Joy in Contentment
Have you ever wanted something really badly? So badly that the thought of not having this wanted item made you grumpy and whiny? Unfortunately, this grumpy and whiny individual I'm referring to is myself and not one of my children this time! I love spring, but this time of year brings the new reality of mowing. My reality consists of 2 hours of push-mowing each week and I was grumpy about it and whining to my patient, hard-working husband.
Last weekend my husband's grandparents had an auction to sell all of their belongings, since they recently moved to a retirement home.
As I sat watching the auction, I put myself in their shoes. Wondering what kind of emotions and thoughts were going through their minds. All the hard work and labor it took to build up a home. All the stuff that so easily accumulated. Watching cherished items become someone else's. Seeing unwanted items go on a no-sale pile. Having a fresh understanding that only memories and relationships remain. "Naked we come from our mother's womb, so we will return as we came. We can take nothing from the fruit of our labor." (Ecclesiastes 5:15)
These thoughts triggered the memory of a recent sermon at church, where this quote was shared:
This wisdom sheds light on our culture's belief that can begin to taint our own lives. The lie that Satan uses to tells us that more money, bigger houses, fancier cars, stylish clothing, and more stuff will make us happy. Everything is instant. We can click BUY for any item that we would ever want from one click from the phone in our pocket. Scrolling social media, we compare our "worst" with everyone else's "best."
That gnawing emptiness and search for "more" is really a craving for Jesus. He honestly is the only one that can satisfy our deepest and unexplainable quest for something more.
Even Solomon in all his splendor and wealth was quoted in Ecclesiastes 1 stating
“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.” at which they toil under the sun? Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south
and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
ever returning on its course. All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
there they return again. All things are wearisome,
more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing,
nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.” at which they toil under the sun? Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south
and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
ever returning on its course. All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
there they return again. All things are wearisome,
more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing,
nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
When we look through the lens of the world, it all can look meaningless and burdensome, BUT a life lived for God is NOT meaningless. He can bring joy, peace, and contentment into circumstances that are void of it. He fulfills, He sustains, He breathes life into our weariness.
Our small group has been working through this study the past few months:
It's been extremely eye opening as the writer reveals that discontentment grows out of comparison. We often are content with what we have and who we are until we see someone who has more. Suddenly, what we have is not so satisfying anymore and the quest for MORE begins and continues. We've been challenged to count our clothes and humbly admit the horrific number of shirts and shoes that grace our closets. We've made lists of blessings that could outnumber the stars. We are motivated to go on spending fasts and be content with what we already own.
It's okay to have goals and dreams, that's the beauty of life! But what kind of attitude are we approaching these dreams with? My grumpy and selfish attitude for a mower was sinful and I recognize that. Believe it or not, my husband texted me from the auction telling me that he bought his grandparents' mower!
I am humbled.
I am blessed.
I am content.
God sometimes gives us the desires of our hearts, even when we don't deserve it...that's grace.
As we go through our daily lives, may we remember Matthew 6:19: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven."
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