Thomas A. Edison is quoted with saying “Restlessness is discontent and discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure .”
How does this statement stack up against John the Baptist’s reply to the soldiers when they asked him how they should live? John replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely – be content with your pay.”
And further when Paul writes to the Philippians that he has “learned to be content whatever the circumstances…I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
With what are you discontent? What is motivating you into action? Understanding this is the key to appreciating the difference between properly motivated ambition and frivolous materialism.
John and Paul urge us to be content with our material possessions but they themselves were very motivated and hard working in their endeavours. They must have been discontent with something. Of course they were discontent, but not with their level of worldly wealth, they were discontent with the fact they had not completed all that God had called them to.
Edison is right; we do need some level of restlessness or discontentment in order to motivate us into action, but how do we ensure we are discontent about the right things?
Achieving contentment like John advocated and Paul experienced involves:
1. Knowing what God requires of us in handling
money and possessions,
2. Doing those requirements; and
3. Trusting God to
provide exactly what He knows is best
Avoiding the wrong discontentment can be achieved by:
1. Not coveting - stop trying to keep up with
the Jones’
2. Not determining your lifestyle by comparing it to
others
3. Freely enjoying what you have spent wisely
4. Making an effort
to live more simply
5. Continuing to seek God’s purpose for your
life
6. Not being conformed to this world
We are not all required to have the same a standard of living as was the goal in communist countries, but it is important that we regularly review our lifestyle. As Edison’s said, we do need to be discontent, dissatisfied and restless in order to spur us into action but make sure you are discontent about the things that truly matter...
This newsletter does not take into account the personal objectives, financial situation or needs of any person. You should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs and obtain professional financial advice prior to making any decision.