September 30, 2007
"CONTENTMENT or The Life that Really is Life "


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1 Timothy 6: 1 - 19 NRSV

"Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time--he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life."



Before movie companies were careful about Swahili translations--assuming no one in the U.S. would understand--a director needed an African messenger who was to gasp out a sentence to the big chief, collapsing as he delivered his message, since he had run for days with his vital news. A local Englishman who spoke Swahili was asked to write an urgent-sounding sentence in the language. He did, tongue in cheek. An American actor played the part beautifully. All went well until the movie was shown in Nairobi (where everyone spoke Swahili, of course). The drama of the moment was reduced to high comedy. What the messenger actually said as he threw himself, exhausted, before the chief was, "I do not think I am getting paid enough money for this part." - (B. and J. Leslie-Melville, Elephant Have Right of Way. )

How many of us often feel this way. I don't get paid enough for all this work, all these headaches, all these responsibilities. How do we find contentment?

An interesting poll took place in the 90s reversing data gathered at the beginning of the 80s during the Reagan era. In polls at the onset of the Reagan era, 2 of every 3 respondents said they expected to be better off than their parents. Almost three fourth of the 1,000 people who answered a Roper poll for Shearson Lehman Brothers say the American Dream is "harder to attain" than a generation ago. And 60 percent say achieving the dream requires more financial risk than it did for their parents. The poll also finds that some of the values held most dear during the 1980s -- like wealth, power and fame -- are those that Americans are now most likely to deem "unimportant." The most important elements of today's American Dream center on family and friends. But money remains something to dream about. For Americans with household incomes under $25,000, it would take $54,000 a year to fulfill the American dream. Those who make $100,000 plus crave an average of $192,000. In other words, the American Dream usually lies nearly twice the distance away. - (Amy Bernstein, U.S. News & World Report, July 27, 1992, p. 11.)

The American dream is not the answer. Money, possessions, fame, power - they don't bring lasting contentment.

In the fifth century, a man named Arenius determined to live a holy life. So he abandoned the conforms of Egyptian society to follow an austere lifestyle in the desert. Yet whenever he visited the great city of Alexandria, he spent time wandering through its bazaars. Asked why, he explained that his heart rejoiced at the sight of all the things he didn't need. Those of us who live in a society flooded with goods and gadgets need to ponder the example of that desert dweller. A typical supermarket in the United States in 1976 stocked 9,000 articles; today it carries 30,000. How many of them are absolutely essential? How many superfluous? - (Our Daily Bread, May 26, 1994.)

So, do we give up our jobs or schooling and go to the desert? Maybe join a convent or monastery to find contentment, holding all things in common? Not necessarily. There is value in the monastic life, but that is impractical for most of us.

Paul gives us the answer in the first two verses of our passage! You have to have a wedding! You have to wed together personal salvation and spiritual growth! That is what godliness and contentment combined look like. Too many stop at the belief - Not too many give themselves to God's drawing board!

So, what does a growing person look like? [Allow congregation to answer] A growing person will be doing four things: attending corporate worship, pray on a regular basis, study the Bible regularly and serve God in some way. I would go as far as to say that if you show me a discontented person, I will show you someone who is not growing spiritually.

Second, we have got to think about our end more than we tend to. I began to contemplate my end while in the hospital. What a sobering thing to do.

Show picture of a hearse hauling a U-Haul.

Even though this is impossible, many of us live like we can take it with us. You can't get much further from the truth if you believe you can. So why do so many of us put such a focus on our things here instead of our heavenly life? Perhaps we have missed Jesus teaching: store up treasures for yourself in heaven, where moth and rust can not corrupt. The only way to improve our heavenly reward is to not get so caught up in our earthly rewards. And there is no way to have contentment with godliness unless you enhance your relationship with Christ while you have time to do it. If you love someone, you want to be with them and to nurture the relationship. A growing spiritual life requires the same. You have to spend time with him - in his word, in worship, in prayer and in service. There is no other way to do it.

Paul wrote that he was content in any situation: (Phil 4:11 - 13 NIV)


“…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Jesus was the very source and focus no matter what Paul faced - plenty or want. If your job stinks, focus on working for Christ, not your boss. If your car is on its last leg, focus on Christ: if you need a car to live, he will supply. If you can't stand your teacher, be a student as if you were a student of Christ. These things change the focus and bring contentment.
At last, don't forget what you do have: “I had no shoes and complained until I met a man who had no feet.”

Now, understand that I am not saying that improving your circumstances is not important. James Mackintosh put it well: “Be content with what you have, never with what you are.” Self-improvement is a great thing, but only as it relates to fulfilling God's call in your life.

I'll close with this poem written by a person who greatly influenced the lives of John Wesley, Phillip Otterbein and Martin Boehm - John Bunyan.

He that is down needs fear no fall;
He that is low, no pride;
He that is humble, ever shall Have God to be his guide.
I am content with what I have,
Little be it, or much;
And, Lord, contentment still I crave,
Because Thou savest such. - (John Bunyan, quoted in Anthology of Jesus.)

Contentment is the life that is really life!


Brian

Rev. Brian Seders