Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Contentment or Resentment

Philiphians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Would you like a deeper understanding of the word, wait? Most of us don't pay much attention to something that does not interest us. Waiting is not the favorite thing to do. That is why most people say things like, "Ooh! I hate waiting" or "I'm tired of waiting and I won't wait any longer." Do you feel like you have been waiting too long?

The children of Israel waited 40 years in the wilderness before they figured out where the route to the promised land was. If they had the right mindset and walked in a straight line, they would have made it in a few months. Instead they went around in circles and it took them 40 years of spinning their wheels.

So how long is too long? Well I would have loved to have reached my promised land back when I turned 40. I guarantee you that my mom and dad would be clicking their heels right now in their 70's, if you gave them the news that they would be inheriting houses that they did not build, furnished with furniture that they did not fill, with all the utilities of wells they did not dig and vineyards they did not plant.
Deu 6:10-11 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
Don't sacrifice a bright future for instant gratification. Better to build a good solid foundation now for a secure future tomorrow. But it is in our human nature to sacrifice the future and eternity because we are discontent.
Mar 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
A wrong perspective and a bad attitude will always keep you from entering through the door of promise because you will see it as something negative. I know a girl that so desperately wants to be happy, be in love and make a family but because of her wrong perspective, she looks at men of God as judgmental but she sees jerks as attractive. Time and time again she ends up with her heart shattered. The truth is that she has never allowed loneliness to draw her to a romance with Jesus. It is only in the place of loneliness that you'll discover that you are never alone. You will only discover it if you welcome it.
Heb 13:5 ...be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
The children of Israel did not arrive at their promised land except for Joshua, Caleb and the children who were too young to know any better. They failed the test and never learned to be content and grateful for what the Lord had given them. He gave them sweet bread every morning and quail for dinner which tastes better than chicken anyway. He made water come out of a rock in the midst of drought. He protected them in the dangerous wilderness from snakes and scorpions. He led them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. They always had just enough on a daily basis to eat to their hearts desire and not any more or less. He also provided them means of transportation to get them to their next destination on a daily basis. Read the whole book of Exodus, chapter 16.
Exo 16:3-4 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
Waiting does not involve impatience, doubt and frustration. Waiting does not despise the moment. Today is the day that the Lord has made and we ought to rejoice and be glad in it. They did not have to worry or work. So they missed out and not only did they miss out on their future but they missed out on living life to the fullest while they were alive.
Ecc 3:13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
Waiting is not some pointless event that is in your way and out to rob you of what you want to obtain nor deter you from where you want to go.
Heb 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Waiting is not living in the tomorrow either as some people find themselves doing. They are never content with where they are at in life. They always want to be somewhere else or with someone else and doing something else. They feel unfulfilled and bored so they blame the things, circumstance and people that are in their lives today. Yet when there tomorrows arrive and become today's, the cycle starts all over again and they despise their tomorrow because it has now become today again.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
God provided bread from heaven and they called it manna. The Hebrew definition for manna is "what is this?" They did not know what it was. So they gave it a negative name. It was sweet bread straight from heaven stupid! Do you thank God daily for the miracle provision of shelter and food? Do you feast on it to the fullest? Or do you fail to recognize what a blessing it is and call it lack or not enough simply because it is not enough for tomorrow but it is plenty for today. Your perspective looks at it as half empty instead of half full.
Exo 16:31 And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.
The truth is that when you learn to depend on the Lord for your provision on a daily basis, you learn to delight in him and to trust in him. So in essence, he becomes your bread from heaven (John 6:51).
Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Luk 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
This way when you pass the test and learn in whom you are to really feed on and delight in, you will be able to handle abundance. It will be more than enough for several generations. You will have come to know God so intimately that you will never forget, on a daily basis, who it was that got you there. You, your children and your grandchildren will never have to pray for daily provision ever again. You prayers will be, "Who can I bless today with all of this abundance."
Deu 6:10-12 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers...

Deu 8:12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;

Deu 8:13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;

Deu 8:14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

Deu 8:15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;

Deu 8:16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;

Deu 8:17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

Take the time to smell the roses. Separate time for God and his Word every morning. Spend time with your family and friends. Avoid the road that will ultimately lead to resentment and regret. Choose rather to always thank God for today's blessings and in whatsoever state you find yourself in, be content.