Carter's Corner: Habits of Contentment

*Carter's Corner posts are articles I wrote for our Monthly Church Newsletter.  

Are you content with your material possessions?  How about your paycheck? Marriage? Health? Relationships? Job? Retirement? Politics?  We all tend to be discontent from time to time and that can lead to complaining.  We complain because we simply are not happy.  Be honest with yourself. What area in your life do you tend to be the most discontent?   
I have an obsession with gadgets and as of late, specifically cell phones.  There is a phone that hasn't even been officially introduced, nor will it likely be available on my carrier but I’ve been keeping up with the rumor mill on this phone since April.  My habitual checking on this phone slowly breeds discontentment.
 What habits do you have that breed discontentment in your life?  Habits of discontentment can be focusing on the past, making comparisons, or focusing too much on self. Just as certain habits or actions can breed discontentment in our lives we can replace bad habits with actions that will lead us to contentment .  

Focusing on God

“There is no one holy like the Lord, Indeed, there is no one besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.”  (1 Samuel 2:2, NASB)

When we realize who God is and what he has done for us, what else could we possibly desire or want?  When we focus on God we also desire for His will to be done and not our own selfish will.  We submit willingly to His will.  We understand that God’s way is best.  One of the best ways to focus on God is to laud and magnify His name.  You can do this in prayer, song, or conversation.  

Serving Others

“Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4, NASB)

A root cause of discontentment is a focus on self.  We spend a lot of time on our “own personal interests.”  We eat, sleep, and work all as a part of serving our own personal interests.   We need to use our time and resources to serve other people.  You can’t successfully serve someone else, unless you stop thinking about yourself and look to meet the needs of others.  

Counting Your Blessings

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the nations. (Psalm 108:3, NASB)

No matter what you your lot in life, you are blessed.  We are blessed by simply being introduced to the gospel of Christ Jesus.   Just consider the blessings we have in one chapter of the Bible. In Romans 8, we are told that we are free from sin (1).  We have the spirit of God living in us (2). We are co-heirs with Christ and our future glory does not compare with our present shortcomings (17-18).  God is working all things for our good (28). The Almighty King of the Universe is on our side (31) and that nothing can separate us from the love of God (39).

When life gets rough and discontentment rears it’s ugly head, may we focus on the blessings we have in Christ and beyond.  May we see clearly those things that we often take for granted that God has already given us.  May we identify habits of discontentment, repent and replace them with habits that will lead to contentment in Christ.