Archive for the ‘Contentment’ Category

Youth Camp: Satisfied with God

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

Pray for the 28 TFCers (including me) who are headed to youth camp tomorrow AM. The theme for the week (Wednesday-Saturday) is: Being Satisfied with God.

The teens and their parents will receive eight messages in the next few days–all aiming to so dazzle our youth with the glory and goodness of God that they truly will want nothing besides him, no matter what.

What do you think: are you there yet?

Remember: contentment is not being satisfied with what you have; it’s being satisfied with Who you have whether you have anything else or not. And God is the only Who big enough to fill that role. Is God your enough?

I get to speak on the enoughness of God no matter what trials we may face. Having faced a fair measure of sorrow, I get to speak from the vantage of having tasted the soul-satisfying worth of God in the crucible of pain and sorrow.

Pray that all will feast on God and come home full.

Posted in Christian Life, Contentment | No Comments »

Whatever You Do, Don’t Envy Them (Psalm 37 #4)

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

When the world seems run by scoundrels, and when it seems like their skulduggery works so that they prosper, it can be tempting to wish we were in their shoes. This is one of the tempations that David challenges us to avoid in Psalm 37:1-40. “Be not envious of evildoers” (Psalm 37:1)!

One reason it’s folly to envy those in power and who seem to be getting their way at the expense of others is that their flower is fast fading (Psalm 37:2). For the righteous to wish for what the wicked has–their power, their wealth, their influence, their victoires, their control of the White House, their manipulation of the system–would be as foolish as if the sun would envy a hundred watt bulb! The sun is more brilliant, and the sun’s radiance more enduring. The 100 watter will flicker and die.

In short, the powerful and prosperous above us will “wither like the green herb” beneath a blazing sun (Psalm 37:2), while “the heritage of the blameless will remain forever” (Psalm 37:18).

For this reason, “Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked” (Psalm 37:16). Do you have a little? Do you have today’s bread, a couple of outfits to wear, something simple to get around in, a roof over your head, a glass of water, enough health to get by?

Then you are better off than the D.C’s power-grabbers and all the kings and presidents on earth. Enjoy what God has given you more than you worry about what government is taking away from you. Don’t panic and fret over the media and cultural elite’s seeming stranglehold on our culture. In the end they will perish while you endure.

Do you have a little with a righteous standing before God in Christ? You have more than all the wicked kings of earth combined! Do you have today’s bread along with an increasingly transformed and righteous life by the sanctifying mercy of the Holy Spirit? Then you are the rich one. You are the truly powerful one. You are the one toppling the dominions and powers within by the grace of God.

I plead with my friends to give far more time and attention to enjoying, reading about, delighting in, and being satisfied with all they have in Jesus than they do reading about, fretting over, fighting for, and arguing about what the government is taking away, or how government might be better run.

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t speak up or be concerned. I’m just saying that if you’re fretting and fuming on a regular basis about all that’s wrong with the world and the powers that be, you’re letting them take away far more than your freedom or taxes. You’re letting them take away your joy and contentment.

Whatever government can take away, they cannot touch a heart contented in God. Friends, whatever you do, don’t envy the wicked or pine for the good old days. Live in the present moment of God’s goodness and righteousness–and whatever happens you will be able to remain unfazed and unflappably joyful in your soul.

Posted in Contentment, Culture War, Faith, Politics | 1 Comment »

The Only Gift We Need this Christmas

Monday, November 30th, 2009

I love this time of year when fall, my favorite season slowly gives way to Christmas, my favorite holiday. As a child, the anticipation I felt in December was so great that invariably I’d set myself up for a serious “let down” when it was all over.

I think the sadness I felt each year on December 26 might have been lessened by some careful adult instruction. Although we were a Christian family, Christmas, in my mind, was a pretext for the real joy of opening gifts… things I wanted, for my sake, and for my satisfaction. Of course, this kind of joy doesn’t last too long. The consequence of my misguided hopes and selfishness? An empty feeling each year when it was all over. The build up was great, but the experience itself proved a general disappointment.

Brothers and sisters, this year our pastors have purposed to create a different sort of anticipation– one that will not disappoint. In this FREETRUTH blog, we have the opportunity each day this Advent Season to look at a biblical text highlighting the Gift of God, Jesus! A powerful daily reminder that Jesus Himself is the Gift we are celebrating!

I welcome the emphasis– especially this year. Economic recession has touched so many of our own number. May we allow these hard times to draw our attention all the more to the only Gift on earth that ever really mattered, God’s Gift, Jesus. God Himself arriving in the form of a baby! What more is there?! We are eternally rescued!

I work with men who have found the Lord Jesus after years of addiction. Colony of Mercy men have an expression: “You never know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.” Some of these men have wrecked everything good in their lives, including family– but they have Jesus! And they are content.

This Advent can be the most wonderful ever, even if you are in financial straits. See Jesus this Christmas as “all you need” and in proportion, the value of those colorful boxes under the tree (be they few or many), will fade. And come December 26, you’ll still have Him, and He will not leave you feeling empty!

Posted in Christmas, Contentment, Guest Post | No Comments »

Joyful Austerity Report

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

I think at least a couple of you have wondered how my August joyful austerity experiment went (see my June 6 and August 4 posts). For those who don’t know I went a month trying to live at a standard of living as close to need only as I could get. This involved bare necessity regarding food, lukewarm showers that lasted only as long as it took me to suds and rinse, no rental of videos or the like, no Ritas or similar fare, and a basic commitment to spend nothing on what I had no very, very, very good reason to buy. These additions to an already pretty simple way of life got me closer in mindset to need only than I’d ever been before.

It’s hard to report on such a thing because everyone will define need a little differently based on family circumstances, work demands, and more. But I have to say that the experiment was a success from the following standpoints:
1. I lost about 12 pounds!
2. I saved about $30+ on food.
3. I saved another $5-10 dollars on hot and cold water.
4. I learned a fresh sense of how good things taste when eaten with gratitude for their simple food value without all the extras (butter, condiments, half-and-half, etc.) that add only needless calories and cost.
5. I had some extra to give.
6. I learned that our society makes bare necessity hard to define. Does it include insurance (life or health), an occasional dinner out (given how hard it is in the press of busyness to find quiet, undistracted time with one’s spouse), entertainment (given how many demands are put on our minds and time, and the stress of everyday work and ministry), sports (for simialr reasons), etc.?
7. I enjoyed the basic lifestyle that I adopted for the month, and see no reason to leave all of it behind as I go into the future. It was healthy, focused, self-controlled, deliberate (rather than impulsive)in nearly every decision , and helpful in making me see what I really needed rather than merely craved.
8. I had to think about this question: why wouldn’t I pursue such way of life as my regular way of life, given its benefits; at least why would I assume that I had any right to any other way of life than this?

Please know that I did not do this as any kind of special spiritual exercise; I’m neither an ascetic or especially self-denying. I mostly wanted to see how close I could come to a need only way of life, in the process wondering if maybe this was closer to what God wanted for some of us than the other way to which we are accostumed.

A few thoughts for your reflection. Feel free to ask any questions over this next couple of days.

Posted in Contentment, Joy, Materialism | No Comments »

Joyful Austerity

Friday, June 26th, 2009

One person commented after a recent post on materialism and true need, asking that I not back off from pressing you folks on this matter. I appreciated the openness, and have had God continue to press in on me. I’ve been mulling over the whole question of need and giving and related matters and came upon a John Piper statement that further rocked my world (it’s from his book, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals):

Very few of our people have said to themselves: we will live at a level of joyful, wartime simplicity and use the rest of what we earn to alleviate misery. But surely that is what Jesus wants. I do not see how we can read the New Testament, then look at two billion unevangelized people, and still build another barn for ourselves [a reference to Luke 12:13-21]. We can only justify the exorbitance of our lifestyle by ignoring the lostness of the unreached and the misery of the poor.

In August, by the help of God I’m going to be doing a joyful austerity/simplicity experiment. Don’t read this as anything really spiritual; it’s more like a sincere experiment and learning lesson. Here’s what I’m going to try to do.

I’m going to attempt to live for thirty days as close to bare bones and needs only as I can get. That’ll look like one helping of healthy food, no hot showers(only luke-warm ones lasting only as long as it takes to suds and rinse), no Starbucks or Wawas coffee, no in-between meal snacks, no entertainment except what seems needed for family and relational benefit, no condiments on my food, or butter or half-and-half, paper backs instead of hard covers (if any books at all), no Ritas, no meals out (unless ministry or relationship required), etc.

I’m aiming for as close to wartime austerity/simplicity as I can get–just to see what it’s like, and to see what I learn in the process! You see: the problem seems to be that unless and until we actually do without we never really learn what we can do without!

And besides, I’ve got a feeling that I’ll learn some new things about the sufficiency of God and grace, as well as how I might be able to give a little more to alleviate the misery of a fallen world rather than build another barn.

Posted in Contentment, Giving, Materialism, Need, Wartime Austerity | No Comments »

How Defining Need Biblically Helps Us

Friday, June 12th, 2009

Having defined need biblically as we did yesterday, we’re brought to the question of significance; does this definition matter? Can I suggest three ways a biblical definition of need should affect our life?

1. It will neutralize our complaining. God has promised to meet our need, and nothing more. Therefore we have no real grounds for murmuring discontent when we are “deprived” of anything other than food and shelter. Also, if we think about such texts as Philippians 4:11-13 and 2Corinthians 11:25-27 we’ll realize that even when God chooses to withhold physical need for a greater spiritual cause we have no reason to murmur.

Too often our wealth producees a sense of entitlement in far too many Amercian Christians. And an entitlement mindset yields discontented hearts which only a biblical doctrine of need can cure.

2. It will maximize our gratitude. Realizing that God has met our needs–and given a whole lot more–is easier to do when you define needs as He does. When we are mis-defining luxury and extra as need, we fall easily into ingratitude. When we see that anything more than food and clothing is luxury (and it is) then we feel overwhelmed with the mercies of God!

3. It will radicalize our giving. God gives us more money than is necessary to pay for our needed food and shelter, not so we can spend it on ourselves, but so that we can give it away. There may be some overstatement and absence of needed nuancing in his words, but I cannot help but believe that John Wesley’s view of these matters is far closer to truth than is ours.

If I leave behind me £10 pounds, you and all mankind bear witness against me that I lived and died a thief and a robber…Christians should give away all but the plain necessaries of life – wholesome food, clean clothes and enough to continue their business. Anyone who keeps more lives in open, habitual denial of the Lord.

Friends: someone has said that while God ordains that there be rich Christians, he does not intend that there be rich living Christans. If the work of the church and its mission to the lost and needy both locally and globally is in want, and we are spending money on things we do not need, I cannot help but wonder what God thinks of it.

Before we spend money on anything beyond our basic needs we should at least ask ourselves and ask God: “What would God have me do with this money? After all, He’s entrusted me with resources for a reason; am I fulfilling that purpose?”

I know there really are biblical qualifiers and nuances touching on this subject, but let us beware lest we miss the clear biblical mandate and allow it to die the death of a thousand qualifications.

If we are thinking biblically, we will give radically. People will see the cars we drive, the homes we inhabit, the food we eat, the decorations we do not have, the simple styles and clothes we wear, the gadgets we refuse, the meals out we forego, the fine landscaping we resist, the expensive vacations we say no to, and they will think: “These people are living for something (the kingdom of God), somewhere (heaven), and Someone (the Lord and Owner of All) different than everyone else.”

Do they think that about you right now?

Posted in Contentment, Giving, Materialism, Need | No Comments »

What Is Need, as Biblically Defined?

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Anonymous #3 spoke of not wanting to “build new rust piles” (what a vivid word picture!). I think we can be helped to avoid that futile and even sinful way of life by considering this thing we call need.

I’d like you to think with me about need: just what is it? Let’s sift through all the things we have come to possess or desire or enjoy, and try to discern which of them is really need and which is extra. Let me begin by mentioning some of the Scriptures that help us define need as God does.

In Matthew 6:25-33 Jesus defines food, drink,and clothing as things the Father knows we need (Matthew 6:31, 32). This would seem to sharpen our focus when defining physical/material need (the kind of need I’m talking about here; spiritual need is another matter) to two basic provisions: adequate nutrition and adequate shelter(clothing is a form of shelter) to nourish our bodies’ health and protect our bodies from the elements.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 lends support to this narrow definition of need. In this text Paul speaks explicitly of food and clothing as all we need for contentment. Basic and sufficient food to nourish the body and just enough clothes to cover and shelter the body. Nothing more is required. James 2:14-16 also seems to define need in terms of these same two basic provisions.

In Proverbs 30:7-9 the wise man asks God to preserve him from the kind of luxury that tempts us to forget God. Instead he asks simply for “the food that is needful”. There’s a parallel here to Jesus’ encouragment to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). In essence this prayer says: “Lord we ask for nothing more than today’s bread for today’s bread is all we need.”

All I’m trying to do in mentioning these texts is to help us define physical/material need biblically, as God defines it. And it seems clear that need is to be seen simply as enough food and clothing/roof shelter to keep me alive today (for however many todays God plans to give me). Read that again and give it thought.

To help you gain perspective let me list ten things I have enjoyed, used, and desired in the past 24 hours that I have not needed:
1. Television/internet for entertainment purposes.
2. Sweets (and the second hamburger I had for dinner last evening).
3. A hot shower (or any shower for that matter; a simple gallon bowl of cold water would have sufficed).
4. Sports (I really did not need for my Red Sox to beat the Yankees yet again!)
5. A razor (is it really necessary that I shave?)
6. My easy chair (this is a comfort, not a need).
7. My dog and the dog food she eats (this is a luxury, not a necessity).
8. My chiropractor visit (I really do not need relief from pain, though I do like it).
9. Toothpaste (I could have brushed with water only, and baking soda would do just as good of a job as Crest).
10. The fan blowing on me right now to cool me off.

Stop to think: none of these things is a need as biblically defined. How does this clearer perspective affect your attitudes; your expectations from God; your contentment quotient; your spending plans?

Now what I’d like to ask is that you comment and in your comments help us list many of the things we have enjoyed, desired, and used in the past 24 hours which we may have considered to be necessary or important, but which simply are not.

Go ahead, submit 5-10 suggestions.

Posted in Contentment, Materialism, Need, Priorities | No Comments »

Where Moth and Rust Corrupt

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

It hit me yesterday that everything breaks or rusts or corrodes or wears out. Now you say that this is no real groundbreaking insight, and I readily admit it. But think about it: we live in a world where nothing apart from God and what’s done for God lasts.

In the past couple of months, here’s some of what’s broken or worn out at the 52 Clayton Ave. Shorey homestead: fans have fallen and broken, truck brakes have worn out and been replaced, van “Service engine lights” have gone on for who knows what, teeth have developed cavities and been filled, fences have rotted, tires have flattened, bench supports have come unglued, nails have bent, weed-wackers have frozen in mid-use, lawn mowers have needed repair, pipes have sprung leaks, paint has been marred, toothbrushes have worn out, bulbs have blown, thumbs have scarred, footbones have gone out of joint, couches have ripped, hoses have sprung leaks, pens have run dry, shirts have stained, shoe soles have torn off, shoe-strings have snapped, backs have strained, knees have creaked, necks have ached, arms have hurt, heads have pounded, wood stoves have taken a beating, dishes have shattered.

This is not to mention the hundred things that need constant care, like: hair needing cutting, dishes needing washing, clothes needing laundering, floors needing sweeping, grass needing mowing, oil needing changing, ad infinitum (hey I got some Latin in but it’s probably not spelled right since I didn’t check my Latin dictionary).

Now I now that you know all about these things; after all you have had to fix them all yourself (ad nauseum) this past month or two. There’s nothing new or unique here. We all live in the same fallen and broken world.

Jesus warns about securing our hearts to the stuff of this world since it never lasts (Matthew 6:19-21), and He challenges us to treasure the things that are above.

Stop and think about all you’ve had to fix lately, and let it affect your goals and aspirations. Don’t set your heart on anything, and I mean, not anything here below. It’s not worth it. It’ll always break apart, wear out, or die away. That’s not pessimism or negativism; it’s healthy realism that helps us lift our eyes to that which matters most and lasts forever.

Set your hope and love in God, alone.
Period.

Posted in Contentment, Heaven, Hope, Materialism | No Comments »