6 Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; 7 for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; 8 but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.
– 1 Timothy 6:6-8, NRSV
Contentment. Throughout scripture, it’s exalted as a virtue. It’s not a Beatitude, but it might as well be. Blessed are those who are content.
There’s wisdom in that, especially for those of us who live in such a materialistic culture. Be content with what you have. Don’t constantly strive for more and more. Learn to be content. There’s wisdom in that, wisdom to help us orient and prioritize our lives, wisdom to help us live according to God’s values.
And yet… living according to God’s values isn’t just about being content. It’s about being… well… a little discontent, too. It’s about being content with the things we have, and discontent with the way things are. I was reminded of that yet again as I paged through one of my daily devotional books and came across these words of prayer:
Gracious God, let your will for us all be known. Let us all be partners in shaping the future with a faith that quarrels with the present for the sake of what yet might be. Amen.
That, my friends, is a prayer for those who are discontent. A faith that quarrels with the present for the sake of what yet might be. That is a prayer for those who are discontent with the inequalities and injustices of our world. That is a prayer for those who are mindful that “how things are” is not how God intends for things to be. That is a prayer for those who have a vision for “what yet might be”, a vision that probably looks a lot like the kingdom of God.
Those who are content say “it is enough.” Those who are discontent say “enough is enough.” Lord, make us content… and keep us discontent, too.
As we seek that holy balance of contented discontent, may we remember:
Our God is bigger than coronavirus.
Our vision is bigger than coronavirus, too.
We are people blessing people.
We are Wesley Church.
Blessings,
Pastor Candy
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