Posts tagged with 'contentment'

Your Gifts Are Enough

  • Posted on December 4, 2023 at 12:22 pm
“For those that seem better than I, help me not to be envious or jealous, but learn from them.”
(A prayer included in Quiet Times with D.L. Moody)
If you are a Christian, you should constantly be learning and becoming more like Christ. Life may be a race, but it’s not a competition. When the disciples asked Jesus, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He set a child before them and replied, “Whoever humbles himself like this little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:1-4). There are many things that I wish I excelled at, but if I did, I no doubt would become proud and intolerant of those who weren’t as good as I would perceive myself to be.
I love editing because I get to work with people whose gifts complement my own. If everyone could do everything, there would be no need for the Body to work together.
I know people who constantly tear down others in order to make themselves look better (I assume). This reflects negatively on the fault finder. We should be willing to learn from others. Sometimes that will be noting ways that we do not want to be like a person, but many times we may pick up nuggets that we can use to improve our own lives.
If you, like me, find yourself envying those to whom everything seems to come easily, remember that God has given you the gifts you need for the work that He has called you to do. Just focus on being faithful in the little things so that He can open the door for bigger things in the future if He chooses to do so.

To Be Content or Not to Be Content

  • Posted on January 12, 2020 at 5:36 pm

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  ~1 Timothy 6:6

I think of myself as a content person. Sure, there are things I would change if I could, but overall, I am grateful to God for my life. The problem I have, though, is I also like routine, do not usually go for change, and am hesitant to try new things, at which point I have to question: Am I content or in a rut?

Contentment is important. God does not want His people to be complainers who are never happy with their lot in life. But you and I must also be willing to grow, to step out of our comfort zones from time to time, to know when God desires us to change our way of doing things. We must not confuse contentment with apathy.

I think the key is to seek God daily as to what He would have you to do. Then do those things with all your heart as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23). If you are doing that, then you can be content that He will provide all of your needs. If, however, you find yourself becoming lazy and calling that contentment, you may want to reevaluate that.

This is a new year–a time to examine our lives and ask God what we need to change. If you are discontent with where you are in life, ask God to show you if you are where He has you or if you are there because of decisions you made without Him. If the former, then ask God to change your heart and help you to embrace your state and to serve Him joyfully. If your life has been full of bad choices that have placed you in the proverbial gutter, then turn to Him today and begin to change your ways. And if you are where you’re at because it’s where you’ve always been, and it’s become quite comfortable, then pray for discernment to know if you should be content at that place or if God desires to move you to another. Don’t forget that the only truly safe place to be is in the center of His will.

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