CONTENT

Dawn Dyson
6 days ago
8 min read

Does God actually want and expect us to be CONTENT?

Yes. Otherwise, there would not be a Commandment that flags jealousy as a hinderance to a human soul…

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s (Exodus 20:17, AMPC).

This Commandment (along with the others found in Exodus 20) was given by God when the Israelites had left Egypt and were in the wilderness, “sent out” into the world so to speak, where God knew they would encounter extreme unfamiliarity (newness and strangeness regarding people, places, and things), a human experience which breeds uncertainty but also REQUIRES FAITH like no other event can.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6, KJV).

God requires faith because it is the one token of evidence that we produce through our thoughts, acts, words, behaviors, conduct and internal state that shows God that we do indeed believe that He is. Faith is a gift from God, but it is a gift that we actively use like a muscle, or it withers and fades and is forgotten and fails with neglect.

To keep them safe while He developed their faith via resistance training, God placed parameters around their perceptions. He requires the very same of us today. A loose paraphrase might be:

You shall not covet your neighbor’s million dollar house or pastures, Land Rover, perfect looking family, excessive bank account and investments, position at work where they set their own schedule and never deal with difficult people, reputation, success…or ANYTHING that is your neighbor’s (ANYTHING that is not yours; ANYTHING that I have not given YOU…). And most importantly, do not crave to be who they are or to live their life. You are who YOU are, the one that I made, and your life is unique for My secret reasons.

This fits with the truth that:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17, AMPC).

If God doesn’t give it to you, it won’t bless you. If God doesn’t bring it to you, you don’t want it anyhow.

Nothing will build, stretch, and test your faith more than going without, seeing others have it, and being content waiting on God to decide what He wants to do or not do with you.

This is painful. This takes FOREVER while we are pressed against time and going grey haired and more wrinkly. This is ridiculous in comparison to how hard we have worked. But, God still stands in front of you, waiting just as long for you to look Him in the eye and say, “You know, Lord, I’d rather just have You.”

And there it is, the peace which surpasseth all understanding. It is relationship with God that we crave and it is so simple we miss it.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7, ESV).

Contentment really has nothing to do with anything on the earth, and that is why it evades us so easily. It rather comes from CONFIDENCE that God will be generous to you in His Own sweet, best for you, way and time. He does have forever. He is not rushed, so you and I may as well settle down in our ragingly jealous soul, and live in peace and joy.

And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him (1 John 5:14-15, AMPC).

Think of a child, when they are content and pleasant and loving, you only want to bless them more. But when they are pushy, privileged, and prone to rebellion, they can be exhausting and, frankly, difficult to bless or even communicate with. Which sort of Christian are you for God? What is HIS experience with you?

That’s a hard question to even conceptualize if you are not in close communion and dialogue with God. If that is you (and it is all of us from time to time), simply: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8, NKJV).

But does God REALLY expect me to be content here, in my circumstances, in this fallen world, with this on the news, with that rude person who will not accept me, with this injustice that just happened, and this shocking event?

Yes. The same Commandment, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s…ANYTHING…” does not change. Only the level of Help does. Rather than ourselves becoming frustrated because we do not have [fill in the blank], nor can we force it and make ourselves happy—God wants us to accept Him and His love AS OUR BASIS OF HAPPINESS. We, as believers in Christ Jesus, have the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD Who is Himself pure running joy. God does not change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8), but instead, He changes us (Romans 1:17; 1 Corinthians 15:52). Whatever it is, God wants you to ask HIM for it rather than go out and “make it happen”.

In practical terms, if He tells you to do something, or opens a door, do the good thing that he sets in front of you to do. It will make no earthen sense in that it may not, at least at first, be your preference. For instance, He may place you in a work place with no other individuals who believe like you do—they subscribe to false religions, they are from other nationalities, they are a different political view, they do not understand you and do not respect you. This is the life of a plain, flat-footed missionary, so do not be surprised if that is your experience, or even repeated experience. Make note that you cannot draw from that well, so you must—as a vital necessity—draw straight from God to survive, but He already told you so through His Commandments to the Israelites, and for better measure, sent Christ and the Holy Spirit to reside in you and be with you wherever you may go (Matthew 28:16-20).

Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not] (Hebrews 13:5, AMPC)!

When God is doing nothing (from our view), He is doing the most really. It is our perspective. Our faith. Our attitude. Our motives. Our genuineness. Our personality. Our goals…that are being stretched thin. These are the substances that make us WHO we are, not what we do. These are the traits that God values; the things that He considers carefully when He is designing eternal rewards in the Heavenlies and eternities of the ages. When we are worldly and carnal, we barely give them room to be because they do not make money and we do not have the time—a clear sign we have come off the Word and close fellowship and communion with God. We have come off the Vine.

At this point, where we—as a person, now—emerge sickly of soul, mind, and body and depleted of strength, purpose and verve for living, God kindly shows you all of the neglected things on the inside of you and asks you, “Wouldn’t you be more content if you gave yourself some room in your own life?”

You see, Satan, if he cannot get you to outright sin, will get you so distracted and run down that you forget about all the things God values on the inside of you. It is the neglect of a perfectly, beloved RELATIONSHIP between you and God and it requires YOU to be an integral part of it. Satan would like nothing more than for you to forget all about it and move on…to nothingness, dryness, lostness, the wilderness dust.

Don’t.

Get back up and get walking again with the Lord and DEFEND this Relationship with your very life. This is Faith. This is Forgiveness. Christ does it. Just get back up and get back on track with God.

Our souls beg our focus and energy when we get to the place where we are just going through the motions and wondering about our past life with God—how beautiful it was.

Saint, it still is. Take the blinders off and get back in step with Him. Get back into the Word and book a standing appointment with God on your calendar before you book with anybody else for any other reason and do not break it. Keep it. And He will keep you, even there, where you are.

Contentment shows out as the ultimate Confidence (we confide in God through the Name, Word and Blood of Jesus Christ, and have vital union always via the Holy Spirit). See 1 John 5:14-15 again… “And this is the confidence…” and it is found in Him, not your bank account, not the career ladder, not the rat race, not the next unhappy person you have to appease, no. Confidence is found in close union with Jesus Christ. Ask Him for whatever you need and be content as you wait, wait, wait…

And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him (1 John 5:14-15, AMPC).

Contentment and confidence come down to TRUST. Do you trust God after everything you have been through? I sincerely hope that you do, because “all you have been through” is simply this: a testament to His using you. It has been a lot. It has been unfair. It has been embarrassing. It has been so uncomfortable for such a long time. It has been somewhat the opposite of what you would have chosen. It has been extremely unusual. It has been a long, hard road.

But when He looks you in the eye all He can see is beauty and a warrior.

Whoever said actual, flat-footed Christianity was easy, misspoke. But there isn’t anything better under the sun. Be content with your lot and have faith in God, trust God, because He is using you in His great Commission and there is no higher calling here.

Here is truth regarding lasting fruit, a full cup: If it is a Godly pursuit, He is with you to develop it. Your soul, once you start to BELIEVE this again, will become satisfied on it, “fat” even. Healthy, shiny, rich. And, not one dollar or cent can be found in the heart of it. Contentment is found inside of God’s heart, mind, soul, strength—we just reflect it the nearer we are to Him. Old-fashioned faith is revived in you. Do things with Him and you’ll be surprised where you find real peace.

“Do not covet…anything” works like a gauge which plainly indicates if you are abiding in Christ, OR if you have stepped outside of Him. Get back into the pure and holy FREEDOM strictly found In Him and embrace His arms, confines and boundaries for you. There is no other place to be content.

May God bless you.

REFERENCES

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. May not copy or download more than 500 consecutive verses of the ESV Bible or more than one half of any book of the ESV Bible.

King James Version (KJV), Public domain.

DAWN DYSON

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