CONTENTMENT WEDNESDAY

A week and a half ago, my sister-in-law gave birth to a BEAUTIFUL baby boy, and my wife and I were there to welcome him into the world. To be honest, I’m a little leery of holding newborn children – they seem so fragile and tiny that I am frankly afraid of doing something wrong. Not mention the fear of getting barfed on or having him cry his head off! But the day after his birth when I held him, I was surprised at how calm he was, how peaceful he looked. Why? Because he’d just been fed! The Psalmist uses this same picture to describe himself:

Psalm 131:1–2 (NIV): “1 My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.“

The psalmist describes his soul, his person as being like a weaned child – satisfied, fulfilled, at peace, content. Isn’t that what we all want, and even more so desire for our children? But where does the food come from for our souls that makes us content?

In the book of Philippians, Paul makes a statement that is often quoted by us as followers of Jesus: “I can do all things through himwho gives me strength.” But what I think we sometimes overlook is the context for Paul’s amazing statement:

Philippians 4:11–13 (NIV) — “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.”

Referring the Philippian Church’s desire to give Paul an offering to help him with his material needs, Paul says that he has learned the secret of contentment. In the service of Jesus Christ, he has had times when he has had plenty, and there have been times when he has had next to nothing – and those times were many! Through all those circumstances, he says, he has learned how to be content in every situation – he is contented with “him who strengthens me,” Jesus Christ! No matter what his circumstances, whether has plenty or has nothing, he is contented with the riches of Jesus Christ – he is a “weaned child,” fed by the Bread of Life.

Here is the key: I don’t think contentment is something that can be taught and understood apart from modeling – seeing someone who is content and following their example. The question is this – do our children see in us examples of contentment? Do they see in our behavior, attitudes, conversations and priorities someone who is content in Christ, in whom are all treasures of wisdom and knowledge? Or do they see us lusting for more, whether it’s an iPad 2, a shiny new car, or whatever treasure it might be that threatens to steal your heart’s attention.

You don’t have to look further than the craziness of Black Friday and Cyber Monday to see that we live in a culture that is largely discontent – our lust for more is nearly insatiable, and I think that few would describe themselves as “weaned children!” Yet I think we would all readily acknowledge the truth of Jesus’ words, that “a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses.” True joy comes from contentment, from the blessing of being provided with more than we could ever ask or imagine through Jesus Christ, not from our circumstances.

Do our children hear us complaining and grumbling that we aren’t able to take as exorbitant of a vacation as we’d like? Do they see us filling our garages and closets with more and more stuff, while what we give to those in need is a fraction in comparison? Do they see us consumed with anxiousness and worry about our standard of living? Are we absorbed with collecting the latest toys and gadgets? If we want our children to truly be able to say “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” we would do well to the of person who has learned to be content in every life circumstance, a person whom through trial can say, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21) For our sake and the sake of our children, then, let us be like weaned newborns – content with an Heavenly Father who promises that if we seek Him first, he will take care of all our needs.

QUESTION: How am I modeling contentment as a parent, and how are we living a life of contentment as a family? What needs to change for that to become a reality?

I am a child of God, husband to Monica, and pastor to middle and high school students at New Harbor Community Church in Benicia, CA.

Max Critchfield

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