Talking with a young man last night I noticed that He, like
many others, struggles with discontentedness. He has a great wife, a good
Church, and a decent life to which he is not denying. But he’s looking for
happiness through an avenue that will never happen. That avenue is his job.
Work is a result of Gods curse upon man for rebellion against Him.
Genesis
3:17-19 (ESV)
17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
“in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life”
“thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you”
“By the sweat of your face you shall eat”
Contentment was not part of the “job”. But notice the
solution to the curse? The Cross.
Galatians 3:13-14
(ESV) 13 Christ
redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is
written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Contentment then would come not through what we do but what
He did. He took on the penalty of sin for us. The hardness of life was taken
for us by Him and so our contentedness is always found in Him. Our Happiness is
not found in what we do (work is still a curse) but what He did.
Yet for many that is not enough. We want our Jobs, something
God cursed, to make us content. And it makes me wonder, If a man is content
with His job that God cursed, will he need the Cross?
1 Timothy 6:6-11
(ESV)
6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment,
7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment,
7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
Discontentedness is a disease that will seep into every
aspect of your life. A man who has everything and is discontent with anything
can soon be overwhelmed by sadness.
Seek a life of happiness in the Cross and contentedness will
come no matter what you do for a living.
this is so true, I know someone who is dealing with Discontentedness and it absolutely will let it consume you, not to mention selfishness creeps in and I'm not talking about selfishness towards others I'm talking dealing with the selfishness within..the pleasing of the flesh part...it is a disease and there is a deeper underlying issue and the only answer is the Cross...very well said Pastor Andy....SJ
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