Has Contentment Set In?
Contentment is being satisfied with what we have, and not wanting anything else.
While contentment can be a virtue, like when the Apostle Paul said that no matter what the situation may be, he learned to be content (Philippians 4:11-12), it can also be a detriment.
The type of contentment I’m referring to is when we get content with where we are as Christians not using our God given gifts and talents. Paul’s admonition to Timothy reveals that this can happen even to the best of us.
“Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
Timothy was allowing contentment to settle into his heart and was becoming afraid of stepping out into the fullness of God’s calling and promises.
How can we tell if such contentment is happening in our lives? When someone asks us to volunteer, and we have the ability and time, but we find reasons not to because we’re comfortable.
Jesus, however, gives us an example of how to prevent this. He took up a towel and washed the disciple’s feet, and then He told us to do the same. In other words, we need to be servants to one another. Paul said we’re to bear one another’s burdens. (Galatians 6:2)
To be a servant bearing one another’s burdens means we’ve got to get out of our comfort zones. We have to move out of those areas that are holding us to the wilderness and move into those areas God is calling us to take.
Yes, it’s easier to stay where we are, and doing those things that stretch us will mean a sacrifice. But God is not calling us to take up our conveniences and follow Him, but rather He’s calling us to take up our crosses.
Dennis Lee is Senior Pastor at Living Waters Fellowship, Mesquite, Nevada. He presently has two books, “From Here to There: A Journey to Spiritual Transformation,” and “Wells of Living Waters,” He also writes a religious column for a local newspaper entitled, “Rediscover the Bible for Life,” along with daily devotionals and thoughts that he posts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Living Waters Fellowship’s Website
Correct, to be a servant bearing one another’s burdens means we’ve got to get out of our comfort zones. Jesus says in Mark 10:43-45, Whoever desires to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be most important and first in rank among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to have service rendered to Him, but to serve (AMP).
Your friend – His servant,
Ev. Isaac otieno
Excellent, thank you. I pray you have a great rest of your day and weekend. Take care and God bless.
So true. We cannot stay where we are in our comfort zone and serve God and others at the same time. We need to pray and ask God to show us where He is working and be willing to follow Him and join Him so that He can do that work through us. As for servanthood, that is a beautiful illustration from the account of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. I am reminded of Philippians 2:5-8, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Jesus, the Son of God and 2nd Person of the Trinity, was willing to leave where He was, Heaven, to come down and serve each and everyone of us all the way to the cross to bring us redemption and salvation.
Debbie, Thank you for your comments and Scriptural backing. It is appreciated. Have a great rest of your day and weekend. Take care and God bless