My first sentence was, "I can't wait." Being content with what I have, the time line someone else hands me... let's just say it hasn't always been my strong suit. During every car ride as a child I used to ask, "Are we there yet?" I even had an annoying little song to sing about the subject. So much of this stemmed from my ability (or lack thereof) to be content.
1 Timothy 6:6 says:
"But godliness is actually a great gain when accompanied by contentment."
Aren't we always supposed to strive for godliness? How could that ever not be "a great gain"? According to Paul's instructions to his protégé Timothy, sometimes our quest for holiness, our quest for more, has a motivation that negates its blessing in our lives. The Bible commentator Matthew Henry wrote "If nature should be content with a little, grace should be content with less." And when it comes to grace from God in and for my life-- I have been the recipient in abundance!
It's interesting how Paul links our quest for godliness to contentment, and then quickly (just a few verses later) shows how a lack of contentment leads to a love of money, and the love of money is the root of evil. How fast we fall down that slippery slope. But somewhere along the way, I think those of us who 'want more,' have given the idea of 'being content' a negative connotation-- That in order to be godly, it means we can't ask for more. In other words, we're stuck with what we have.
But according to God, contentment is not a passive acceptance of "this is all I get." It's an active acceptance of "look what God has provided."
In another letter Paul wrote, "I have learned, in whatever circumstances I'm in, to be content" (Phil 4:11). And then only two verses later he said, "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13). In his second letter to the church in Corinth Paul declared that God says to us, "My grace is sufficient for you" (2 Cor 12:9). The word sufficient has the same root word as contentment.
I can be content with His grace, because since it's endless--that's certainly always enough! Through Christ, I can do all things! Paul wasn't saying, "Take what you get and deal with it!" He was calling us to see Who we've gained from, place it in perspective, and give proper glory for proper reasons.
So do I feel like I am "there yet?" No. But as long as I continue to be content with what God is doing and what He has blessed me with, He will strengthen me for even more in His name.
