Searching for Contentment

The Lord Jesus has come that we might have Life and have it more abundantly. All the tawdry things of this world pale to the fulfillment that only Jesus can give a hungry heart.

By Lisa McDonald

II Corinthians 12:10 - Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

        I remember it to this day. I was sweating, not glistening like gentile women do, but sweating. It was a hot, muggy, May evening. Riding in the back seat of our Oldsmobile, I was smoothing the ruffles of my dress that were, by now, sticking to the backs of my legs. The dress was covered with rows and rows of stiff ruffles underneath the crisp cotton. My carnation corsage, which was mounted tightly and uncomfortably upon my shoulder, was slightly ajar. My family had just attended the most dreaded night of my school year, in my opinion….my piano recital. My teacher was a stickler for not using the sheet music at recitals; all music must be played from memory. (As if life wasn’t already hard enough at the mature age of 12.)

        I had succeeded in playing Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven without a hitch. (One of the few recital pieces I actually enjoyed learning.) Looking through my window, watching the town pass by, an exhilarating thought jumped into my mind. “Boy wouldn’t some ice cream taste great right now?” I began to formulate a plan.

        Knowing our present location in town, I knew that we would pass at least three restaurants on our way home which could accommodate my sudden desire for the frozen treat: McDonalds, Hardees and Tastee Freeze, in that order. Maybe if I gave Dad a hint, he might stop. Seeing my first target ahead, McDonalds, I secretly hoped he would stop without my prodding. I made myself think hard enough to try to wish it into fruition, as if thinking about it as hard as I could would permeate the car and give everyone the idea simultaneously. I felt I had done well at the recital and in fact, deserved some ice cream. But my idea did not work. The car did not slow; the blinkers were not blinking. Good-bye Ronald.

        Next came Hardees. This time I believed Dad would definitely need a suggestion. Slyly, I asked my sister in an off-handed way, making sure it would be heard in the front seat, “What type of ice cream do you like best, a cone or sundae?” My sister, being older and frequently annoyed at having a younger sister, chose to ignore me. Sadly, so did my Dad who continued to talk with Mom about some “school problem”, totally oblivious to the ice cream oasis we had just passed.

        Well, Tastee Freeze loomed on the horizon and I knew I had to go for broke. There were no other restaurants between here and home. I needed a direct approach and fast. So I leaned over the seat, and in my kindest, most child-like voice asked, “Daddy, do you want some ice cream? Taste Freeze is having a special…”  I guess I should have known the answer before I asked. Dad answered, “I don’t think we need to stop, do you? We have something to eat at home, don’t we?” My mother nodded at him then continued on with their conversation. Crushed, I didn’t answer. I crawled up in a ball in the backseat, amidst burgundy velour, sweaty ruffles, and a wilted carnation and pouted all the way home.

        Are you content with all you have? I certainly wasn’t on that May evening. Contentment is an art, I believe. Like when someone can actually turn down a fresh, warm brownie just out of the oven. But the Bible says we should be content with our lives and with our possessions because God will supply all of our needs. These needs don’t only include money, homes, jobs, material possessions, and even ice cream, but also relationships. This last item is the hardest to understand amidst the pain of divorce because possibly it has the potential to hurt the worst.

        One Old Testament Bible character who was presented with a lesson on contentment was Esau.

        One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home exhausted and hungry form a hunt. Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew you’ve made.” (This was how Esau got his other name, Edom – Red.) Jacob replied, “All right, but trade me your birthright for it.” “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?” So Jacob insisted, “Well then, swea5r to me right now that it is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his younger brother. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate and drank and went on about his business, indifferent to the fact he had given up his birthright. Genesis 25:29-34 (New Living)

        Coming in from a long hunt, Esau was exhausted and extremely hungry. He smelled the food Jacob was strategically cooking and wanted to eat some right then. His thoughts were only on himself. The future importance of having a birthright was lost amidst the hunger pains. He did not appreciate what he had, but wanted more.

        Later, close to Isaac’s death, Jacob planed, with his mother’s assistance, to again strategically obtain the blessing from Isaac by masquerading as Esau. So when Esau approached his dad and asked for the blessing, this time it was something he could not receive. Isaac had no more blessings to give to his first-born twin. Anger arose in Esau to the point that Jacob’s murder was almost evident.

        Selfishness and discontentment causes us to forget things, namely God and how He has already blessed us. Just as I did not HAVE to have that ice cream, Esau may have been all right to walk into camp for food, but he wanted it right then. He became obsessed and exaggerated about his condition. He felt he would starve if he did not receive the stew. His perspective became distorted due to the pressure of the moment. He probably felt more powerful and in control when he did obtain his desire. He had accomplished what he had set out to do. Also, when he asked Isaac for another blessing, and didn’t get it, he was angry that he did not receive what he thought was due him. He had been cheated; thus he became even more self-centered and self-absorbed, seeking retaliation.

        The apostle Paul tells us along with the Philippians; “I have learned in whatsoever state I am in, to be content.” Contentment is a state of mind. It is realizing that whatever you have is enough. You don’t need any other one thing to make you happy. In a materialistic world as we live in, this is a hard concept to swallow. We have been brainwashed by the media to think we needs bigger, better, faster, or more fashionable things just to be happy. Usually the problem is not that we are in need, but that we don’t have a clear view of our lives or what we already have.

        Then, what is the key to contentment? I believe it has a lot to do with our focus. Is our focus on us or God? Is our faith strong enough to believe God will supply all that we need and some of what we want if within His will? Is our relationship with God one that makes it possible to talk to God on a daily basis, reviewing what His wants and desires are for our lives? Do we ask God, sometimes several times a day; if the next move we are to make is within His will?

        Just like the “ice cream incident”, I have seem something I wanted, negotiated with myself until I decided it was something I needed, then proceeded upon the quest to obtain. Whether it was a new sweater, new watch, a C.D. or even a new relationship, I could always rationalize on how this was what I absolutely needed and couldn’t live without. When I was recovering from my divorce it was even easier to rationalize my wants into needs. I deserved happiness. I deserved to pamper myself. After all, look what I had been through. Look at all I do for other people. What about me? Listen…..did you hear it? The voice of discontent!