Contentment

 

But when he came to himself, he said, “‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’” And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found/” And they began to celebrate.  Luke 15:17-24 (ESV) We often do not appreciate what we have until it is gone. It is easy to dream about life as better if we had no one to answer to, no one to tell us what to do, and no one who would limit our access to the vast world of opportunities around us. It is easy to focus on what we do not have, bringing neglect to what we do have. Yet, if we know God, we know that He knows what is to come, and He can and will prepare us for it if we walk with Him. He has told us to be content with what we have today, while always striving towards what is yet ahead. Contentment and striving work together, whereas discontentment and striving usually yield disasters. Today I must work the plan God has given me, and be thankful for that plan, while I stay submissive to God’s leading towards a better plan. God wants me to enjoy what He has provided, while using what I have to propel me to what will yet be. When I lack contentment, I need to readjust.

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