#write31days: on contentment

"But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." - 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Ok friends. Let's have an honest conversation about contentment. What is it? Is it really attainable within our world today? If so, how do we get it? It's definition, according to Google, is "a state of happiness and satisfaction." How do we get to this seemingly elusive state? How do we know when we've reached it?

Now that I've bombarded you with enough questions, let's look at some answers. When I think of contentment, I think about a feeling of being settled. I think about not constantly wanting and grasping and striving for more. When you think about contentment, what comes to mind? Maybe you think of a time when you won't be wishing for the next season. Maybe you think of a time when you'll be satisfied with what is instead of wishing for what was or what is yet to come. 

In the verses above, Paul is writing to Timothy and instructing him by sharing with him all that he knows about how to live a godly life. He says, "But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." Whoa. I don't know about you, but that thought kind of hits me in the gut. Because I've got food and clothing up the wazoo, and I wouldn't call myself content. At least not in an everyday abiding kind of way. The fact is that if you live in the United States of America, you're privileged. Most of the world lives on less than $1 a day. The majority of our population has great opportunity and privilege. 

Yet we find ourselves wanting more. We find ourselves desiring the best of the best of everything. We want to keep up with people who probably aren't paying that much attention to us. We want what we can't afford to impress people we don't even like. We measure ourselves according to life stages and accomplishments and followers on social media and all kinds of things that just. don't. matter. 

Today, let's decide that we won't allow the desire for more to rule and reign. Let's ask God for a spirit of Christlikeness that abides in the simple provisions of every day. 

Tomorrow we will take a look at the lies we believe about contentment. Thank you for following along, and let's encourage one another to believe that what we have is more than enough.