It starts early. We can see the lack of contentment in our children before they turn 3. My son whom I adore- Hudson- loves trains. I enjoy buying him trains because it brings him so much joy.But even after I purchase him train after train in the Thomas the Train series at ridiculous prices- $10- $20 per train, the lack of contentment becomes evident.
He watches Thomas videos and says, "I don't have Toby, Diesel10, etc..." My wife- Amy- and I constantly remind him to concentrate on what he has instead of what he does not have. He agrees with us. But then two seconds later it is back to, "I don't have..."
My wife asked me this weekend: what is your biggest fear? I thought about it and it isn't a typical answer: death, public speaking, dying young, etc... My biggest fear is living an unfruitful life.
Jesus tied an unfruitful life to being distracted by the love of possessions. Jesus teaches in Mark 4:1-20 about a sower that sows seed on the ground. He says the sown seed is the Word of God/the Gospel- Mark 4:14.
The seed is placed among many different types of soil. One of the types of soil is thorny ground. Jesus explains, "And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful."- Mark 4:18-19.
This is our problem in this country. We are receiving the Word of God on thorny ground. The battle for more comfort and more things is one that we will likely take with us to the grave. The lure of things is so subtle. But the danger is that it has the capability to create in our hearts a lack of contenment, gratitude and distraction from things that matter.
I preach this word to myself as I am in the process of upgrading my housing needs. A daughter on the way and the daily desire to office from my home has created a "need" for more space. But sometimes, I wonder if I am just providing justification for my desires.
Sometimes these decisions must be made. But it is important to see the thorns in the whole mess. They are there to choke out our commitment to Christ and this is never a good thing. We must weed our garden daily.
For His Glory,
Ashley Hodge
2 comments:
Hey Ashley, I think this is why living our lives with a whole life stewardship perspective is so important. Just as we love to make our children happy, so too God loves us enough to bless us with things/experiences in our lives. It is through the understanding and desire to be the “good and faithful steward” that we can truly respond properly to what God brings our way.
I just started reading Chuck Swindoll's book on Joseph. I am amazed at the way God worked through the riches to rags, rags back to extremely abundant riches experiences in such a young man. If Joseph had not really known God and had total faith, his response to: being almost murdered by his brothers, being sold as a slave, rising in stature in the household of Potiphar, fleeing daily sexual temptation, being falsely accused and imprisoned for the next 13 years, again rising in stature while in the dungeon, eventually becoming the 2nd most powerful man in all of Egypt and having the opportunity to do essentially anything he desired and to take revenge against everyone who ever hurt him...his response when reunited with his brothers would not have been as Gen 45:7,8 records, "God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God...". Joseph’s life, if not one of the great examples of whole life stewardship, would have ended the way of sinful man...lost and unfruitful.
I'm with you that God is sovereign and man is responsible... responsible for diligently scouring and dissecting God's word in order to find out His rules and expectations for how we must live and act as stewards of everything and everyone entrusted to us. It is freeing to know that if He brings good things to us, we ought to respond to them with such a perspective, but also to be free enough to enjoy the amazing blessings that God has allowed us to experience. However, when we experience bad things and tragedy, it is only with an eternal perspective that we can still give Him the glory, awaiting the unfolding of the tapestry He has woven... such that when we enter into Heaven on the day of His choosing, we will see that His way was perfect.
Thanks for your thoughts about contentment. As Paul reminds us in Phillipians 4:11-12 "... 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."
The unfruitful life is definitely one that I would truly regret. It is something I have thought about in regards to my profession. It is sometimes hard for me to see God's great blessings when I am so focused on my own desires and wants. I struggle with love of quality possessions and comfort, and in attempting to "down-grade" my home, God has actually turned it into an "up-grade"! This reminds me that the new home should be more than about me & my family. Somehow the new home should encompass community and be also used as a way to glorify God. When you question your upgrade in your home, know that Lynette & I feel very encouraged and comforted that you & Amy will be there for support in the community, together as aliens and pilgrims... daily striving to live our lives worthy of God's sacrifice of Jesus, so that we will someday return to our true country and hear those congratulatory words, 'Well done good and faithful servant... enter into the joy of your Master'.
Tom,
Great insights! Amy and I are looking forward to being neighbors with you and Lynette. Hopefully, we will be used by God to make a lasting difference in the neighbors lives that God has planted us near.
We appreciate and treasure your friendship.
Ashley
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