I was reading a great email this morning from the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity - I thought I would share it...it fits in well with the current focus on money, things, possessions, happiness through the want of more...see what you think, and feel free to comment..."I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,…whether living in plenty or in want." Phil.4:12 (The Bible)
Contentment. Aah, isn’t that what we all long for? A general satisfaction about the way things are. Freedom from anxiety and from striving after more.
We can only speculate on Paul’s personal circumstances. His letter to the Philippians, however, shows that, as well as the times when he endured ‘troubles,… sleepless nights and hunger’ (2 Cor.6:4-5), there were other times when he was comfortably off. In both, he needed to learn contentment.
Many of us today are asking ourselves hard questions about the extent to which our contentment, and our hopes for our families, depend on our financial security. Have we been taking for granted an unprecedented standard of living, and perhaps going into debt in order to maintain it? The mortgage may be an inevitable and prudent obligation for many of us; but our uses of our credit cards may have become irresponsibly lavish.
Paul’s experience led him to write to Timothy that he should ‘command those who are rich in this present world not …to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain’ (1 Tim.6:17), and to the Romans, ‘let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another’ (Rom.13:8).
As many of us face serious uncertainty in the precarious state of the economy, we are no doubt calculating how we can manage our debts, or protect our savings, and what we can economise on. All these actions may be necessary; but more important for us is to shift the focus of our trust. As Paul continues to Timothy, ‘…not to put their trust in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their trust in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment’.
The best things in life are free. Do we believe this? Grace, love, hope, nature, beauty totally eclipse the promise of the larger car, the loft extension, the latest garment or gadget.
In his book Freedom of Simplicity, Richard Foster writes, ‘To live in contentment means that we can opt out of the status race and the maddening pace that is its necessary partner. We can shout “No!” to the insanity which chants “More, more, more!” We can rest contented in the gracious providence of God’.
