“We are called to contentment. Contentment does not come when we acquire enough. It is a product of the way we think.”- John Ortberg
“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.”- Philippians 4:12 (NIV)
As John Ortberg concludes Chapter 17 of When the Game is Over, he defines our greatest hunger as spiritual. Therefore, we hunger for meaning, love, and redemption. In addition, the condition underlying all our wanting consists of our desire for God. We also want God to set creation right. And that, Pastor Ortberg states, begins with that little piece of creation better known as your body and soul.
However, our wanting gets distorted. For example, consider the folly of the rich fool in Jesus’ parable (Luke 12:16-21). The rich fool believes storing grain solves the problem of his human existence. As Pastor Ortberg adds, “He (the rich fool) worships at the shrine of the bulging barn.”
Furthermore, John notes, we live in a world where we sell what nobody needs. Conversely, the human heart possesses the opposite problem: we need what nobody sells. Therefore, the author observes, our insatiable natures must be telling us something important. Perhaps our dissatisfaction mirrors God’s discontent with the way things are.
Finally, as the apostle Paul reminds us, contentment is an acquired skill. And in Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?, Philip Yancey relates the story of a spiritual seeker. The seeker chose to interrupt his busy, acquisitive life to spend a few days in a monastery. Showing the seeker to his room, the monk said:
“I hope your stay is a blessed one. If you need anything, let us know, and we’ll teach you how to live without it.”
Today’s question: How has God called you to contentment? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Friendship and love come as gifts”
