Contentment by Subtraction

Another quote that struck me when I read it and that I want to share with you is this: "Contentment is not by addition but by subtraction: seeking to add a thing will not bring contentment. Instead, subtracting from your desires until you are satisfied only with Christ brings contentment." — Jeremiah Burroughs. Let us first ask, “Is contentment good?” 1 Timothy 6:6-9 teaches us to be content. So yes, contentment is good because God calls us to it even when our world does not.

Our world tries to be “content” by getting enough. The first part of that quote hits at that mentality. It reminds me of a quote attributed to John D. Rockefeller who said, “Just one more dollar,” when asked how much money is enough. Trying to be satisfied by gaining more is vanity or chasing after the wind. You will never get enough There is always going to be something newer, bigger, faster, better, more powerful, etc. Our world is geared to get you to want something else. What you have is not good enough; you deserve something better. It will make you happy. Until something else comes out.

If addition is not the answer, what is the answer? The quote suggests subtraction. Our first thought might be, “How can I be happy with less?” I have to learn that I do not need everything the world says I need to be happy. How happy are the people of our world? It does not seem, overall, that we are very happy. Why would we listen to an unhappy world about how to be happy? Have you ever thought they might be unhappy because they are not content?

We have to get to the point that Jesus is enough (Hebrews 13:5-6). I am afraid many serve Jesus because of what they think they can get out of Him. No doubt we can have forgiveness of sins in Him, which is the greatest blessing we could ever have. Yet, I am afraid some serve Him for bigger houses, nicer cars, etc. What if every physical thing you had was taken away. Is Jesus enough? Yes, He is.

Love = Service

I have been saving up some quotes that I have read to write articles about them. The first one I want to share is this one: "I will not work my soul to save, For that my Lord alone has done; But I will work like any slave, Because I'm loved by God's dear Son!" — William Henry Griffith Thomas. Let’s break this quote down.

First is the idea that I will not work my soul to save. Why? Because you cannot. There is absolutely nothing you can do, in and of yourself, outside of Jesus, besides living a perfect life to save yourself. Romans 3:23 is pretty plain that all have sinned. So the perfect life is out. That is bad news for all of us who like to fix our problems ourselves. You are lost and cannot do anything about it outside of Jesus.

That is why the second part of this quote is so important: because Jesus did what we could not do. God knew the separation because of our sin was so great we could not overcome it ourselves so He sent Jesus to bridge that gap (John 3:16). Praise God! If I want to be saved, I must be in Christ (Galatians 3:27). I owe a debt I could not pay, He paid a debt He did not owe.

That should produce gratitude in my life. That gratitude should cause me to give my life to Christ (become His slave as the quote says). And work for Him like a slave who is not forced to work but willingly giving my service (Exodus 21:5-6). Have you ever had someone give you so much or had someone who loved you so much you wanted to do what you could for them? I think that is the idea Jesus is giving in Matthew 22:37. When we love God with everything, then we are going to live the way he calls us to live. A life of service to Him. Are you thankful for what Jesus has done? It will show in your life.

Visiting

Have you ever visited another church? Not one that you have been to before or that your family or friends attend. Maybe you are on vacation (that is a good reminder that we never take a vacation from being a Christian). Maybe you are just in a different town on Sunday and you are trying to carry out God’s call to assemble with the saints and worship God (Hebrews 10:26). It can be a scary thing. You go online and check them out to see if there is anything weird, but you never really know until you get there and participate. What would you want the people to do or say? What if you were looking for a church home or you were interested in this church thing but you had never been or it had been a long time since you had been?

Would you want people to be warm and welcoming? Would you want them to be friendly and kind? How would you feel if no one talked to you or sat with you or smiled at you? Everyone was too busy talking to their group to acknowledge you. The only acknowledgment you got was from the guy making the announcements who told you we are so glad our visitors came and they are our honored guests. Would you feel that way? Jesus teaches us to treat others the way we want to be treated in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:12). Our challenge is to look out for those we do not know or have not seen and reach out to them. I know you might not know everyone that attends, but when you make the mistake of talking to someone like they are a visitor, you now have the opportunity to have a new friend. What if this was your kid who just moved to a new area? Treat them like that. Talk to them. Smile at them. Take them out for lunch. Connect them with someone who lives near them or who they work with from the church. Why not see them all as Jesus (Matthew 25:40)?