Contentment

In my devotional reading this morning, the idea of “contentment” was brought up.  As I was reading, I realized how I am a naturally “discontent” person.  I even did a personality profile last year and one of the characteristics that I fall into is that I bore easily of things in a pretty short period of time.  I want to move on and not linger on things.  That definitely fits what I see in myself.  So, how does a discontent person become content?  I really have no idea other than a lot of prayer and allowing God to transform me.

I think it’s also important to think about how our culture is largely against contentment.  As soon as you purchase the iPhone, the newer and better iPhone comes out.  Your new car that you’ve been dreaming about owning loses its luster when the next new car you dream about owning is produced.  The job you love starts to feel stagnant, so you desire to climb the next rung of the ladder of success.  On and on it goes.

The author of my reading this morning, Chuck Swindoll, talks about how we fear being content because we have come to see content people as lazy people with no drive or motivation.  It’s important to note that contentment doesn’t equal laziness.  Rather, contentment is about learning to appreciate what you have without craving more and more.  Do you really need that new car?  Will that new job really be as great as you think?  Will that new computer/phone be as great as what you imagine?  We all know the answers are “no” to these questions most of the time.

As the saying goes, “the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence.”  One wise person once said that “the grass is really greener where you water it most.”  To be content means that we must be at war with wanting more and more.  We need to learn to water the grass where we are and let God guide and direct us each day.  It’s not easy, but I believe it will be worth it in the long-run.  Don’t throw out your ambition, but also don’t let ambition drive you to the point where nothing is ever good enough.

Until next time, I’m learning to be content…

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