Beyond the Broadcast: Contentment and How To Miss It
A good way to think about contentment is Christ-sufficiency, not self-sufficiency.
A good way to think about contentment is Christ-sufficiency, not self-sufficiency.
Living in a material world, and especially in capitalistic North America, the pressure to be caught up in materialism is enormous.
Contentment is the unknown “X” in life’s equation. Face it. You and I are afraid that if we open the door of contentment, two uninvited guests will rush in: loss of prestige and laziness.
God’s blessings are not for sale. He showers His gracious gifts—monetary and otherwise—on whomever He pleases. In fact, Paul wrote about this subject in the last chapter of his first letter to Timothy, explaining that God expects contentment and stewardship from His children.
Contentment comes through choices we make. The Apostle Paul said he had learned how to be content (Philippians 4:11–13). Following Paul’s teaching and example can help us learn how to be content.
Hilarious generosity begins with contentment. It’s being satisfied with and grateful for all we have and are able to experience. We must understand what contentment is...and what it is not.
Hilarious generosity begins with contentment. It’s being satisfied with and grateful for all we have and are able to experience. We must understand what contentment is...and what it is not.
Our culture doesn’t exactly inspire contentment—everything around us is designed to promote dissatisfaction, comparison, envy, and competition. But you can stop this disappointment cycle by being thankful. When you count your blessings your worry shifts to gratitude, and you begin enjoying all God has given you.
Egalitarianism used to mean that all people are equal with respect to social, political, and economic affairs. But today, socio-political philosophy says all people are equal and deserve equal treatment in all things, and inequality must be removed.
Submitting to authority was just as difficult in the first century as in the 21st century, which makes 1 Timothy such a practical letter. So, let’s hear and heed Paul’s teaching on how to respond correctly to authority.