Content But Not Complacent, Part 1
Don’t Waste Your Life
by John Piper
American Heritage Dictionary
con·tent : Desiring no more than what one has; satisfied.
American Heritage Dictionary
com·pla·cent : Contented to a fault; self-satisfied and unconcerned
Work is a good thing. In the beginning, God gave Adam and Eve work to do. Work was originally part of the blessing of creation, not a curse that came after sin.
Genesis 1:28
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Even God works.
Genesis 2:2
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
In Chapter 8 of John Piper’s book, Don’t Waste Your Life, Piper writes: “In other words, we should be busy understanding and shaping and designing and using God’s creation in a way that calls attention to his worth and wakens worship.”
God created us to be satisfied in productive work, work that we enjoy. Adam and Eve named the animals, managed the garden, and studied creation, among many other tasks. Work was not hard, but enjoyable. They did not have to worry about lacking provisions, because God provided abundantly; food was literally hanging from the trees.
When Adam and Eve sinned, however, God cursed mankind by making work difficult and laborious. The hardships of work are the result of sin, and now we must work to provide for ourselves.
While we should work to provide for ourselves, we should be content with whatever God provides us. We can learn from the Apostle Paul as an example:
Philippians 4:12-13, 19
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 him who gives me strength… And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Before I continue I must mention that Philippians 4:13 is one of the most misquoted verses in the Bible. It doesn’t mean we can do anything we want through Christ’s strength. It doesn’t mean that through God’s strength we can win the lottery or get a high paying job. No, in context, it means we as Christians can be content in all kinds of suffering and hardships through His strength. This is what Paul means, and he should know well considering the many hardships he faced:
2 Corinthians 11:23-28
Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.
Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,
I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.
I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Christian churches today are full of spoiled, self-entitled people who pray for endless lists of needs that must be met for them to be satisfied with life. We complain about not having certain material things such as new cars, the latest cell phones, or the newest games and video game systems. We complain about not having a date, not being popular, not having a party to go to, and not having the best looks. We approach the Throne of God in prayer, demanding God to give us these things! We should be ashamed of ourselves.
The secret to contentment is relying on God for our every need, and being thankful for everything He has given us. The secret to contentment is being satisfied in God alone.
Christ is able to provide. Christ is able to strengthen us to persevere.
Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,2 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.2 Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
Believers should be content with the possessions and provisions that God provides. Those who are not content will never have enough.
1 Timothy 6:6-10
But 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 will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Notice what this verse says, “if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” So the formula is this: Food + Clothing = Contentment. We have much more than those things, yet we continue to whine and complain.
Money and material possessions are not bad in and of themselves, but the love of them is. God is pleased as long as we use those things for His glory.
Matthew 6:19-34
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
God promises to provide for our daily needs: food and clothing
The next time you complain about something, consider those who suffered in the Bible, and you’ll quickly realize how petty your complaints usually are. Be content and thankful, and count your blessings!