our trust in?”

Those are the questions, the writer of Hebrews poses to us. He says,

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

What do we love? Money, and the things that money can buy?

These things pass away. They can buy happiness for a short time, but eventually we tire of them, or they grow old and break, and discontent stirs in our hearts again.

There are many people in this world who go through that endless cycle of discontent, never finding true happiness.

On the contrary, many people actually wreck their lives out of their love for money and things.

They go bankrupt, they destroy their marriages and families, they wreck their health, all for the love of money and pleasure.

And so God says, “Keep your life from the love of money and be content with what you have. Stop pursuing these things.

“You will never find contentment from these things. You can only find contentment in a relationship with me. I will never leave you nor forsake you. All that you need to make you happy and content you can find in me.”

Who or what do we trust to solve our problems?

Again, it is so easy to put our trust in money. Money can solve a lot of our problems. But it can’t solve all of them. And in some cases, it can actually make things worse.

But when we turn to God, we find the one who can uphold us in all circumstances. More, he will not abandon us in the hard times.

And because of that, we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.”

How about you? Who or what do you love? And who or what do you put your trust in?

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Philippians

The secret of being content

It has been pointed out that we live in a microwave society. We want what we want and we want it now. And when we don’t get what we want when we want it, we grumble and complain.

But is that the way we are supposed to be? Paul certainly wasn’t. In thanking the Philippians for their generosity, he told them,

I am not saying this because I am in need, 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 everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13)

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”

How many of us can say that?

Paul says that he had been in times of need, and yet he was content. And when he was in times of plenty, he was content then too.

It’s easy to understand the need to be content in times of need. But how many of us think of the need to be content in times of plenty? Yet too many of us aren’t.

We have all we need and more, and yet we complain that we don’t have enough. Why is that? Why do we have so much difficulty being content, even when we have plenty?

Probably because of where our life is centered. For many Christians, their lives are still focused on themselves. They’re always thinking about their wants and their needs.

And in thinking about their wants and needs, they fail to realize what is the one thing that truly brings contentment: a relationship with Christ.

Knowing him.

Experiencing his resurrection power in their lives.

Waking up each day, looking in the mirror, and realizing that through your sufferings and trials, you are becoming more like him.

And seeing each day that you are grasping more and more just what it is God took hold of you for.

Paul said he hadn’t completely done that, but he probably came closer than most. And because of that, his circumstances couldn’t take away from his joy.

When he had little, he rejoiced in Christ. When he had much, he rejoiced in Christ.

In Japan, we have a word, “gaman.” It means to “endure.” And Japanese people pride themselves in being able to “gaman,” through difficult circumstances.

The problem is, they tend to rely on their own strength, and as a result, they eventually find themselves stretched beyond their limits.

But Paul didn’t just “gaman.” He rejoiced in his relationship with Christ. And because he did so, he found the strength to endure whatever he went through.

How about you? Are you content? Is Christ the center of your life? Or are you constantly seeking other things, hoping they will make your life complete? Those things will never fulfill you. Only a relationship with Christ will.

What’s the center of your life today?