CONTENTMENT!

"..for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be CONTENT". Philippians 4:11. Contentment isn't getting what we want but being satisfied with what we have! My friend, may I remind you that Paul was not writing this from a Penthhouse or a cruise ship, but from JAIL. If there is one word summarizes the world's obsession that is MORE. More money, more luxury, more success, live for our next raise, next luxury house, and the things how wonderful we have now is PALE in comparison with what we might get, right? People are like leaches, sucking blood through both ends, never satisfied. Recently on a public television program I watched an expert economist explaining our system. "Consumption kept the workers working, which kept the paycheck coming, which kept the people spending, which kept the inventors inventing and investors investing, which meant there was more to consume". But the system is independent of values, and creates more stress, worry, and want more and more. Yes, it is a perfect circle pundit, but EMPTY IN THE MIDDLE. But Paul: He says "he had known abundant labors, frequent imprisonment, close encounter with death, three times beaten with rods, stoned, three times shipwrecked, face death from robbers, from Jews, from Gentiles, and from own brothers. Experienced sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, cold, and nakedness. YET my friend, he says, I LEARNED TO BE CONTENT. During my recent Mission Trip to North Indian villages I found the poor Christian villagers have nothing: no car, no mansion, no air condition, no boat, living in small huts battling the whether. But they are CONTENT and is a thing to see how they are worshiping the Lord. Literally we feel the anointing in the place of worship. Bible says "But Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out".1 Timothy 6. Buddy, why this "GOLD RUSH"? Why?