The Secret of Contentment

Little kids love to pretend, don’t they?  I watched three children recently playing ‘school.’  Two worked on their lessons and their little brother was the ‘teacher.’  He was really into his role, especially when he handed out discipline!  He enjoyed the temporary authority that his role gave him.  Adults slip into playacting, too.  We cover that insecure little kid that we feel like with titles, clothing, cars, and offices.  Sometimes it is hard to know where reality starts and image ends. Bluff and bluster are such a big part of the world we live in, aren’t they?

Christians need not play games, pretend, or pose. In fact, when we do these things, we fail the grace of God! One of the gifts He provides is the security of His unfailing love which allows us to be authentic people, no more, no less than HE created us to be.  Paul, when his ministry was attacked and demeaned, stood on the calling of God.  To those who dismissed him as nothing and no one he wrote, "Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:4-6, NIV)   Did you note that phrase at the center of that passage?  “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant!”

God called you into His family, equipped you to serve Him, and prepared you for His purposes. Who needs anything more than that? Who needs admiration, applause, or approval?   Oh that we would rest on His call and confirmation!  Living securely in God’s call allows us to do whatever we do in the best way possible. We are freed from the need to complain, liberated from self-consciousness.  We can say "by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:10-11, NIV)

It should go without saying that our identity is not found in a perfectly shaped body, the house we live in, the college from which we got our degree, the title we have been given, or the kind of clothing we wear.  But, for too many, these are the things that define life. Comparison is a cruel kind of slavery. There is always someone to envy if we choose to live that way.  Terrible discontent is born when we look at others and define ‘success’ by their accomplishments.  I am not making any arguments for mediocrity today.   Living for God’s glory is our high calling. Knowing that we all stand before Christ Jesus give Him an account of our stewardship of His gifts ought to keep us honest.  It is both sobering and comforting to know that He does not grade us in comparison to anyone else.  He asks us to be all that He calls us to be. "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:10, NLT)

Are you pretending, living in ways that are not authentic?  Are you allowing fear or pride to own your heart, stirring up discontent?  Kneel before the One who called you to know Him, who saved you from sin, who has given you eternal life. Humbly confess that childish sin of pretense and accept the gifts He’s given you.  Pray for courage to be all that He desires, for His glory alone.  Here’s the word from the Word. Paul reminds us that he had a great pedigree and, by human standards, had a record of real accomplishments.  But, what does he really value?  Read and learn. "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ" (Philippians 3:8, NLT)

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Knowing You

All I once held dear, built my life upon.

All this world reveres and wars to own.

All I once thought gain I have counted loss,

Spent and worthless now compared to this.

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You;

There is no greater thing!

You're my all, You're the best,

You're my joy, my righteousness,

And I love You, Lord.

Now my heart's desire is to know You more,

To be found in You and known as Yours,

To possess by faith what I could not earn,

All surpassing gift of righteousness.

Oh to know the pow'r of Your risen life

And to know You in Your sufferings.

To become like You in Your death, my Lord,

So with You to live and never die!

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You;

There is no greater thing!

You're my all, You're the best,

You're my joy, my righteousness,

And I love You, Lord.

Graham Kendrick

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