Thoughts From Beth Moore

Greetings All,

This week’s "thought" comes to you from Beth Moore. It’s found in her book, "Voices of the Faithful - Inspiring Stories of Courage from Christians Around the World.” It has to do with the rare (at least in the West) Christian virtue of contentment. Amazingly Paul told us the secret of contentment in Philippians 4:11-13: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want. I can do all this through Christ who strengthens me.” (NIV)

 

Verse 13 is often quoted (usually out of context) for strength to excel in sports, or get ahead in life, or any multitude of other things, when in its context the strength Paul was talking about was the strength it took to be content when he was "in need" or "had plenty." And it is good to remember that when Paul says he had "plenty” or was “well-fed,” he was not talking of being rich! He was talking of those times when he received a gift from a church (Phil. 4:10) to help him in his missionary endeavors. A gift that covered his living expenses for a time (even his expenses in prison) when he wasn’t able to make tents to earn the money to cover his costs.

As Paul reminds us in II Corinthians 11:27: “I have known hunger and thirst, and have often gone without food, I have been cold and naked…” Those were the times when he was “in need.” Times of “plenty” were the times when he had enough to buy food and drink, get shelter for the night, and buy clothes. “Plenty” to us, and “plenty” to Paul, mean two very different things! That said, I trust Beth Moore’s words about being content may resonate with you as they did with me. Enjoy.

"I'm about to talk to you about contentment. It's not that I’m not content. For crying out loud, I ought to be content! My bird dog lives better than most of the world's human population… I've noticed on a number of occasions, however, that God doesn't mind if I feel like an idiot... So, here's my shot at a subject I know virtually nothing about. My inexperience with more extreme challenges of contentment stems from the fact that I’ve never really lacked... 

To inhabitants of most Third World countries, my husband Keith and I are rolling in cash. So are any of us in America literate enough to read this book. Most Western Christians don't know the first thing about biblical contentment. Then again, perhaps that's why in some ways we should be pitied. We are as addicted to more stuff as a cocaine addict is to his next snort. The more we have, the more we want. What we can't fit in our homes, we move into storage. What we can't pay for we borrow. Relatively speaking, we have more and give less than any people in the world. And we – Western believers – are arguably the most discontented Christians in the world...

Christians like me cannot say with the apostle Paul that we 'have learned to be content whatever the circumstances' because most of us have been less content with plenty than we are with less. Ironically, excess only increases discontentment. Why? Proverbs 13:12 offers a perfect explanation: 'Hope deferred makes the heart sick.' (NIV). In other words, we set our hope on the lie that if we could only have this or that, we will be content. If we get it (or him, or go here, or there), we are astonished to realize that it still doesn't cut it. Our hope that we'll finally be happy if we get what we want inevitably defers, and our hearts are left sick. At least with less, we still have the fantasy. Those with more and more attend one ‘funeral of expectation’ after another.

So, would poverty make us content? Hardly! ... Miserable 'haves’ make miserable 'have nots.’ Unhappy singles make unhappy spouses. Contentment has little to do with what we have or lack. It is a state of mind. One that is far more often learned slowly than suddenly attained, by the way.

Check out the apostle's wording again: 'I have learned to be content' and ‘I have learned the secret of being content.' The original Greek word comes from the same word as 'disciple.' Paul explained that Christ had used circumstances to disciple him in the art of contentment. Discovering the power and presence of Christ in every circumstance was the secret.

 

Both 'haves' and 'have nots' alike need discipleship in contentment. How can 'have nots' learn to be content? I would not insult you by suggesting I know. I'll let some missionaries who have earned the right tell you. But how about the 'haves'? How can those among us with plenty – who find ourselves addicted to ‘more’ by a billion-dollar advertising industry - learn a little contentment? Two suggestions:

1. Practice saying no to ourselves if just for the satisfaction of Spirit-empowered self-discipline.
2. Give! Nothing brings satisfaction like giving (Acts 20:35). If I'm feeling especially selfish, I know that I haven't been giving enough.

 

I lost my mind recently and wrote a check for a suit that was way over my price range. The salesperson hesitated just long enough for me to ask for the check back. I can't describe how good I felt walking out of that ridiculously expensive department store empty-handed. Had the discipleship lesson stopped there, I alone would have been helped. The next day I sensed God leading me to give away the money I was going to spend on that suit. I squirmed, then I submitted. That’s when I learned a secret...”

May the Lord disciple our hearts as well – especially as we head into the holiday season.

In the Bonds of Christian Charity, Pastor Jeff