Contentment

“It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one’s heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile—like chasing the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 6:9)

I have experienced the lament of the “Teacher” (as Solomon so describes himself) as he expresses the futility of working hard to gain more and more without the joy of contentment. I am trying to recover from a work-a-holic mindset that drives me to constant “projects” in my mind. I am constantly trying to muti-task. It seems as though when I “finish” (that never seems to happen) a project, I am upset that I have fallen way behind on another one and I feel guilty for taking time to “enjoy” the fruits of the time spent on the last project. Maybe you know how that feels too?

We really need to understand the value of enjoying the fruits of my labor. Enjoyment is a fleeting thing when there is discontentment, because discontentment feeds greed and envy. The Bible says that where there is envy there is disorder and all different types of evil too (James 3:16). Disorder is chaotic and doesn’t promote rest. Where there is a lack of rest, there is striving in our spirits. the book of Hebrews tells us to enter the rest that comes from being a child of God (Heb. 4:9-11). Rest is a byproduct of contentment!

The other day I had to make a couple trips over to my In-Law’s house, and on the way there during the first trip I seen a family outside doing yard work together. One was mowing, another weed-wipping, another pulling weeds, and so on. They were still working at it when I came back through, and yet again when I made my return trip. On my last trip past their house though, I seen something that really blessed my heart – the family that was done working was enjoying time together playing a game of Croquet (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croquet) in the freshly manicured lawn. There was smiling and jumping up and down as I drove past. They were enjoying the fruits of there labor, and they were content with what had been accomplished (evidenced by them taking time to enjoy it!).

It is also really difficult to enter into worship when you have a discontented heart, because our heart is not in a joyful state. Worship flows best when we are grateful, joyful, and content in our hearts. If we are going to crave more, it needs to be more of God and His righteousness. The Bible tells us that if we do this we will be blessed and we will be filled (Matt. 5:6)! So let’s stop the never-ending chasing after the wind, and let’s start being content with the satisfaction of diligently working hard and then enjoying the fruits that come from the labor!

This is a great way to worship God!