Morning Moments

”I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).
“Discontent! Was there ever a time when there was so much restlessness in the world as there is today? We very much doubt it. Despite our boasted progress, the vast increase of wealth, the time and money expended daily in pleasure, discontent is everywhere.” (Arthur Pink)

How much money would it take to make you happy? Would you answer a million, a billion, just enough to pay off my debts, a nice safety net savings account? The truth is that there is no amount of money or material things that can make one happy.

I know folks with tons of money who are absolutely miserable. I have known people who had “everything”, yet take their own lives. Our world is spinning so out of control because there is little contentment. We are discontented about the economy, the environment, the energy, the enemy (terrorism) and even with each other. What we have called “progress” has brought us to great burden.

STOP! “Consider the lilies of the field; they toil not, neither do they spin, yet Solomon in all of his glory was not arrayed as one of these.” We are stretched out and stressed out and we must straighten up. It is all in the hands of a loving Father who has, is, and will continue working to protect the righteous and punish the unrighteous.

I am reminded of the fellow who came to me for counsel years ago. We lived in a rural area and he had been able to provide a good living for his family. He attended church upon occasion. Things had suddenly turned sour for him. The business was failing. He could do nothing to save it and he was concerned about what everyone would think of him, etc. etc.

I asked if he would be willing to give it all to someone who could change things. He said, “I would give it all up in a minute and walk away with my family”. I responded, “I know of one man who can and will take this whole matter and lift the burden from you”. He asked, “WHO”?

I said, “Jesus” and he dropped his head and began to weep and at that moment he opened his heart to the LORD of ALL. I asked, “Did you really mean that?” To which he answered, “I certainly did”. I asked, “Do you have a shovel?” He looked at me as if I were crazy. “Yes, why?” he replied. I said, “Go and get it”. When he returned with the shovel, I led him across the dirt road to an empty field. I said, “Dig!” He began to dig and in a moment I ask him to dump all those burdens, fears, embarrassment, and everything else in that hole and cover it up and walk away and never look back.

He lost his business and moved away. BUT one thing I knew – “He had been changed by the grace of God and found CONTENTMENT in Jesus.

Years later, he looked me up and said as a man of God, “That moment changed my life forever, and God has guided me and graced me and given me more than I ever lost. I was so discontented, but have learned that contentment with godliness is great gain.”

Are you discontented? If so, it will work for you also.

BLESSINGS!