Copyright 2015 by Shea Oakley<\/p>\n
All rights reserved<\/p>\n
The answer to this question depends on with what we are content. It is one thing to be content with our circumstances; it is quite another to be content with our character. The first type of contentment is encouraged by scripture, the second warned against. One of the vital keys to an authentic and flourishing Christian life is learning to differentiate between the two and deal with the fallen human tendency to reverse them.<\/p>\n
Most honest believers, if pressed, will admit that they have a propensity to be comfortable with their faults and distinctly un<\/em>comfortable with the difficult things they must face in life. This is part and parcel of the \u201cold man\u201d within us. Our flesh constantly seeks to excuse our character flaws while simultaneously complaining about every seemingly unfavorable condition in our day to day existence. In a distinct irony many of the latter are a result of the former. We are naturally self-indulgent and comfort-seeking and when we give in to these two temptations the result is often bad circumstances that stem directly from doing so. This, among other things, is the reason why there is a clear biblical imperative not to make an idol out of either indulgence or comfort.<\/p>\n The reverse irony in this state of affairs is that the by-product of seeking both to improve our Christian character and learn to live with our circumstances is the reality of one helping the other. As we grow in the discipline of virtues like kindness, faithfulness and self-control we may start to resolve some of the bad situations that came about before we possessed these things in increasing measure. For instance, if our lack of kindness made us some enemies in this life becoming more sincerely kind to those enemies might win them over as friends.<\/p>\n Something else to remember about the \u201ccircumstantial\u201d side of the equation is that difficult problems in life can, themselves, be character builders if we approach them with the right attitude. Patience is one of the most vital qualities of godliness. We learn patience by bearing, through the grace of God, unpleasant situations. The truth is that even the best application of other aspects of a maturing character will not remove every hard circumstance we must endure on this side of Heaven. When we cannot change an external condition (or, in the case of something like illness, an internal one) we have no good choice but to use it as a springboard to becoming more patient in long-suffering, in imitation of our Lord. At the same time the advent of patience in our character is a primary way, along with learning to share our burdens with Christ, in which we learn to be truly content with whatever difficulties we face in life.<\/p>\n It might be said that the primary reason, God does not\u00a0 always remove the thorns in His children\u2019s sides in this world is for the purpose of making us all better, more Christ-like people in every sense. It is in the crucible of our difficult circumstances that He does much of the sanctifying work in us, work that is absolutely essential in both preparing us for eternity with Him and helping others to know Him that they might be with us in that eternity. So in the quest to be content with our circumstances, but not our character, we are properly ordering our lives not only for ourselves but ultimately also for the benefit of those around us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Copyright 2015 by Shea Oakley All rights reserved The answer to this question depends on with what we are content. It is one thing to be content with our circumstances; it is quite another to be content with our character. The first type of contentment is encouraged by scripture, the second warned against. One of… <\/p>\n