But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1Timothy6:6
Discontentment is a dangerous offshoot from the path of Spiritual Growth. It all started in the Garden of Eden...
God gave Adam and Eve dominion over all the plants and animals. He gave Eve to Adam and all was good. There was one (one only!) tree they could not eat from.
Watch how cleverly Satan the tempter plants discontent in Eve's heart:
"Did God really say, `You must not eat from _any_ tree in the garden'?"
(No, only one... but watch how Eve answers...)
`You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
(Eve starts with a truth but adds a lie. God said nothing about not touching it - Eve is falling into Satan's trap that God is a rule-making fun-spoiler and freedom-thief)
"You will not surely die, for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
(Satan is saying "Poor you! God is holding out on you! You could be so much more than you are now!")
And so Adam and Eve buy the lie. They were king and queen of all the earth, but lost all gratitude for what they had and who they were and became discontent, ever grasping for more.
Discontent says "I'm being done in, I deserve better, I should not have to put up with this." When we give in to the temptations of discontent, we become our own gods, seeking our own fulfilment and satisfaction - even rebelling against our Maker and Provider.
Discontent leads to crankiness, greed, critical cynicism, hate, theft, violence and many other destructive behaviours.
Gratitude is the powerful antidote. Gratitude defuses discontent and puts the focus on God the Giver rather than me the Grasper.
Try it this weekend!
---
--------------------------
Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
