12.16.9 "Next Door to Contentment"

"Next Door to Contentment"

Micah 5:1-7:20
Revelation 7:1-17
Psalm 135:1-21
Proverbs 30:5-6

Where do you live? You will probably answer with a town, an intersection, or a distance from a common landmark or location. But let me ask this: where do you live in proximity to contentment? Is contentment a long way off? near? I think so many times we live our lives "next door" to contentment. The amazing thing is that it has nothing to do with how much or how little one has. It has nothing to do with wealth or poverty. It has nothing to do with sickness or health. It has nothing to do with joy or sorrow. It's about where you live.

An individual with $100 to their name can live comfortably in contentment while the millionaire lives next door to it. Or, it can be the other way around.

What's the difference? In Micah we see a description. "You will eat but never have enough; hunger pangs and emptiness will still remain. And though you try and try to save your money, it will come to nothing at the end, and what little you succeed in storing up I'll give to those who conquer you! You will plant crops but not harvest them; you will press out the oil from the olives, and not get enough to anoint yourself! You will trample the grapes, but get no juice to make your wine." Micah 6:14-15

In context, this portion of scripture is the judgment on those who've sinned against the Lord. Isn't that a description of our world today? In Psalm 135:15-18 it says, "The heathen worship idols of gold and silver, made by men - idols with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear; they cannot even breathe. Those who make them become like them! And so do all who trust in them!"

We're surrounded by a society of people who've become like the idols they've made. They live with speechless mouths and sightless eyes and ears that cannot hear. Because of this idolatry, there are so many who live next door to contentment. Actually, some live miles away. But what can be expected? The word says those who make the idols become like them.

Contrast that with the picture in Revelation 7:16-17 "They will never be hungry again, nor thirsty, and they will be fully protected from the scorching noontime heat. For the Lamb standing in front of the throne will feed them and be their Shepherd and lead them to the springs of the Water of Life. And God will wipe their tears away."

Contentment is found in Christ. Our ultimate goal is to be in uninhibited communion with the Creator of the Universe. In His presence is fullness of joy.

In this Christmas season, the schedule may be busy, the finances may be stressful, but take the time to live in contentment. Our God has given us so much. There's no way we can fathom his greatness. More stuff, less stuff, more time, less time, none of that has to affect our contentment. We don't have to live "next door" to it. We can live in it.

Paul says to Timothy "Now 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 clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition." (I Tim 6:7-10)

Invite contentment into your home. It isn't something the you have to "wait until I get..." It can come wherever you are. We have been blessed with a beautiful home. But it doesn't come with a "contentment package". Contentment has nothing to do with surroundings and whether they are miserable or comfortable. Contentment has everything to do with the state of the heart and realizing that God always provides enough.

Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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