Let’s think about attitudes this evening; particularly the attitude of discontentment – dissatisfaction. As we begin, some people may be thinking that this is going to be a negative message. Certainly some aspects of discontentedness are sinfully evil. But at the same time, other aspects are pure and productive. In other words, this is a subject which has to be approached with both eyes open – perhaps with even a little extropia – with each eye looking in slightly different directions.
In some areas, discontentedness is one of the world’s biggest cancers and twice as fatal. Do you remember young Absalom, son of David? Discontent got into his blood, and it killed him. Absalom was going to be king one day, if everything went according to custom and plan. But his young man was not satisfied with sitting and waiting for the natural death of his father. He want the throne right now. So he took matters into his own hands, and it back-fired – killing him instead. Another example is Balaam – the hypocrite who claimed to be a servant of Jehovah. He was not content with what blessings the Lord had been giving to him. Again, he wanted more. He wanted the wealth of the world, like some sort of cable TV preacher. We could create a long list of Bible people who in some ways were not content with their lot in life. We could start the list with Eve, Judas, a dozen Old Testament kings, Ananias and Sapphira and Diotrephes.
Discontentment is a lack of satisfaction with the situation – or with the things – that Lord has given to us. It occurs when the latent, genetic defect of our depravity takes over our wants and our goals. It is fed by unthankfulness, pride, worldliness and greed. It exhibits itself in covetousness – and with that – who knows where it will go. In the case of Achan, it was theft in Jericho, which put the lives of thousands in jeopardy. In the case of Cain, it was outright murder – fratricide.
This attitude is unreasonable in the Christian – when we remember Who it is that we serve. Christians are not citizens of this world – only sojourners heading home. We were prisoners, incarcerated in a Siberian gulag, but are now heading south to warmth and freedom. We are called to be warriors for the Lord Jesus, not garbage collectors on earth. We have been exhorted to lay up our treasurers in Heaven. In fact, we are agents of Heaven, commissioned here to invest on the behalf of our Heavenly employer.
Paul was trying to show young Timothy that godliness produces contentment. Then he turned that around and suggesting that contentment is proof of godliness. It is like a blood test which can prove to which family you belong. It is like – “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” To that we might add: “If you are one of God’s own, flee financial covetousness – the love of money.” Paul cries; “run and don’t look back.” “Remember Lot’s wife.” “You don’t want to turn into a pillar of salt – or silver, or even of gold.” “Flee discontentment.”
The Apostle tells the child of God not just to flee, but to add the positive aspect of FOLLOW. “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” In essence we are told to be content with our physical lives, but not to be content with our spiritual lives. The Christian should learn to earnestly seek only the best gifts, and that means things spiritual. We have things to do and to reach for the glory of the Saviour. Then in the next verse Paul tells us to “fight” – fighting may be either defensive or offensive – good or bad. In this case the Apostle is speaking about conquering, attacking – prevailing. What these two things boil down to is that in some ways we are not supposed to be content. In worldly, physical, temporal things – yes – let’s be content therewith. But woe to the Christian who is satisfied with his current passive spirituality. Woe to the saint to is so pleased with his past that he neglects his present condition, sacrificing the future in the process. God is not pleased with the Christian who is satisfied with a minimum, mediocre, menial spirituality.
So WHEN should a Christian be discontent?
The easiest answer – at least verbally – When the Lord is discontent – we should be discontent. Matthew 5:3-6 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit: Blessed are they that mourn: Blessed are the meek: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.” What is it to hunger and thirst? It is just what we are talking about tonight – proper discontent. And about WHAT are we to be discontent? Our personal righteousness and holiness. We cannot be too good for God; too holy; too righteous. That may not be what the world around us says, but it is the truth. The sacrificial lamb was to be the best in the flock – without spot or blemish. And that is the picture of what the Lord wants from you and me. God wants your life – sacrificed to Him – holy and wholly acceptable. I don’t know the precise state of your spiritual condition, but whatever it is, it is not perfection. When are we supposed to stop thirsting after righteousness in any of its forms? Never.
As Jesus stood before Lazarus’ tomb, He wept. Others had been weeping for various reasons, but why did the Lord Jesus weep? Until someone proves otherwise, I’m thinking that it was because of the unbelief of the mourners, some of whom were children of God. The child of God must never be satisfied with the degree of faith that he currently possesses. There is always room for more faith and stronger faith. Look at the saints mentioned in Hebrew 11 and ask yourself where you fit in to that chapter. Could you take the trumpet and lamp of Gideon and run toward the Midianite hords? How boldly could you make your way into the fiery furnace or the den of lions? Where is your mustard see of faith? We can only barely touch the hem of the garment of faith.
From time to time we can see the discontentment of Christ. When was the Lord dissatisfied? How about when He came to the fig tree and found it barren. The Lord wants to see fruit. And in a couple of His parables, He was discontent when His servant misused the talent given to him. If the Lord is dissatisfied then so should we. Despite the commands against discontentedness, most Christians are far too content.
I made a quick, unscientific survey of the Bible looking for unrebuked discontent. I thought about Simeon in Luke 2 – “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” Simeon was not going to be satisfied with his life unless he could see his Saviour. Then there was Moses on the mountain – “I want to see my God.” He had heard God’s voice and witnessed His power, but he wanted to actually see the Lord. Are you satisfied with your knowledge and understanding of the Saviour or of the Bible generally? If you are, then you need to read Paul, who prayed that he – and we – might learn more of Christ. And what about Nicodemus – discontent as long as the body of Christ lay unloved and untreated. He was willing to risk his standing before his peers and before the Roman governor. “As long as the world mistreats my Saviour, I am going to fight for Him.” What about Daniel, discontent with unfulfilled promises from the Lord. “God, you promised that the time Israel spends in Babylon would be short – where is our delivery?” He was not the only prophet of God who was similarly discontent.
As Christians we have great potential in Christ. But we must learn with Paul to “press toward the mark for the prize of the calling of God in Christ Jesus.” He also said, “I wish to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, whereunto I also labour; striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”
And WHY should we be DISCONTENT with our spiritual lives?
Of course, it must not be for the sake of our own personal pride. It is not about accomplishments. It must be about what we might do for the Lord’s glory. When Paul was in prison he was confronted with the success of other preachers on the outside. Some of those evangelists considered Paul a rival, some sort of competition. But not the apostle – “I praise God for those who are preaching Christ, whoever they are.” Everywhere we go in this world we are faced with this sort of thing.
There is religious rivalry, even among churches bearing the same denominational name. Ever since I moved to Post Falls there has been a Baptist church on the corner of Prairie and Highway 41. Years ago, I heard a report that their pastor for some reason had called our church “the enemy.” Whether that was true or not, I’ve never given much thought to that church. Then two weeks ago, I saw that they have a fancy new building a few blocks away from their old site. My guess is that they sold their very valuable property and invested it in a fabulous new facility. The artist’s rendition that they have been spreading around makes it look like a mega-church. Since I learned of their new opportunities, instead of pushing them from my mind, I’ve changed my attitude. I have been deliberately praying for God’s blessing on them. They may, or may not, have more of the favor of God than we have. I am tempted to be envious. But I have been fighting that temptation by earnestly praying for them.
Am I satisfied with myself, with my ministry, with our church? No, I am not. But I am asking God not to let my dissatisfaction turn into envy or jealousy of anyone else. May God send His power – a power of the Holy Spirit upon us. May we grow and be blessed with souls saved through out ministries and joining with us. The emotions and attitudes which we possess ought to grow out of our desire for the glory of the Lord.
There were times when Elijah felt all alone – that he was the last righteous man left in the nation. But when he prayed asking for the Lord’s manifestation on Carmel, he was concerned with nothing but the glory of God. At that point, it wasn’t Elijah’s doctrinal purity, his sacrifices, or his sufferings which bothered him. “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel.” Like Elijah we should be discontent when the Lord is not glorifying Himself through us and among us.
Another argument for spiritual discontentment is others. When Philip first met the Saviour, he was not satisfied until Peter had also met Him. Jesus must needs go through Samaria – not content with evangelizing His own nation. And when He looked at Jerusalem, he wept, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Paul said, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might saved.”
Are you satisfied with your spiritual life?
If so, you need to be able to explain why. You need to look the Lord in the face and say, Here is why I am pleased with my spiritual life. Is it because you are such a successful evangelist? Will there be a hundred others in Heaven because of your witness for the Lord? Have you memorized enough scriptures? Is it that you have now preached ten thousand sermons? Is it the amount of money that you think that you have given to support the Lord’s work? Is it your faithfulness, fighting through headaches and stomach aches to be in the house of God? Is it your ministry of comfort and support? Do you love the brethren as well as you should? Is your professed love expressed sufficiently? If you were in the apostle business, would you hire yourself? Putting the question differently, if your salvation was dependent on your Christian service, would you go to Heaven?
Like Paul, we should consider ourselves to be debtors, both to the Greeks and the Barbarians. But we are also debtors to the Lord who saved us and to our spiritual brethren. Again Paul said, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Are you pushing toward the glory of God in the Lord’s calling of you into Christ?