Recently I read a blog post about someone who had an epiphany. He was driving through a “rich” neighborhood in a cheap rental car, going to a nearby park to hike. He suddenly realized that these rich people really had nothing he did not have at least 90% of.
For example, they drove expensive cars. But those cars really did nothing his cheap rental car did not do, and the cars of the rich were more expensive to buy, maintain, and fuel. The rich may have big beautiful houses, but his house was comfortable and was better than the houses the vast majority of humanity had lived in throughout history. He may not have eaten the same things the rich ate, but his food was nourishing, plentiful and safe. He was even on his way to hike in the very same park that these rich people hiked in.
As he thought, he realized that he was better off (materially) than most of humanity today, and far better off than most of humanity in past times. And that led him to realize that envy of the rich whose neighborhood he was driving through could only make him unhappy.
Christianity has been criticized for teaching that people should be content. Marx said that religion is the opiate of the masses — the idea being that since religion teaches the working class to be content in this life in hope of a better life in the next, it prevents them from becoming discontented enough to revolt against the ownership class.
Well, the Bible does indeed teach contentment. It is interesting to look at some of those passages in context.
For example, Hebrews 13:5-6 says,
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you
have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
So we can confidently say,
The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?
Notice that this passage does not tell us to be content because of some “pie-in-the sky when you die” notion of the next life. Rather, it says to be content because Jesus has promised to be with us in this life. The writer refers to Psalm 118:6 which invokes the help of the Lord for this life. The Christian view of contentment is not pie in the sky, but rather “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Beyond this, Paul addresses the destructive nature of discontent in 1 Timothy 6:6-10:
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought
nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare,
into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin
and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of
evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from
the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Here we see that contentment protects us from them temptation of desire for riches. This temptation lures us into “senseless and harmful desires” that bring “ruin and destruction.” People are led away from the faith and “pierced … with many pangs.”
Paul shows in his own life how this works out. When the Philippians send him a gift, he thanks them in his letter (Philippians 4:10-19). In Philippians 4:13 he tells them that he did not really need their gift because “learned … to be content.”
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived
your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no
opportunity.
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in
whatever situation I am to be content.
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. I can do all things through him
who strengthens me.
As a “missionary support letter” this seems rather ineffective — he tells the Philippians, in so many words, that he did not need their gift. But as an expression of love and friendship it hits the spot. Their gift was a joy to Paul, even though God was taking care of him and teaching him “the secret” of dealing with all different circumstances. He could have plenty and he could go hungry — and God was with him, strengthening him.
So for Paul, “religion” was not a way to get the Philippians to cough up more money. Instead, he practiced what he preached by learning contentment for himself. And when presented with abundance, he was thankful but did not take it for granted or demand it.
Notice that Paul talks about contentment as something we must learn. It does not come naturally. We tend to chase after the things we need and devote our lives to getting them. And things that were luxuries soon become needs. Think of cars, televisions, cell-phones, internet access — all things people did without for most of human history. And yet we can hardly imagine life without them.
Now I am not here to rail at you for being “too materialistic.” Clearly Paul had times of abundance. Jesus tells us that the one who “seeks first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” will have “all these things added” to him. God wants to care for us and bless us; but he does not want us to be consumed by desire and envy. He does not want us to chase after things that have only temporary value. And he certainly does not want us to hate those who have things we do not have.
You are worth more than that! Jesus says memorably, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”
Contentment breeds happiness. If you feel that you “have enough” you will be at peace, not constantly anxious to get the next thing. Understand that the world wants to stimulate desires and cravings in you — to make you discontented — so that you will buy the newest thing. Thus you are enslaved to the need for money to pay for these things, and even (unwisely) to debt.
But if you are content to drive a car that you have paid off, to live in a house that does not consume most of your income, to not have the latest cell phone or computer or plasma TV, then you will find yourself free.
I am not telling you, “do not desire these things.” Rather, I am telling you to desire better things, things that last, things that bring peace and joy. Seek God and his kingdom and let him be your provider and your security.