REVIEW of CHRIST-CENTERED CONTENTMENT (faithandfinance.org)

I just finished the book Christ-Centered Contentment by Rob Kuban and really enjoyed his insight about the topic of contentment. Rob is an author and founder of Dollars and Doctrine and has written extensively on the subject of Biblical doctrine and financial stewardship. In his latest book, Rob tackles the issue of contentment and challenges you as a reader to explore areas in your life that may need to be addressed.

What is Contentment?

For many, the mere definition of what contentment is and is not prohibits them from experiencing the true joy that comes from being content in Christ. Kuban explores the definition of contentment by addressing the fallacies that are associated with idea of being content. Backed by Biblical truths, he outlines how we should approach contentment and explains how worldly contentment is different from the contentment we have in Christ.

Divided into two parts, Christ Centered Contentment uses the first half to address the definition, convictions and difficulty of finding contentment. The second half focuses on the daily application of making contentment a part of your life. I found this second part to be very thought provoking and an excellent challenge. Throughout the book (and especially in the first half) Kuban provides multiple scripture references to back up his teaching. If you are one who finds it difficult to read through multiple references like these, stay strong because the second half contains down to earth principles that will help you live a life of contentment.

Living Contently

From living a simpler life to confronting jealousy and busyness, Rob doesn’t sugarcoat the path to contentment. “Busyness is a choice,” as Rob says, emphasizing the fact that we need to be conscientious of how we spend our time and also to devote time for rest. Sometimes it takes a few direct chapters like these to help us realize the importance of simplicity and rest – a challenge that I’m working on every day.

The decision to pursue contentment requires you to make a choice to be thankful or to complain. Rob put it best when he quoted his dying father saying “You can choose to be thankful or you can choose to complain. At any given moment you have fuel for both fires – it’s up to you to choose which one you feed.”

Overall, Christ Centered Contentment was a powerful book that challenged me to really look into where I find fulfillment in life. Everything on this earth is temporary, but the hope we have in Christ is eternal and is the very center of contentment.

Buy the book from Amazon.

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What is God’s definition of contentment?

Often I find it much easier to say what something is not, long before clarifying what it actually is. In a sense, we clear the air to define contentment correctly. Therefore, I will begin here: Explaining what contentment is not. It is well worth a few moments to dispel the myths.

Contentment is NOT…

A Cure for Ambition.  The most common misconception of contentment is seeing it as some strange disposal of desire, a cure for the abominable sin called ambition. This is a lie. In Genesis, God called Adam and Eve to “fill the earth, and subdue it.” (Gen. 1:28) Under the new covenant, “we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” (Rom. 8:37) Ephesians tells us: “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might…For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness.” (Eph. 6:12,12) None of these point towards apathy. Christ calls us to live with passion, vision, and purpose. I am told: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13) All things? This is intense. This is far from a loss of hopes and dreams. Is it true that many Christians have worldly ambitions? Yes, but that is disconnect on a separate level. We cheapen, if not destroy, the importance of contentment in our lives if we believe it lessens the fervor of our desires.

A War Against Success and Gain.  Similar to its attack on ambition, misinformation makes an enemy out of success and gain. The Bible makes it clear how a Christian is to work: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.” (Col. 3:23) Solomon tells us that: “In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” (Prov. 14:23) Believing that success or gain is evil is not part of understanding contentment correctly. It is an impossible assignment to argue that the Bible claims success is sinful. This is not to say the Bible doesn’t warn us about the dangers unique to affluence, but Paul told us he knew how to be content in poverty and prosperity (Phil. 4:11-12). As you will see later on, contentment is something above and beyond the physical realm. To call gain an enemy of contentment brings living contently down to a material level. It is true that success can often make contentment more difficult, but this does not point to prosperity as the evil culprit. Moving forward, you must understand that a view of contentment that speaks ill of success is unfounded and unbiblical.

A Disconnection from Reality.  For some, a call to live contently brings to mind a sort of self-denying, non-reality existence. A total disconnect from real life: a monk, off in the snow covered mountains boiling grass and eating caterpillars, passing the days with meditation and mildly hallucinogenic herbal remedies. This, while it sounds pious and even a bit comical, is actually the opposite of Biblical contentment. The truth of the Bible provides us with a way to live contently in the midst of reality. It teaches us how to be content while up to our neck in adversity. True contentment is not found in disconnecting from reality. This is a mere façade. Instead, it teaches us how to live with inner peace despite the harsh realities that may surround us. Paul said he was “well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:10) There is great hope in this. We do not have to abandon reality to live contently. Quite the opposite in fact, we have an anchor to hold in even the greatest of storms.

An Abandonment of Emotion.  Somewhat similar to the notion of disconnecting from reality is a belief that contentment disengages the emotions. Perhaps this is a downgraded version of the previous point. We don’t want to live in the mountains with the caterpillars so we compromise. We decide that living contently must mean we extract all emotional interaction from our life. This is unbiblical. “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35) It’s the shortest verse in the Bible but full of meaning. The previous verses set up the scene: “When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled.” (John 11:33) In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul instructed: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (Rom. 12:15) It is unbiblical and just plain ludicrous to think that we can live our lives detached from our emotions. Contentment is living, breathing, and runs the gamut of our emotional stocks. Certainly we can be tempted to let our emotions shape our convictions, but this does not mean we throw the baby out with the bath water. Biblical contentment allows us to live in reality with emotion.

Slavery to the Status Quo.  The final myth to dispel for the time being is a sense of slavery to the status quo. This belief can stretch all the way from the person who thinks they are a victim of their inescapable life scenario to the tie-dyed shirt 1960’s stoner that rolls with whatever mother nature has destined. This is just another form of escapism. Most often, a person who believes this theory does so not out of conviction, but laziness, bitterness, or a refusal to accept responsibility. We are instructed: “Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time.” (Eph. 5:15-16) The very process of sanctification shows that our life is to be in motion—moving towards Christ-likeness. I do understand people confusing this belief with contentment because at times contentment might mean staying put or accepting your circumstances; however, it does not mean we are enslaved to everything that happens to us.

The world’s versions of contentment are false. Only the Bible’s definition allows us to live in a mixed up world with purpose and peace. To discover the richness of God’s promises for the Christians, pick up a copy of Christ-Centered Contentment today!

1. Buy the book from Amazon.

2. Buy the book from me.

1. Buy the book from Amazon.

2. Buy the book from me.

Christ-Centered Contentment

Jesus claimed that He came to give abundant life. Is this how you would describe your life? If we are honest, most of us would admit that we are far from living life to the full. Don’t go another day missing out on the richness of God’s promises to His people. Christ-Centered Contentment will teach you: God’s definition of contentment, the emptiness of worldly consumption, how to find peace, fulfillment, and satisfaction, how to live life with inspiring conviction, the secret of overcoming difficulty, the beauty of simplicity and gratitude, and the joy of choosing infinite gratification. Begin learning how to thrive instead of survive!

The Essentials of Biblical Finance: Contentment

Contentment

1. Contentment is not: a loss of ambition, a war against success/gain, a disconnection from reality or slavery to the status quo. It is worthwhile to take a few moments to dispel the myths of this elusive term.

2. Contentment is: a conviction that Christ’s power, purpose and provision is sufficient for “any and all” circumstances.

3. Contentment is a conviction. The Bible calls us to allow our convictions, not our circumstances, to govern our sense of contentment. We must learn to walk through all circumstances still believing that God: is in control, is good, is enough, desires our good, accomplishes His will, walks with us, gives us peace and promises deliverance. We must choose to rest on God’s good promises despite what may be going on in our lives.

4. Contentment is choosing self-control over self-indulgence. Self-denial is not the goal of contentment. Instead, self-discipline allows us to enjoy good things without being overcome by them. If we do not show self-discipline in our approach to money then we passively make the statement that we have decided to spend everything we make no matter how much we make.

5. Contentment is choosing to be thankful. When we are content we have an attitude of thanksgiving, and when we are discontent we complain. Our words, good or bad, speak volumes of our internal conditions. We can learn a lot about our contentment by judging what we say around the water cooler and kitchen table.

Part 1: Intro, Part 2: Stewardship, Part 3: Generosity, Part 4: Contentment 

“There’s nothing to eat,” I murmured to myself as I stood staring endlessly into my kitchen pantry. You know the position-arms braced on each side of the door, slightly leaning back gazing deeper and deeper into the dark recesses desperately hoping for something to appeal to my appetite. No luck. “Ehhhh, there is nothing to eat,” I muttered under my breath hoping perhaps the fridge would host greater luck. Then God spoke to me. As I was walking to the fridge, He urged me to look in the pantry again. The items listed below are the contents of my pantry at that moment of despair:

4 Boxes of Cereal, 2 Containers of Oatmeal, Box of Pancake Mix, Large bag of Raisins, Bag Full of Leftover Christmas Candy, 1/2 Bag of Chips, 1/2 Bag of Beef Jerky, Peanut Butter, Craisins, Ready to make Soup, Jar of Roasted Peanuts, Box of Apple Cider Mix, Hot Chocolate Mix, Green Tea, Travel Coffee Singles, Honey, Syrup, Salad Dressing, Potato, 2 Sweet Potatoes, Nutella, Crackers, Cinnamon Raisin Bread, 2 Packages of Flour, 4 Varieties of Oil, Rice, Wheat, Coconut, Corn Syrup, Chocolate Chips, Nuts, Brown Sugar, Sugar, Baking Powder, Granola Bars, Canned Food: Chicken Noodle Soup, 3 Beef Broths, 1 Chicken Broth, Tomato Sauce, 2 Diced Tomatoes, Chili, Cream of Chicken, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Navy Beans, Green Beans, and Re-fried Beans, and Pumpkin.

Then it hit me: Is this what I have come to call an “empty” pantry? The realization left me humbled. I think we find ourselves surrounded by unimaginable levels of comfort, luxury, and ease, yet contentment still seems so elusive. A few days later I ran into this sermon quote by Charles Spurgeon:

“When men have too much of God’s mercies-strange that we should have to say this, and yet it is a great fact-when men have much of God’s providential mercies, it often happens that they have but little of God’s grace, and little gratitude for the bounties they have received. They are full, and they forget God; satisfied with earth, they are content to do without heaven. Rest assured, my dear hearers, it is harder to know how to be full than it is to know how to be hungry.” – Charles Spurgeon (Sermon No. 320)

While it seems strange, I believe Spurgeon is dead on. It is harder to be content when we have more. Sadly, it is too often the case that the more God blesses us the less we are thankful, and the more we crave. We fall into the lie that the “next” promotion, neighborhood, car, or tax bracket will finally satisfy our souls.

I challenge myself, and the rest of you, to begin the process of learning to be content (Phil. 4:11). It will not occur naturally, nor-as the evidence clearly indicates-will it be the fruit of a life filled with good things. Ironically, the accumulation of stuff drives our discontentment. May we all begin to see clearly the challenge contentment poses in prosperity, and cling to Christ for our ultimate fulfillment.

To wrap up this mini-series on living with a call to simplicity and contentment, I will give you Foster’s ten suggestions for living a simpler life.  They are worth taking the time to think over and reflect on.  Again, I would highly recommend his book to anyone interested at some practical ways to grow spiritually.  It is a Christian classic.

1. “Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status.”  Clothes are a perfect example.  Do you really need more clothes, or are you simply trying to stay in style?

2. “Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you…simplicity is freedom, not slavery.”  We instantly write this one off, but Foster goes on to include things like TV, magazines, etc.

3. “Develop a habit of giving things away…De-accumulate!  Masses of tings that are not needed complicate life.”  Worth taking a walk through the house and garage and take stock of how much stuff you have that you never use.

4. “Refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of modern gadgetry.”  Keeping up with the latest and greatest forces you to pay premium prices for all purchases (and often incurs the headaches of companies working the “glitches” out of their products).

5. “Learn to enjoy things without owning them.  Owning things is an obsession in our culture…Enjoy the beach without feeling you have to buy a piece of it.”  It’s true what they say, the best things in life are free.

6. “Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation.”  This one definitely connects to number 5.

7. “Look with a healthy skepticism at all ‘buy now, pay later’ schemes…certainly prudence, as well as simplicity, demands that we use extreme caution before incurring debt.”  Well said.

8. “Obey Jesus’ instructions about plain, honest speech…Make honesty and integrity the distinquishing characteristics of your speech.”  An interesting slant to call our words to simplicity.

9. “Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others.”  Again, purity of heart and motive are called into question here.

10. “Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom God.”  Amen.

“Asceticism renounces possessions. Simplicity sets possessions in proper perspective. Asceticism finds no place for a ‘land flowing with milk and honey.’ Simplicity rejoices in this gracious provision from the hand of God. Asceticism finds contentment only when it is abased. Simplicity knows contentment in both abasement and abounding (Phil. 4:12). Simplicity is the only thing that sufficiently reorients our lives so that possessions can be genuinely enjoyed without destroying us.” – Richard Foster (Celebration of Discipline)

The thought of living simply tends to bring to mind images of sack-clothed, stocial hermits.  This is not the case.  Instead, the Bible calls our living simply and contently to be balanced.  Good things are created by a good God for our enjoyment.  The problem arises when we begin to put those good things in God’s place.  Often times, good things make the best idols.  They decieve us with their goodness, and blind us to their draining effect on our spiritual life.

I challenge you to think of living simply not as some strange form of self-punishment that somehow brings glory to our Maker.  Instead, seek to, as Foster puts it, “set possessions in proper perspective.”  As we persist in keeping God in His proper abode in our hearts, we will find ourselves turning from accumulation and striving for simplification (And this, because of the reward and enjoyment we find in it.)