Content with Contentment

Unfortunately, I have not kept up with this blog very well as I have been very busy and a bit distracted. I still like to blog when I get a chance though and now is one of those chances. Today I wanted to talk about contentment. To start, let my just define contentment. Contentment, as defined by Webster's, means the state of being happy and satisfied. So when God calls us to be content with our finances, situations, or selves, He wants us to be happy with what He has given us and not focus on what He hasn't. Striving for more is not inherently a bad thing, it becomes a bad thing when we idolize that dream or goal. If we make x amount of dollars a week, then we should be happy with that and not greedily desire more or complain about not making more. That was just one example but hopefully that illustrated the point that contentment is a good quality to possess. Take a look at a few of these verses to see some Biblical references to contentment and how it is a good thing. 1 Timothy 6:6-7, Philippians 4:11-12, and Hebrews 13:5 are just a few of the many verses that talk about contentment. I would encourage you to take a look at them and consider how they apply to your own life. Now, I am going to talk about a different type of contentment that is not what we should strive for and what I have been struggling with this past week.

Contentment when it comes to our relationships with both God and people can be problematic. This may be a bit hard to explain so bear with me as I do my best. Contentment in relationships is good but it should not cause you to not try and improve those relationships. I titled this post "Content with Contentment" because that's what I feel like describes that kind of contentment. If we are so content with our relationship with God, for example, that it causes us not to get into the Word or pray or grow closer to him, we are becoming content with our contentment. We are becoming happy and satisfied with where we are at, so much so that we stop trying to grow. We should not let our contentment with the relationships bar our desire to further those relationships.

This is sort of where I am at. I have found that I am generally happy with where my life is right now. I am home and enjoying the time with my family and friends and I'm in a pretty good spot with God, at least I was coming in. I've come to the point where I've lost the desire to expand the relationships with my family (my brothers more specifically), my friends and roommates, and most importantly, God. I came into this summer wanting to grow closer to my family, friends, and God but I have sort of hit a wall. With my brothers, I have just been really discouraged as whenever I suggest something, they turn me down (that statement was not meant to push blame as I can always do more than simply make a suggestion). I want to have more conversations with them beyond surface level stuff but I've lost motivation to do so and, frankly, don't really know how I would do that. With my friends, I feel like I am not putting in an effort to serve them in anyway I can and be there for them when I can. With God, I have not been in the Word much and my prayer life has even faltered a bit. I have just lacked a desire to further my relationship with God which has been really frustrating. Thankfully, however, through God's grace, I've noticed the problem early on and can take action in the right direction. 

I could probably talk more but I'm going to end there. I want to take this opportunity to challenge you to examine your own relationships, both with people and with God, and see if you have become content with contentment. Be happy with the relationships that you have but don't let that deter or demotivate you to further pour into those relationships. Moving forward in relationships can be a bit terrifying (one of the reasons I am hesitant to move forward in some relationships) but they can lead to tremendous growth. Don't let sin and the devil deceive you into thinking that the relationships that you have now are as good as their going to get because they can be so much more. Be intentional with yourself and those around you and continue to point one another towards Christ.

God Bless and Go Blue,

Tedd Sheets