Learn To Be Content

America is seriously divided today, with some who still refuse to acknowledge Trump as president.  Some are entirely focused on issues such as abortion, LGBT rights, environmental concerns, immigration, terrorism, or the economy.  More people are going through counseling for psychological problems and using more anti-depressant drugs than ever before and there are all kinds of support groups to help people deal with their problems.   Things seem worse than at any time since the Civil War. 

Why?

 Most of us have homes with multiple rooms, running water, electricity, and central heating, things which only the very rich had a hundred years ago.   Food is readily available and transportation is fast and easy.  There are hundreds of charitable efforts to feed the hungry, provide safe housing for homeless and medical help for those who are struggling.    Many homeless people live as well or better than the average person lived a hundred years ago, yet very few are satisfied or feel very hopeful.  The problem is rarely a lack of things we need.  Some of the most contented people on earth have very little of the things we think are essential for happiness. 

The problem is that we have not learned to appreciate what we have been given.   Every commercial and advertisement is designed to make us dissatisfied with what we have.   For centuries, there were no telephones, yet today phone is considered essential, even for little children, and usually they are not content with a simple flip phone.   Instead of preparing food ourselves we want to go out to eat and eat a gourmet meal.   People spend thousands of dollars on makeup and plastic surgery because they are not satisfied with the way they look. 

In the Garden of Eden, Satan deliberately set out to make Eve dissatisfied with what was available to eat, telling her that if she would eat the forbidden fruit it would greatly increase her intelligence, making her like God.  Our present day advertising and political systems are still trying to make us dissatisfied with what we have in an effort to gain control and benefit themselves.  It is satanically inspired, yet sadly, in many case, the church has adopted the same attitude.  In many cases, the fact that people have a higher standard of living is considered proof of God’s blessings, and people are encouraged to constantly be striving for something better, often overlooking God’s teaching in the attempt yo attain those things. 

In I Timothy 6:3-5, Paul warned that we need to avoid such teachers.  “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”  They focus on these things because they know nothing about God or his plans for us. 

I Timothy 6:6-8 makes the point that learning to focus on the things of God destroys that dissatisfaction.  “But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”  As Christians we ought to learn to appreciate what God has provided instead of constantly wanting something else. 

I Timothy 6:10 warns of the danger of a dissatisfied attitude.  “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”  The craving for more material things leads people into all kinds of sin, and ultimately to unhappiness and more dissatisfaction. 

As Christians we should focus on developing a proper, godly attitude in various areas, as I Timothy 6:11 tells us.  “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”  For the Christian, material blessings should be a byproduct of his faith, rather than the goal.  When they become our goal, we are trying to get them instead of serving God.