A Purpose in Being Discontent
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An airline pilot was flying over the Tennessee mountains and pointed out a lake to his copilot. “See that little lake?” he said. “When I was a kid I used to sit in a rowboat down there, fishing. Every time a plane would fly overhead, I’d look up and wish I was flying it. Now I look down and wish I was in a rowboat, fishing.”
I’ve recently read a lot of articles about being discontent and contentment. I guess you could also use the words…maybe dissatisfaction and satisfaction.
dissatisfied frustrated discontented displeased disgruntled disillusioned unhappy aggrieved
malcontent out of joint disappointed depressed unfulfilled disenchanted
miserable despairing sorrowful disconsolate dejected disquieted inconsolable
joyless doleful downcast despondent mournful downhearted
hangdog low-spirited down
We go after what we think will make us happy only to find that it didn’t work; in fact, we were happier before we started the quest. It’s like the story of two teardrops floating down the river of life. One teardrop said to the other, “Who are you?” “I’m a teardrop from a girl who loved a man and lost him. Who are you?” “I’m a teardrop from the girl who got him.”
I heard one person say it this way....Contentment is elusive pursuit.
If you just think about the world around us you can see the pursuit of contentment in us and around us everyday.
We might find that our the financial debt we carry is from trying to purchase happiness in different ways…only to be anxious paying off the debt.
Houses… the national average for years in one home, before moving, is about 15 years. Within that stat you’ll find that if you’re from Florida that moves down to 7 years…out west…sometimes down to 6. And the more a family makes…the less time they stay in one place. Now those are just numbers…stats…but I think we can see patterns…human behavior…in patterns.
Relationships…are hard…marriage, friendships, coworkers…classmates…they’re hard…right? We see that stats here…and in the age of social media…things can be very hard.
Jobs…4-4.5 years for length of tenure.
All these stats…and for sure there are extenuating circumstances that bring about a need for change…but I will be honest…I think we can all be honest…sometimes we change or go after something new because we’re simply discontent. Something isn’t bringing us happiness like we thought it would. So we look for greener grass.
Sometime ago there appeared in a newspaper a cartoon showing two fields divided by a fence. Both fields were about the same size and each had plenty of the same kind of grass, green and lush.
In each field there was a mule, and each mule had his head through the fence eating grass from the other mule’s pasture. All around each mule in his own field was plenty of grass, yet the grass in the other field seemed greener or fresher, although it was harder to get.
And in the process the mules were caught in the wires and were unable to extricate themselves. The cartoonist put just one word at the bottom of the picture—“DISCONTENT.”
We argue over fairness and rights…people sue each other for justice…we buy lottery tickets hoping…(we talked about that a few weeks ago right?)...
Dis-contentedness -
Now , I am not saying that change is bad....at all…what I am saying is this…we really need to evaluate what our dis contentedness is showing us. Rather…where will we find true contentment?
For some there is always the search for adventure, or quiet, or a thrill, the adrenaline rush...
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Some of you have walked through this or with someone walking through this....alcohol or drug addictions…really…any addiction does this in the brain. You’re crave that feeling that you have when you’re doing something or taking something…and then…the next time…to get that same feeling you need more of that thing…To the point where an alcholic will say…one more drink won’t matter…and when he or she says that to themselves…they really believe it is true. The brain tells you …I’M DISCONTENT>>>I NEED MORE>>> And so you’ll be on your screens a bit more or you’ll binge watch that show…or you’ll take one more drink.
I think the chase after life is like that. We’re much of the time…searching for the next thing. That next feeling.
Lots of things to search for…security, fulfillment, worthy, like you mean something to others, the search for purpose, meaning…success, happiness, fulfillement…we have all these words for .... filling an appetite within us don’t we?
Discontent seems to be a root in all of this doesn’t it?
Now, I know that not all of you would say that you’re drowning in discontentment…I know that. But there are times right? Some of you might be there right now. But I think we can do something with this.
From a birds eye view…what is this feeling of discontent trying to tell us....this feeling that …the next thing…or something different…or something more will make us supremely happy. Like a taco bell crunch wrap supreme. that’s good stuff....but you better be ready for what comes next…not so much contentment there....
What does this feeling of discontent showing us?
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Think about being a disciple of Christ. In being a disciple…a follower…what is the goal? Recreated (reborn) into the image of Jesus.
Having Him in you and you in Him. Living life exactly like it was meant to be lived…loving God with everything you have…and loving others more than yourself…because you know you’re already loved by the One who can give you everything you need. …meaning…knowing that…you can be perfectly content....no matter what is going on around you.
That’s our goal in following Jesus. That’s His goal for you and me.
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And we chase life…darting in and out of the feelings of disconnectedness.
One article I read said that we something live in the arena of “if - only’s.”
If only I could do… if only this would change…if only that person would …if only those people or that group would do this or that....if only i had more…less…something different. If only...
One article I read talk about disconnectedness being a sin....looking at what it does to us…or what it can do to us.
Where I can certainly understand what that author was saying…I think I’d like to see the idea of being discontent as something that could move us to more sin, to the wrong worldview, to the wrong impression of God and others, to selfishness for certain right?.... …or move us to more of the image of Christ. Make us more aware of the situation we’re in right now.
Paul wrote into this idea of being discontent or content.
The book of Philippians was written by Paul…he was in prison. He’s writing from prison. And the church families in Philippi hat send him some gifts while he was there…he was telling them of his situation…but also his mindset.
It’s really a fascinating letter for anyone who is struggling with the wants and needs of life.
I want to read a few things to you from this little letter, passages that may be familiar to you…so you kind of get the “feeling” or “overall purpose” of this letter.
3 I thank my God every time I remember you.
4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy
5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
contentment…keep going …God started something in you…he will carry it out...
Paul goes on…and remember now, he’s in prison…not knowing what will come of this....
In the next section he writes of how incredible things are happening because he’s there…the whole imperial guard knows about Jesus now…I’ve had the chance to talk to everyone here about Jesus.
20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
I don’t want to become discontent in my situation…I want to keep going with what God is doing
And now you see what Paul’s thinking. He may or may not live through this…but...
In the next section he basically says this…some of you have heard me say this…Paul says…if they kill me I win…I get to be with Jesus and I will be changed. Wow! Awesome! But if not…I get to share this Good News even more…I take more people with me. Either way…I’m cool with it.
Then he says this…again…remember…by reading through snippets here we’re trying to get a feeling for what Paul’s purpose is....And he does land this here in a bit.
He’s in prison…He’s received some gifts…probably monetary. He’s writing back…encouraging and soon thanking them.
Philippians 1:27 (CSB)
27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ...
Here’s where he goes next (again I encourage you to read this as a whole letter)…but for the sake of focus we’re going to do snippets here....
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
Minister to others love others more than yourselves...
And then Paul writes this passage:
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Paul then goes and tells them again…please praise God for all He’s doing in and for you. Boast not about yourselves but Him. Work out your salvation…meaning, you were saved for something incredible…keep going.
And then he drops the line…and even if I die for following Christ…be glad. Rejoice with me....
Paul then goes into some personal notes about certain people and some more notes about himself...
What he’s trying not to do is say…woe is me...
He’s thankful for the help that they’ve provided.
He does, in a way, say it wasn’t necessary…but that it was a blessing…and he is grateful....
but here’s the gist…Paul has come to a point where he can say, without any doubt....he has everything he needs. He has Jesus.
Even in tough circumstances…He has Jesus. And when he thinks about NEED…true need…Jesus is it.
10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Help each other in this…this life is not easy… we all reach understanding in different ways and on different time lines! Be gentle with each other...
Another passage:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Why do we need our hearts guarded? Why does Paul say, present all your requests to God? Because we’re often discontent with life… Go to God with with your discontentment. He will provide you His peace....and then Jesus will guard your heart…a heart that will chase after things in this world that look good enough to fulfill you....things of the world that will only lead you to more discontent.
Paul then says again…thank you for helping me…that’s awesome…i don’t want you to think that I was in NEED though. I’m never in need if I have Jesus.
He lands with this passage.
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. 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.
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation...
CS Lewis....I was made for a different world.
In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis famously wrote, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” This fallen world is fundamentally dissatisfying. As Lewis explains, “Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy [our desire], but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing.” This is where we often go wrong. When earthly pleasures don’t satisfy, we dwell there rather than hope for something better.
Our dissatisfaction has a purpose, then. It points to “the real thing” we desire. We should be discontent (to a certain extent) with earthly pleasures. If they’re satisfying us, then we’re far too easily pleased. The problem of our discontent is when we believe earthly gains solve our inner desires. It leads us to covet what God has given others, and we become ungrateful for his provision in our own lives.
Instead, Lewis says, “I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same.”
By taking time to understand our desires, we find what we really want is something only heaven can offer. Instead of grumbling about what’s lacking, we anticipate the fullness and satisfaction we’ll enjoy there—and we encourage others to do the same.
Our discontent with this present world nurtures our desire for the next.
And we can be thankful: though money can’t buy true happiness or heaven, Jesus bought us both.
Treasure Kingdom…buying a field…after giving up everything to get it.
Run the race....in a way to receive the prize....shake off everything that hinders you....
Where your treasure is....there is your heart also....
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
