Every now and then something appears in my computer’s email that has a special meaning to me. Just this past week, as I watched some of the happenings in Iraq and realized the liberation of PVT Jessica Lynch (prisoner of war held in an Iraq hospital, and apparently being tortured during her captivity), I was thinking of just how skewed our perspectives are, sometimes.
In a moment, I’m going to let you read what came this week, but first…
The scriptures are clear on the benefits of a deep sense of God’s overruling presence in the affairs of our lives as Christians, and Paul speaks directly to that point in 1 Timothy 6:5, when he wrote, "6But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment."
Sometimes, we are not very content with our lives. We have, but we want more. We enjoy what we have, but are disquieted that others have even more. Actually, Paul is a great example of one who had striven for that sublime quality called contentment. Over the course of his life, he had enjoyed both the fame of being a leader in Jewish opposition to Christianity and the fortune of being a Roman citizen with its inherent worldly blessings. Here’s what he wrote of his own life, however:
"10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:10-13).
On at least one occasion, he had even lived on the edge of his own abasement, a specific personal choice that he wondered might have actually harmed some who should have been providing for him (see 2 Corinthians 11:7, context). But, his confidence was in the Lord and His promised provisions for the faithful. His choice to be abased was an opportunity for another to abound, or at least, to not suffer abasement. It was a choice that Paul gladly embraced.
There is, perhaps, no scripture that is more known or beloved than the 23rd Psalm. We read it, can recite it, and even sing it. We hear it at funerals, and we call on its comforting words when we are in emotional or physical turmoil. Yet, it is, at its deepest level, a song of contentment.
Let’s read it again…
How often have you read those words? If you are like me, you have read them dozens, if not hundreds of times. They are truly words of beauty and comfort. But they are, paramountly, words of contentment:
The words of Israel’s "sweet singer" are a wonderful backdrop for an interesting poem that arrived in my emailbox this week. Unfortunately, the name of the author is not known to me. I hope you will enjoy it:
I've never made a fortune and it's probably too late now,
But I don't worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow;
And as I go along life's way, I'm reaping better than I sowed:
I'm drinking from my saucer, 'Cause my cup has overflowed;
Haven't got a lot of riches, and sometimes the going's tough,
But I've got loving ones around me, and that makes me rich enough.
I thank God for his blessings, and the mercies He's bestowed:
I'm drinking from my saucer, 'cause my cup has overflowed.
I remember times when things went wrong, my faith wore somewhat thin,
But all at once the dark clouds broke, and sun peeped through again.
So, Lord, help me not to gripe about the tough rows that I've hoed:
I'm drinking from my saucer, Cause my cup has overflowed.
If God gives me strength and courage, when the way grows steep and rough,
I'll not ask for other blessings, I'm already blessed enough;
And may I never be too busy, to help others bear their loads:
Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer, Cause my cup has overflowed.