Photo taken at Fripp Island, SC
Andrew Carnegie said, "Show me a contented man, and I'll show you a failure." Oh, how wrong he was! I've been feeling great contentment these past two weeks, and I am not even close to being a failure. Poor Mr. Carnegie must have been a driven man. I guess, too, that our standards are quite different. He must have gotten his from the world around him, while I get mine from The Bible. Here is what that great book has to say about contentment.
Hebrews 13:5-Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.
I Timothy 6:6-8-Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we wll be content with that.
Philippians 4:11-13-I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. 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. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.
Only Christ Jesus can give us the strength to be content no matter what our circumstances. I'll have to confess that I don't utilize His strength enough. I've often been discontent with my circumstances and lacking in trust in the only One who brings true peace and contentment. For now, at least, I'm feeling mighty content with life. I hope it lasts!
5 comments:
The freedom we have in Christ is what gives us that contentment. We know that He's king of the Universe and in complete control - that he loves his children and everything is for our ultimate good and his glory. When we trust him we have nothing to fear. That certainly makes me feel content. And it's also why it's so important to NOT take our eyes off him.
I agree with you that we should be content in the situations that God puts us in, whether in much or little, but I'm thinking that Mr. Carnegie meant by his statement that if you use this part of Phillipians: "I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength"
We can do so much -- in Him.
Jody
Yes, I also believe Mr. Carnegie was driven and should have given his seat over to God. He would then have known contentment and his outlook would have changed.
Visiting via MK and enjoying my visit; especially the "prayer" piece at the beginning. I am going to copy this and send to my Pastor's wife; she's beginning a Bible study for women and this will encourage her as it does me.
My apologies, meant to say the photo is beautiful! I was in North Myrtle Beach earlier this week; I do enjoy the Carolina coast.
I am saddened by Mr. Carnegie's perspective. I thought he would have known his Bible better and known what a blessed, to-be-desired state of mind and heart contentment represents. I know there are things in the world and in us that need changing, but that is another matter altogether.
My favorite verse on the subject is "Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have [for me this includes lifestyle], for He has said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you"... We have Christ! We can be content with Him and the fulness of Life in Him. Glory to His Name!
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