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Bring Back the Joy --- B B t J . O r g
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BE CONTENT IN YOUR SITUATION
April Fools Day. That's a day I've never understood. It seems to be a day when people play practical jokes on each other. Sometimes jokes that are not very nice. And they are excused under the guise of "I'm just teasing." However, I do admit that I need to learn how to take a joke as well. A certain amount of teasing can be fun. One of my friends says that you can tell her husband likes someone because he teases them. I'll have to remember that when we have a chance to meet. With that strange intro, I'll launch into my subject for today. The Bible teaches that we are supposed to be content with our situation. What is the definition of content? The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition defines it as "Desiring no more than what one has; satisfied." Why should we be content? Does God really mean that we can't wish to have more? What does this really mean? I like one example as by the Apostle Timothy. He challenges us to be content with food and clothing. I Timothy 6:7-9 . He says that if one is rich, it is possible to be tempted into things that will be be destructive. Timothy isn't saying that it is wrong to have money; he wants one to be aware that it is easy to be led astray when life is easy. This is easy to understand. When we have money, then it is easy to give in to "worldly" things. It may not be wrong to go to movies, but one should consider how many movies a month and what type of movies. It's easy to eat and drink to excess when one isn't having to consider the pennies. And the list goes on. A lesson that I see in this isn't necessarily the amount of money but do we use the money we have wisely. For instance, do I eat a cinnamon roll when I'd be better off with an apple? The apple might be less expensive, just as sweet and just as filling. But I'd probably head for the cinnamon roll. "Thirty seconds on the lips, thirty years on the hips." God made the apple. I don't know that he imagined cinnamon rolls made with refined flour and sugar. Paul wants us not to covet, to be content with what we have because we know that God is always there for us. Hebrews 13:5 There are too sides to this: 1) we shouldn't be lusting after something that someone else has 2) we should trust God in all situations. God will always be there for us. We just need to seek his will and believe in Him. Then, when bad things happen, then he can help us out and turn them around so that some good comes from the situation. Romans 8:28 It we know that God will be there for us, then we don't have to excessively worry about tomorrow. God will help us if we are trusting in Him while doing our best on the human level. What these two examples show us is that we shouldn't always be seeking something else. That we should seek God instead of the ways of the world. Are we happy now? Is the more that we wish for something that will really make us happy. Or is a case of "the grass always greener on the other side." I'll be happy when ... demonstrates this idea. I have to admit that I've primarily looked at life for what I wish it were like, rather than enjoying what is. I spent a lot of years wishing I had a husband. While I had some good years as a single, I know I didn't really enjoy them because of wishing I had a steady date. I know God gave me Mark; I can't imagine that any of the guys I used to moon over could be a sweet, helpful and loving as Mark. But I do have a laugh sometimes when I get frustrated because "I have to go cook dinner for Mark--why won't he just eat a cheese sandwich?" Although I'm blessed--Mark's attitude is "I appreciate it when you do fix meals but you don't have to--but I'd appreciate being told I'm on my own beforehand, instead of finding it out when it's already past dinnertime." He even voluntarily took the compost out today. He can cook for himself and not complain about it. What a guy! But the point is--we often are unhappy with what we have until we no longer have it. Then we find out how good it was. I'm sure preaching to myself today; this is a lesson of which I remind myself quite regularly. As the "I'll be happy when..." message says "Your life will always be filled with challenges." We just have to come to appreciate the moment. Now is the time to see the good that comes during those challenges and move on in contentment and happiness. I'll remember that next time someone teases me. Okay? |
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