TheRewardsofContentmentPastor’sDesk–November26,2017

Haveyoueverstoppedtothinkaboutthewordcontentment?WhatistheBiblicalmeaningofcontentmentandwhyisitsorelevantforustoknowittoday?Let’sseewhatisintheGreekNewTestament.TheGreekwordforcontentmentisαὐτάρκεια(autarkeia)meaning“self-satisfaction.”Abstractlythismeanscontentedness,orconcretelyitisacompetencetoliveincontentmentand/orsufficiency.Inafewwords:it’saGod-givencompetenceorabilitytomakethemostoutofwhatIhavebeenblessedwithandtokeepahealthyperspectiveinlife.Welearnin1Timothy6:6:“Andreligiondoesmakeyourliferich,bymakingyoucontentwithwhatyouhave.”(CEV)or1Timothy6:6:“Butgodlinesswithcontentmentisagreatgain.”(ESV)Havingadevoutlifeisakeyelementforagodlylife,andwelearntohavethatself-satisfaction,self-sufficiency,andactcontentwithGod’sprovisionforus--it’sgreatgain!WealsoreadinProverbs14:30:“It'shealthytobecontent,butenvycaneatyouup.”(CEV)Contentpeoplearehealthypeople!Andthereismore:Proverbs23:17-18:“Donotletyourheartenvysinners,butalwaysbezealousforthefearoftheLORD.”(NIV)

Thereissurelyafuturehopeforyou,andyourhopewillnotbecutoff.Totopitoff,wehavethewonderfulpromiseinHebrews13:5:“Don'tfallinlovewithmoney.Besatisfiedwithwhatyouhave.TheLordhaspromisedthathewillnotleaveusordesertus.”TheCreatoroftheUniversehaspromisedtoneverleaveusnorforsakeus,aslongwearecontentwithwhatHehasblesseduswith.Beingcontenthasitsrewardsandwewoulddoourselvesafavorifweremainedcontentatalltimes!MayHegrantusthejoytoliveahealthyandcontentlife!InHisservice,yourfellowservant,PastorPaulSantos