The above photograph is of Lika, my calico cat. She is cat-napping and looks rather content doesn't she! Animals can teach us many lessons. As a rule, they take life as it comes and never get anxious.
This post is about contentment and how to find it. The online dictionary defines contentment as happiness and fulfillment; comfort, serenity and peace.
This post is also about godliness, which means conforming to the laws and wishes of God; holiness, piety. You are no doubt aware of what Scripture I will be referring to; yes, 1 Timothy 6:6, which follows:
"But godliness with contentment is great gain."
It means that if you are godly and focused on the good Lord and His will, you will be more likely to feel contentment. Worldly pleasures and materialism will not consume you to the point where you are always wanting more, more, more; yet you are never satisfied with that mindset, because material things cannot buy you happiness. Oh, you may have some pleasure in having a new "toy" for a time, but when the newness wears off, you look for something else to possess in an unreasonable quest for happiness through material things or through a relationship. You know what I am referring to.
I speak from experience. Before I was born again, I looked for happiness from "things". I had over 50 rose bushes in my yard and over 100 African violet flowers under lights in my home. One Persian cat was not enough, I had to have several and became a breeder. I could go on and on, but the bottom line is, I was really trying to fill a void with things of this world instead of turning to God, Who only can truly fill that empty void within our souls.
If you learn to be content with what you already have, there will be less striving for more possessions, less debt, and less selfish desires. Be God-centered and focus on living a life pleasing to Him. You will find that Jesus can give you true happiness, and a purpose for living that does not include self-indulgence.
I am reminded of the apostle Paul and what he said at Philippians 4:11-12 :
"(11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."
Paul suffered much persecution, hardships, beatings, and imprisonment, yet he found joy and purpose and fulfillment in the Lord and in doing the Lord's work, which was preaching the gospel. We can take a much needed lesson from observing Paul's life and ministry. He was not interested in acquiring material goods or in having a big home and all of the world's comforts. He was focused on doing God's will and reaching lost souls for the Lord.
"The heart," says Wiesinger, "amid every outward want, is then only truly rich when it not only wants nothing which it has not, but has that which raises it above what it has not."
"Let this be thy whole endeavor, this thy prayer, this thy desire, that thou mayest be stripped of all selfishness and with entire simplicity follow Jesus only." - Thomas A. Kempis
"Prayer - secret, fervent , believing prayer - lies at the root of all personal godliness." - William Carey
"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." - 1 Timothy 6:7-8
The verses above remind me of that saying, "You can't take it with you." So that is why we need to focus on Jesus and spiritual matters and to be busy doing the Lord's work. It also reminds me of that poem which tells us, "Only one life to live; only what's done for Christ will last."
1 John 2:15-17 says, (15) "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
1 John 2:15-17 says, (15) "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
We are definitely living in the last hour of the last days. Bible prophecy is being fulfilled almost on a daily basis. Jesus will return soon to take true believers to heaven in the Rapture of the Church. Why be immersed in a world that is soon to pass away? Why accumulate treasures that you cannot take into eternity? Remember, if you are a faithful follower of Christ, this wicked world is not your home. We belong in heaven, our true and glorious home for all of eternity. There godliness and contentment will be perfected.
Live for Christ ! Occupy till He returns ! (Luke 19:13) By occupy that means to be busy in doing the Lord's will and winning lost souls to the Lord and by preaching the gospel.
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you will never know what true peace and contentment is all about. Only Jesus can satisfy that deep longing inside, that indescribable "something" that makes the soul long for what you just cannot put your finger on but you know something is missing in life. What is missing is Jesus, and a strong relationship with God through Christ. Only a deep, personal, intimate love relationship with the Lord can bring true peace and contentment; and in turn you will learn godliness. Likewise, the more spiritually minded you are, the more you will find contentment. Godliness and contentment naturally flow together.
If you are an unbeliever, now is the time to accept Jesus as your Savior and believe that only He can wash your sins away by His shed blood at Calvary. He died for you ! Think about it! He made a way for you to have eternal life in heaven, instead of in hell.
We all are sinners in need of the saving power of Jesus (Romans 3:23). It is necessary to believe He is the Savior, and to ask God to forgive you of your sins; to repent with all your heart and to put your faith in Him. You need to also believe in Jesus' resurrection.
Romans 10:9,10,13 says it best: (9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Jesus loves you !
He is waiting with open arms of love and forgiveness if you but turn to Him in faith and repentance !
Choose Jesus.
Choose eternal life with Him.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." - John 14:6
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
