Reflections on... Contentment

Signs of Despair...

Job 15 :1
1 "I loathe my very life;
therefore I will give free rein to my complaint
and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.

Wow, this was a Job kind of response. I know that Job loved God and God "kept" Him in the midst of his response. Victoriously, He brought him full circle to a richer understanding.
And, while I know there are so many that have come to the point that they "loathe their very life." I pray that they too would be committed as He is committed to us. Willing to wrestle as Jacob but not for our own gratification rather remembering that we are the created and He is the Creator. And there will be stuff... lots of yucky stuff that we won't grasp perhaps until we walk into His full presence.

I have not had a season such as this where I have loathed my own life. And, though the day may come; for now I pray that He will use me to bring hope to others.


Signs of Discontent...

Might we catch ourselves before the cravings of our hearts and our lack of discontentment become idols that offer hope but lead to destruction.

Proverbs 30:15
15 "The leech has two daughters.
'Give! Give!' they cry.
"There are three things that are never satisfied,
four that never say, 'Enough!'
16 the grave, the barren womb,
land, which is never satisfied with water,
and fire which never says, 'Enough!'


Signs of Abandonment...

Regardless of where we are "materially," at any moment are we able to say enthusiastically, "It is all for You!," expanding the kingdom through our circumstances and if He asked... would we be able to relinquish it?... all for the sake of the kingdom. For it is the kingdom for which we were made, not for such things or for ourselves living as an island in isolation.
As well abandoning any sense of obligation to asceticism rather enjoying the Earth in relationship with others. Knowing that this is a pale reflection of what is to come!

Ecclesiastes 6:6
6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

The Church #3

Ephesians 6
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2"Honor your father and mother"
—which is the first commandment with a promise—
3"that it may go well with you
and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
4Fathers, do not exasperate your children;
instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters
5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear,
and with sincerity of heart,
just as you would obey Christ.
6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you,
but like slaves of Christ,
doing the will of God from your heart.
7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,
8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

9And masters, treat your slaves in the same way.
Do not threaten them,
since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven,
and there is no favoritism with him.

The Armor of God
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
11Put on the full armor of God
so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,
but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world
and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
13Therefore put on the full armor of God,
so that when the day of evil comes,
you may be able to stand your ground,
and after you have done everything, to stand.
14Stand firm then,
with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
15and with your feet fitted with the readiness
that comes from the gospel of peace.
16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,
with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.
18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions
with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth,
words may be given me so that
I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
20for which I am an ambassador in chains.
Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

The Church #2

Ephesians 5
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us
and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,
or of any kind of impurity,
or of greed,
because these are improper for God's holy people.
4Nor should there be obscenity,
foolish talk
or coarse joking,
which are out of place,
but rather thanksgiving.
5For of this you can be sure:
No immoral, impure or greedy person
—such a man is an idolater—
has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6Let no one deceive you with empty words,
for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
7Therefore do not be partners with them.

15Be very careful, then, how you live
—not as unwise but as wise,
16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
17Therefore do not be foolish,
but understand what the Lord's will is.
18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.
Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,
his body, of which he is the Savior.
24Now as the church submits to Christ,
so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love your wives,
just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
26to make her holy,
cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
27and to present her to himself as a radiant church,
without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish,
but holy and blameless.
28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
29After all, no one ever hated his own body,
but he feeds and cares for it,
just as Christ does the church—
30for we are members of his body.
31"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."
32This is a profound mystery—
but I am talking about Christ and the church.
33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself,
and the wife must respect her husband.

The Church #1

Ephesians 4
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then,
I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
2Be completely humble and gentle;
be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
4There is one body and one Spirit—
just as you were called to one hope when you were called—
5one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.

14Then we will no longer be infants,
tossed back and forth by the waves,
and blown here and there by every wind of teaching
and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
15Instead, speaking the truth in love,
we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head,
that is, Christ.
16From him the whole body,
joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood
and speak truthfully to his neighbor,
for we are all members of one body.
26"In your anger do not sin":
Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27and do not give the devil a foothold.
28He who has been stealing must steal no longer,
but must work, doing something useful with his own hands,
that he may have something to share with those in need.

29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs,
that it may benefit those who listen.
30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander,
along with every form of malice.
32Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Trials and Temptations... James

Continuing in James I am reminded that the one in humble circumstances should take "pride" in their high position while the rich should take "pride" in his low position.
Okay, I remind myself that the fact is that riches are like wildflowers, here today and gone tomorrow. The sun or the natural aging and progression of life rises and scorches the plant thus it withers. It's blossoms fall and it's beauty is destroyed. As does all things in this life. Beauty, health (physical, mentally, emotionally), and wealth are merely a fleeting pleasure. And we aren't even ensured a slow decline for the rich man will fade away even during his prime.
Sobering and debilitating... if we choose to be like the rich, young ruler who yearned to hold on to all he had accomplished. Though the following words are refreshing if we are willing to surrender it all for the work of the cross. Blessed is the one who perseveres, for he who stands the test will receive the crown of life. And, really isn't that what we want... to be accepted, to belong, and to be recognized? If only we will surrender the glory to our Maker.
And, let us not say that God is our tempter, though we are tempted. For He cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. We are each tempted by our evil desires. And, our desires once conceived matures into sin and ultimately if not slain will lead to death.

Trials and Temptations- James

Below, I have included the passage, this reflection is based upon.
Pure Joy, trials...
Hmm! to think we should consider trials as pure joy. Trials, here, is the same Greek word used for tempted in v. 13. (Verses 2-3 focus on outward difficulties, verses 13-15 focus on the inner temptations to sin.) So both trials and temptations should be considered with pure joy. Joy? And, not just joy, but pure joy. An adventure, knowing that it is bigger than us and there must be more to it than just our sad plight. It works into a larger theme of a story that is not just our own. And this rising action from these trials and temptations will lead us to an ultimate climax and the denoument when we finally go ahh! now I can truly rest in our eternal sabbath (the arms of Jesus.)

In the meantime, resting in the fact, according to God, that faith tests develop perseverance. And, perseverance leads to maturity and completion.
Perseverance- never giving up while maintaining the joy, pure joy.

Maturity- the state of being ready. Hmm! Ready for what? Ready to journey through the refiners fire. Anything truly good is worth working for. We're made to work out all things that come our way. He doesn't send ho hum sameness and guess what we actually don't want it that way. We truly want opportunities to become better, to grow taller. We're not made to just go with the flow, not having goals, and not rising above the level of mediocrity.

Therefore by sticking to the path even when narrow and resistant we move closer to being mature enough for new and more exciting challenges, and then ultimately completion. Completion of this "race." The finish line?... the day we see Jesus face to face. And it is then that He will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Though it's not the finish, the end, rather the beginning of life, the way He intended it. And, not lacking anything.

In the meantime, if we lack wisdom then ask Him for it. He gives generously to all without finding fault. Ask, believing (without doubting.) When we doubt we are like the waves tossed about by the wind. Otherwise do not think you will receive. Instead stand firm! Cling to the Rock.

The double-minded are unstable in all they do. Set a goal- Jesus. And let's keep our eyes on Him. It was when Peter allowed himself to look at the conflict surrounding him, that he began to sink. Let's turn our eyes upon Jesus.

How does that play out? For me, it comes each morning when I wake and begin my day with my family. Taking each 15 minutes in light of whose I am. Being consistent,



2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.