I came across this in my morning bible study...it reminded me about the dream I just wrote about..."A Foot in Both Worlds." As did the Philippians scripture I posted on the left.
"The problem with contentment, American-style, is that it denies our human limitations. We are encouraged to admire the supposedly 'self-made' man or woman. We are taught to value self-sufficiency. And we assume that money will insulate us from chance, protect us from 'the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune'-maybe even from death; "In contrast, the Apostle Paul claims he acheived contentment "in any and all circumstances." Paul's ideal of contentment is truer to life. We didn't create ourseves and we can't save ourselves from death.
In the last two chapters of Phillipians, Paul describes a type of contentment that isn't based on 'self-sufficiency.' It comes in GRATEFUL acceptance of his DEPENDENCE on God and the sharing in the gifts offered by others. His contentment doesn't bring the absence of suffering: it brings the enablement to continue in service to the Kingdom of God. Paul gave himself to something bigger and greater than himself. His life had purpose and significance beyond itself. He was not free of worry, pain or limitations, but he was CONTENT. Both JOY and SUFFERING come from beyond us and are bigger than us. Both say we are dependent and can never be complete in ourselves, that salvation and wholeness come only when we can admit we aren't self-made little gods. It takes courage NOT to pursue contentment American-style"
Author: Rodney Clapp
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