Of late, a topic my sisters and I have discussed repeatedly has cropped up once more. As teenagers, it is common in today’s society to set our sights on the future–in fact it seems to many that life only begins in that “someday” when this or that goal can be accomplished–disregarding our present circumstances. This lack of contentment, though an accepted facet of society, is devastating to our culture, our society, and our future: If you are not content today, you will not be content when the thing you are longing for occurs, nor will you ever be content. The fact is, contentment must be learned and practiced–just like patience, or like mathematics and reading for that matter.
The products of this lack of content are many, and often attributed to other things. Grandfathers abandoning their families for younger women, mothers abandoning their children, and even that commonplace ailment–depression–stem from a lack of contentment. Now, I am aware that there are other causes to these problems as well, however, the widespread phenomena of discontentment does contribute significantly to many societal and familial ills.
The surface level reasons for this discontentment–ambition, excitement about the future–are just that: surface level. They do not in any way help us to understand WHY this practice of discontentment is encouraged. However, an insight I had this morning has helped me to understand to a small degree: there are two radically different viewpoints on contentedness today. One is a secular viewpoint, the other is the viewpoint of a follower of Christ. I am going to quickly outline both viewpoints, and get to my conclusion.
Secular viewpoint:
Succinctly, the secular viewpoint on contentment is summed up quite nicely by the term “stick in the mud.” Our society encourages ambition, and makes a deity of success above all else. Thus, words like “satisfied”, “content”, and “waiting”, are foreign to their thought process. This is because it is paramount–in their minds–to go out and do, to accomplish, to better oneself and one’s station in life. Sayings like “the grass is greener,” though cliched, are adequate and accurate descriptions of many of their lives. This “Seize the Day” type of thinking causes them to view contented persons as sticks in the mud, those who are unwilling to release what they have to find something better, those who just don’t care about their futures or their lives. To many of these people, to be content is to admit defeat.
Christ-like viewpoint:
In direct contrast to this viewpoint is the one held by followers of Christ. As Christians, we have no need to “Seize the Day,” the creator of day dwells within us! We have no need to search for “greener pastures,” because the Lord is our Shepherd! Our contentment does not stem from a complacent, uncaring spirit. Rather, it stems from a trusting one: a spirit that is waiting on the Lord in the very fullness of that term. One who trusts the Lord with his life, with his future. How is this type of trust being content? If you trust the Lord to do what is best for you, you will know without doubt that whatever situation you are in, wherever you live, whatever amount of success you experience, is exactly where God wants you to be at that moment in time. This does not mean that you cling to the situation you are in, it means you are willing to go where the Lord leads. As Paul said, “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound…” This is true contentment–thriving where the Lord puts you! Whether it be prison, or a mansion.
Conclusion:
Contentment is not shunning opportunity– it is putting oneself fully into the hands of the One who owns the future.
Contentment is not an uncaring spirit–it is one that cares very much, and trusts.
To be content doesn’t mean that you are giving up all hopes and dreams–it means that you are placing them in the hands of your Father!
Courtney
