By Elder Vincent Kisenyi – Member of KLT, Elder – Dan Clan, Head – Professional Service, Dean of Students – UCU, Father, Teacher & Mentor.
Contentment! This word can be pronounced in a variety of ways and depending on how you say it, it could mean something entirely different from the other. Content, Content and Content… I hope you got them all right! There’s “Content” – the inclusions of something like the table of content or water content in a bottle, then there’s “Content” – Satisfaction or value derived from something. The state of living within your means. I hope we’re still together because the latter is what we will be capitalizing on. Contentment!!
Consider the events currently headlining in Uganda today; Expired Courses, Stolen Iron sheets, youth unemployment: this has mutated into disguised unemployment – doctors riding boda bodas, Rural – Urban migration; covid had sort of reversed the situation but we’re slowly getting back, high costs of living, gone are the days when Ugx100,000/= shopping was earth shuttering, life: a man can be a woman and the reverse, all this sandwiched with the wealthy people living amongst the poor. In times such as we live in, it is very keen to master the Virtue of Contentment.
As hinted, Contentment is about satisfaction, living within your means, Ap. Peter says in 1 Peter 2:9-10 MSG “But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.” A discussion on contentment is imminent, we tend to believe that what is out there is better than that which we possess. We need to have our focus entirely on our Lord Jesus Christ. As Eagles, the only contentment we ought to have is in GOD. This is one of the most important Christian virtues.
Power, position and Possessions are poisons to all humanity, yes including us Christians.
We all have sources of power. To bring more light, power is what we possess that helps us influence people. You must know your source of power, it is good as long as you use it properly, however, it can also corrupt. This is why we have witnessed several people wanting to hold on to their positions of power.
What is your source of power? For some, it is money, your obsession or ambitions, possessions. If you have any of these, the intention is harness more of it and remain powerful. Maintaining these positions has pushed so many people over the edge of Christianity. That dream car or house you’re looking out for. If these become our pre-occupation and our focus is on them, they are a poison! Those who seek to have them, know now how to do it lest you get infested with pride. If you have made all your talk about your porch car or fancy phone, and get me right am not against accumulating wealth but minding the influence that our possessions bring our way.
1 Timothy 6:6, KJV “but godliness with contentment is great gain.” This here is the threshold, possession with contentment is good.
1 John 2:16 MSG, “Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.”
As Christians, our desire is to live for GOD. The Down side of possessions is when it leads you to temptation, however, its okay to gain possessions and use them for good to further the kingdom of GOD.
Let look at what the lack of contentment could land you in;
- Greed: Strong desire for more, more wealth, more possession, more power and more everything. Matter of fact, the lack of contentment has plunged so many brethren into the sin of greed. This has nurtured bad habits to maintain or achieve more. Am talking about gambling, drug addictions, theft, laundering all because contentment is lacking. You’re destined for failure without contentment, consider as an example a public servant earning more than Uganda shillings 20 million that is involved in laundering iron sheets, stealing funds for the sick. That is greed! Kingdom Life tabernacle is raising a standard of leaders that is to change this situation and at center of this mantle is contentment.
- Covetousness: Yes that strong word right here, this is the excessive inordinate desire for another’s possession, yes those Nike kicks that you strongly desire! When you read out of Luke 12:15 KJV Jesus tells people, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” At times we want to focus our life on possessions but Jesus is warning us. We should take heed…
As Christians therefore, we must avoid greed and Covetousness, 1 Timothy 6:6, “A devout life does bring wealth, but it’s the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that’s enough.” I strongly believe that the notion of contentment is also about wisdom, how much of something must I have?
When God created man, among other assignments, there is no amassing millions and billions but to be able to help others and generations to come. Contentment requires Godly wisdom. How much of something must I have?
What are the benefits of Contentment? One, obviously, it will help you to avoid covetousness. Two; it will help you to be content with little. Am addressing the amounts of food that people tend to carry for them selves on buffet serving points! The amount of discontentment that’s demonstrated at food serving tables is worrying. Three; It will help you to be Godly. Godliness attracts God’s blessing. When you are content, you are mindful of others. You won’t be selfish like some gluttons we have witnessed in our country; they have caused us a lot of problems; swamps have been encroached on, government project frustrated, with road projects failing. You will enjoy God’s blessings and presence in your life, if you embrace Godliness through Contentment. He knew us before we were formed in our mother’s wombs and therefore knows where and what we should have, sadly, most people don’t see the benefits of Godliness which is why they don’t bother to live Godly lives.
1 Timothy 4:8, “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
If you pursue possession and with greed, you may have plenty but not happy. I bet you seen miserable rich people. Contentment will give you peace.
Four; it helps you avoid carnal comparisons. If Godliness with contentment is reigning in your life, you won’t compare your self with others who seemingly have more than you have or who actually have more than you have. But you would rather be aware that contentment is Christ is more than enough to satisfy you. With the increasing social media, this is becoming very challenging. With these social media carnal comparison is becoming a very sensitive issue, especially for the ladies. Body insecurities simply because a tweet has seemingly established a scale of beauty. This is where many mental illnesses have been born, through social media. Its not surprising when the headlines say 14 million Ugandans are fighting mental illness. Social Media, Unwell people sharing seemingly happy representation. You can’t emulate someone that’s changing their hair style everyday when you are still a student, you will be tempted to achieve this the wrong way. Most of the people we admire also have their issues and struggles that they have kept in disguise, the next thing you see are headlines that someone has been shot dead. Carnal Comparison! Be Content my dear friends.
Five: It helps you to appreciate what you have. Appreciate what you already have no matter how little it is. Don’t attempt to prove yourself to people, the people that we often want to prove ourselves to often have us as none of their business. For high school students, prom is a recipe for disaster for many folks out there. It a race for who wore it better, who has the most expensive wardrobe. Live within your means my dear friends. Don’t create room for covetousness in your life. The next big thing you’re chasing will not bring satisfaction in your life!
Five: It helps you to avoid the love of money. Money is not bad, it’s a good thing to have. You shouldn’t let it control you though. We’ve witnessed over the years how people are willing to do just anything for money. Who am I when it comes to money?
1 Timothy 6:10 MSG, “Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after”. What is your attitude towards money? You ought to have an attitude of contentment when dealing with money, especially other people’s money. It is very key that you start your journey of contentment today.
Finally; it makes us heavenly minded, your focus ought to be on heaven always. When Godly contentment is in your life, your mind will be focused on heavenly riches where you know your riches are.
Colossians 3:2 MSG, “Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ – that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.”
Many people including some Christians, are too earthly minded and engrossed in the rat race of pursuit of earthly riches which they won’t even take when they die. Remember, nothing will go with you, Godly contentment and not material things is all you need to live a lifestyle of happiness and joy. Contentment therefor is an attribute and attitude that has be learned. I strongly recommend this to us as young people. God Bless you.
