It’s a Learned Behaviour.

Last week, Pastor Hyeon Son Lim was released from a North Korean labour camp, imprisoned for his faith 2.5 years ago. On Sunday, among other statements about his ordeal, he spoke these words:

“I learned to fully accept all of this as a form of God’s love and discipline to make me stronger.”

How is that possible? (At least that’s what hits my mind!)

Pastor Lim found contentment, even under terrible circumstances. What does this say about us and our trivial discontentment? How should we look at our finances, time and relationships?

Why are we not content-Christians?

We Haven’t Learned To be.

In chapter 4 of Paul’s Philippian letter, we find the key to contentment.

“11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Before Christ, Paul was part of the religious élite, hunting down Christians. After meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, his life moved from status and security to servanthood and suffering.

For the sake of the Gospel, Paul had to learn what it meant to be content.

We don’t have it that rough. Both Paul and Pastor Lim’s situations are vastly different that our trivial 2017 Western lives. So how do we learn contentment?

We Choose To Learn.

In this easy Western life, we need to have a deep heart-to-heart with ourselves on what’s really important. Are we willing to make the hard choices necessary to learn contentment?

• Will we cut up our credit cards and credit cheques?
• Will we purge our time-wasting addictions?
• Will we break off that relationship with an unbeliever?
• Will we…

Where does your discontentment lie? Own it, attack it, purge it, purposefully place yourself in the discomforted associated with learning contentment.

Your future self, will thank you, as you begin to experience a more fulfilled life.

Join the Conversation, Leave Your Thoughts

Where are you the most discontent? What area of life is the most unsettled? In your opinion, what’s the cause?