Content part 1
I think--I hope--this will help us with the journey. The journey is not about getting. Because we have already been blessed with all Spiritual blessings and we have already been given all things that pertain to life and godliness. Jesus did it all so we could get it all. And now we have it all because we have Him. So, when you think about it, there is really nothing left to "get." The journey is about exploring, and discovering, what we've got. Who we are. And who we are (in Him) is who He is (in us). Let me say it another way, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). Don't be speaking with covetousness. Don't talk about what you don't have. But be content with what you do have. Because you have Him. You have love. And He will never leave you, nor forsake you. So, as the Zac Brown Band puts is, "I've got everything I need, and nothing that I don't." In this society we've built we've really turned it into a rat race. Whoever dies with the most toys wins. But guys... that's not abundance. True abundance is having what you need, and having enough to share with others. Being able to receive and release the gift of God--which is eternal life. Being able to receive and release the love of God. The love that IS God. 1 Timothy 6:8 says it like this, "And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." And Philippians 4:11, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." We get so busy chasing it that we forget about enjoying it. And look at what "content" means in Philippians 4:11; it is number 842 in Strong's Greek Concordance and it means, "self complacent, that is contented." Dictionary.com defines "content" as, "satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else." And isn't it interesting that being content goes deeper than just "stuff"? Being satisfied with WHAT ONE IS. Being ok with WHO YOU ARE. That's true peace. That's true righteousness, and true joy. And that's the Kingdom of God! So here's my focus with this Rant series: While you're on this never-ending journey of abudant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life--a journey into the heart of the matter, which is God's heart beating with love in our chests--stop trying so hard. Let it go. Let it flow. The hard part's over. The work is finished. Rest in the assurance that when God moved into the neighborhood--into YOU the house that He built for Himself to live in--He moved in to stay. Daddy has patience. He's not in a hurry. He's enjoying watching you learn and grow. He's content. He's happy. And that's what He's also given us. That Kingdom mentality. That attitude of gratitude. That ability to set our affection on things above and not on things on the earth. That ability to count our blessings. To be content with what we have... and who we are. So we can stop trying to get. Stop trying to do in order to be. And we can begin to receive and release. We can begin to rest. Fill ourselves with the fulness of God by testing out the height, and depth, and length, and breadth of His love BY LOVING OTHERS. I'm telling you, the best way to feel loved is to love others. The best way to feel content is to share what you've got. You'll be surprised to find out you've got more than you think...