Contentment

Do you ever find yourself having a difficult time slowing down in today’s fast-pace world? I often find myself getting caught up in the craziness of warp-speed living; business trips, honey-do lists, shuttling kids to sporting activities, and the everyday hustle-n-bustle of family living.

Lately, I have been trying to simply pull back the throttles and enjoy whatever the day brings. It seems strange to me how much work is involved in resting. That sounds weird, doesn’t it? I am not talking about the kind of rest where you plop down in a comfy chair, kick up your heels, turn off your brain, and chill out (although that’s nice too). I am talking about being content with whatever you have or wherever you are in life’s journey. I’m talking about an effort to stop striving, to be still, to rest and be silent before God. (Psalm 46:10)

My morning routine normally consists of spending about an hour with the Lord; feasting on His word, praying, and meditating upon Him. I don’t mention this to be a Holier-than-thou type, rather this routine has helped me slow the pace of living and focus on all of the good things God has blessed me with. In 1 Timothy, the Apostle Paul, speaking to young Timothy, reminds us of the wisdom of being content;

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.

1 Timothy 6:6-7, ESV

There is something wonderful about being content. Maybe it’s acknowledging God’s providential care in our lives. He really does have the whole world in His hands. That’s so reassuring because it helps remind me to keep an eternal perspective when life starts to shift into high-gear. As a salesman, I am constantly looking to land that next big deal or to hit my monthly, quarterly, or yearly sales targets. It’s exhausting and the stress can wipe me out quickly if it is not met head-on. So, I remind myself that this life is passing by with blazing speed. Someday I will close my eyes for the last time and I’ll open them in heaven. I won’t be taking any of this “stuff” with me. Neither will you.

I was thinking about all of this when the song “You’re Gonna Miss This”, by Trace Adkins, played on my MP3 player. As I listened to the chorus lines, I thought about being content in where I am today. If you have never heard the song, you can click on the link above and watch the video. Here are the chorus lines:

But you're gonna miss this

Your gonna want this back

Your gonna wish these days

Hadn’t gone by so fast

These are some good times

So take a good look around

You may not know it now

But you’re gonna miss this

There is something really powerful about enjoying the now. It sounds simple, but in reality it's so hard not to rush headlong into the next phase in life. Or maybe it's about trying to acquire that next gadget or "thing" we want so badly. Today, I am going to be content - wherever I am and whatever I am doing. I hope that's true for you too.

Godliness with contentment is great gain.