Content? I Take it all Back!

In the course of a day or week, I'm wondering how many things we end up saying or doing we wish we could take back or do over in a slightly different way.  In most situations in my own life, I tend to live by the thought that we really should only regret our actions and words to the extent that they have hurt others.  In effect then, is the trust that everything we say, do, and experience, whether constructive or harmful is something we can learn and grow from (IF of course, at the end of the day, we are consistently and genuinely striving for righteousness in Christ in our lives).  When we put God into any aspect of our lives, we're sure to find that our paths lead to Him, no matter through which mess that path may first travel.

So, in regard to to above, what exactly is it that I wish to take back this morning??  Nothing.  But, it was a good way to start out my thoughts.

Our three part study on Contentment ("Gratitude and Gravy") that we did in November was one of our most powerful studies yet.  Countless testimonies poured into my e-mail and out of conversations about how each Sunday was really convicting many at Horizons.  I too was convicted by the lessons we learned.  I am thankful for the chance to dig into contentment with such depth and intention.

HOWEVER, this is the other conversation I had with some at Horizons:  am I sure I really wanted to be preaching about being content and comfortable?  Isn't that one of the greatest evils affecting God's church today?  We fall into contentment and thereafter refuse to be moved forward in our faith and relationship with Jesus.  In other words, contentment breads complacency, which ultimately gives way to a dying body of Christ.

This is true.

Here's the twist:  There are two general areas of contentment in our lives:  contentment with what we have from the world, and contentment with where we are in Christ Jesus.  While we must learn to be content in the first, we must refuse to be content in the second.  Let us never give way to complacency in our faith and nearness to our God.

In fact, while it may have been a concern that our conversation on contentment in the world may run over into our contentment with God, the truth is that the only way truly to find contentment with what we have been given in the world is to grow more discontent with our current relationship with Christ.  How else could we expect suddenly to find that we don't have any further needs in the world if we haven't found something greater to replace and satisfy what we once longed for in the world?  Our only option, as I see it, it to shift from seeing all that we lack and want in the world and turn instead to seeing all that we can have, want, and ultimately desire God to fill our lives with.

So, in that case, ultimately, let us NEVER be content with God!  Let us always strive to honor God more, draw nearing in our relationship with Jesus, and grow in our maturity as believers!

And no, I won't take it back.


More to come!

Jason <><