Learning to be content, a good new year resolution

Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT)

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 almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 

I published a topical Bible study book entitled, Enriching Christian Doctrine and Character (AuthorHouse) in 2009.  It contains 52 topics, one for each week of the year.  In organizing the topics, the one I chose to be the last topic was “Contentment and Peace” because I think that to have contentment and peace is the greatest of blessings.  I am reproducing my opening paragraph: “Being content and at peace are the most treasured, wonderful, and blessed feelings to experience in all of life.  Yet, contentment and peace are not natural human emotions.  Without contentment we don’t have peace of heart and mind.  We live in a society that is full of discontent.  People gravitate toward being discontented about what they have (or rather don’t have), what they look like, what job they have, and in whatever circumstances they live.  People who complain all the time are discontented and lack peace.  It seems that people complain about everything, especially our jobs, other people, even our church.”

Contentment is a quality that is learned through life’s experiences.  Paul states that he has learned how to be content with whatever he has.  It is not a natural characteristic of humankind.  Certainly our culture readily causes discontentment.  You do not learn to be content easily and you certainly cannot learn to be content through anything that the world has to offer such as through materialism, business success, and other achievements.

There’s a story of a rich English lord who overheard one of his servants remark, “Oh, if I only had five pounds, I would be perfectly content”.  He wanted this servant to be perfectly content and so figured out a way to reward her with a five pound note.  Oh, yes, she was so thankful.  Yet, when the lord left the room, but paused for a moment outside the door, he heard her say, “Why on earth didn’t I ask for ten pounds”. 

Indeed, doesn’t this describe our human tendency never to be satisfied with what we have even if we obtain more?  It’s a learning process to “know how to enjoy what you have and to be able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach” (Lin Yutang).

How content are you right now?  Likely the younger you are, the less contented you are with yourself and what you have.  Take heart that you can learn to be content, but start learning right now that whatever the world has to offer with respect to riches, materialism, and success is not going to give you lasting contentment.  The secret of contentment is not having much but wanting little.     

Heaven and earth belong to God

Isaiah 66:1-2 (NLT)

This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is My footstool.  Could you build Me a temple as good as that?  Could you build Me such a resting place?  My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are Mine.  I, the Lord, have spoken!   I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at My word.”

An internet article caught my eye.  The title was “Top Ten Greatest Mysteries of Life” (http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/090507-top10-greatest-mysteries-1.html).  This list was based on 14 original mysteries proposed by renowned scientists in different fields in 2009, then 8,000 people responded to a survey to list their top choices from this list of 14.  Here is the final list from #10 to #1 greatest mysteries:

10.  What drives evolution?

  9.  What happens inside an earthquake?

  8.  Who are you?

  7.  How did life arise on earth?

  6.  How does the brain work?

  5.  Where is the rest of the universe?

  4.  What causes gravity?

  3.  Is there a theory of everything?

  2.  Does alien life exist?

  1.  How did the universe begin?

When you review this list and then study what Isaiah writes about God, how many of these questions could be answered if we could get God to respond to them?  You know the answer-----all of them.  Note what He says above, “My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are Mine”.  “Everything”.  This is an absolute declaration from the Lord; He is claiming that He has made everything—no exceptions—in heaven and earth.  Can you believe this claim?  Is there any doubt in your mind?  Can you defend this claim to skeptics?  Are you comfortable with the position, “While I cannot explain the answers to these questions (Note:  believers would not list #10) and even if they were explained to me, I likely would not clearly understand anyway, but by faith built up in my studying the Word of God, I do believe God knows the answers to all these questions and I put my trust in Him.”  Can you take this position?  It’s a significant question to ponder and understand where you stand in your faith.

The fact that brilliant scientists in history has pursued answers to questions like these and discover many other truths along the way and yet still cannot come to the conclusion that there is a God and He alone is responsible for these mysteries simply astounds me.  Pursuits of knowledge and truth lead to some answers but then generate as many or more questions.  The more you know or learn, the more that you know what you don’t know and need to learn.  Humankind can never find the complete answers to these mysteries; they belong to God and God alone.  All pursuits of knowledge eventually lead to the need to rely to some degree on faith. 

Francis Collins, MD/PhD, famed director of the Human Genome Project, made this astounding statement[1] -- “Reason alone cannot prove the existence of God.  Faith is reason plus revelation, and the revelation part requires one to think with the spirit as well as with the mind.  You have to hear the music, not just read the notes on the page.  Ultimately, a leap of faith is required.”  Yes, in all things, especially life’s mysteries, ultimately a leap of faith is required.  What mysteries of life require you to have a “humble and contrite heart” that lead you to tremble at His word and put your absolute faith in Him?

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[1] http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/03/collins.commentary/

Why Jesus Came---Some Promises

Luke 2:10-11 (NIV)

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” 

There are countless reasons why Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  Here are seven promises that Jesus made during His time on earth that not only should enhance the joy of believers during the celebration of His birth, but also inspire unbelievers to reconsider choices that they have made so far.

Promise 1:  Providing an abundant life to you during your time on earth (John 10:10b).  The word Jesus used for “abundant” means “excessive” or “beyond measure”.  Jesus promises to make your life so good and joyful that you simply cannot describe how good it is because of His presence at the center of your life.

Promise 2:  Peace (John 14:27).  The word Jesus used for peace means “rest and quiet”.  Jesus puts a sense of peace of heart and mind into your life regardless of what is going on when you put your trust in Him.  Think of “footprints in the sand”.

Promise 3:  Rest (Matthew 11:28).  The word Jesus used for rest means “to refresh, to pause, to recreate”.  Jesus promises to refresh your soul (11:29) daily to enable you to face whatever happens in your life each day.

Promise 4:  Blessings from the service and giving you do (John 12:26 and Luke 6:33).  Jesus promises that you will receive honor from God Himself when you serve Him and many blessings in return when you give to others.  Unselfishness always brings honor and blessings.

Promise 5:  Overcoming problems in your life (John 16:33).  Jesus says that you will indeed have tribulation in your life and the original meaning of the word He used for tribulation means “pressure, anguish, burdens”.  However, He promises to enable you to overcome these troubles and you will experience courage and peace.

Promise 6:  Assurances (John 10:28).  Jesus promises eternal life to those who put their trust in Him and believe who He claims to be.  He also provides assurances of protection, guidance, and to provide whatever you need to help you overcome whatever challenges you are facing in your life.

Promise 7:  His presence always (Matthew 28:20).  Jesus promises that He is with His children---that includes you if you believe in Him—always.  You will never be alone, never have to face your life’s problems and fears alone. 

These are reasons, among others, why Christians rejoice during the celebration of the reality of Jesus Christ coming to earth.  Never, ever take Christmas for granted or forget the real reason for the season. 

Absent from the body, present with the Lord

II Corinthians 5:1,8 (NLT)

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands…Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 

Janelle Green published a book in 2008 entitled This Earthly Tent (Xulon Press, 2008), based on I Corinthians 5:1.  She writes about her life after being struck with multiple sclerosis in 1975 when she was a young wife and mother.  While her earthly tent—her physical body—kept deteriorating, she fought to maintain a positive attitude.  She wrote the book to give hope to others that the grace and strength of God can provide those with damaged tents an active, giving, and caring life with great optimism that better days are ahead because this is what God promises.

Paul was a tentmaker by trade and so made the analogy between a tent and physical life.  Studies have shown that the body grows until about age 20 and then from that age until you die, the body deteriorates.  Every component of our bodies deteriorates over time after age 20---all our senses weaken (e.g. need for eyeglasses, hearing aids), muscles lose stamina, joints become weak, bones soften, the heart becomes more frail, the brain loses activity, hair starts graying and falling out, all cells lose metabolic efficiency, etc.).  Sure, we humans do all we can to retard the deterioration process, some smart (exercise, right eating, skin care, alleviating stress, etc.) and some ridiculous (phony anti-aging products, plastic surgery, massive Botox® treatments, spending enormous amounts of money at health spas, etc.).

No matter what you try to do, you live in an earthly tent that will keep deteriorating until it is destroyed.  Plus, for so many people, like Janelle Green, our earthly tents can become severely damaged, even at a young age; yet people still live in them for years.  Think of loved ones and others you know who are handicapped, blind, deformed, deal with chronic pain and hundreds of other physical maladies that affect these temporary perishable tents.  Think about the perspective these people have (and you never know if/when you might be in the same position?) and why this quote from Helen Keller is so profound: “Death … is no more than passing from one room into another. But there’s a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see.”     

A tent is a temporary structure.  The word “tent” was first mentioned in Genesis 4:20 and Old Testament heroes like Noah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Moses and the Israelites, etc. lived in tents.  Not only are tents temporary structures as our bodies are, but we as Christian people are like tents in that we are sojourners (I Peter 2:11) while on this earth.  We are on a journey to our eventual home, heaven. Take comfort in the reality that your tent body deteriorates for a purpose, that you are headed for a much better place, that when you die, you will be home with the Lord. Home is the place where you belong, where you find true love, shelter, security, fellowship, and acceptance.  Why wouldn’t you rather be where your true home is?