Godliness and Contentment

When my eldest son was learning to pray out loud to God, he said something that makes me smile to this day.  Shortly after our kitchen had been remodelled, before a meal he rattled off a series of things he was thankful for.  As he made a sweeping gesture with his arm he said happily, "And thank God for the countertops!"  We never had new countertops before, and we were all pleased to have them.  His exuberance over our remodeled kitchen was unexpected and fun to see.

At Calvary Chapel Sydney we are studying through the book of Ecclesiastes, and Solomon was no stranger to new or nice things.  One thing he discovered, however, was no matter how many nice things he had they would not remain his forever:  new things quickly grow old, and things in themselves cannot provide meaning or satisfaction.  We only had our new countertops for a short time before they took damage from an exercise ball that inadvertently knocked a chisel into the bench surface near the sink.  It was a test for me:  would I become angry and frustrated over the damage?  Would I justify bitterness or resentment because of what happened?  How could we take precautions to prevent this from happening again?  Was I praising the LORD with gratitude the chisel had not landed on a little foot or hand?

In contrast to those who believed gain was godliness, Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:6-7:  "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."  Whether Paul had money in abundance or was on a tight budget, he discovered contentment in God that did not depend on his present circumstances.  Paul was content to walk the streets of Jerusalem as a free man or be incarcerated in Rome.  He maintained the eternal perspective knowing he came into the world with nothing and would leave the same way.  While quality countertops are useful, we cannot take them with us.  Those who realise in God all our needs are met can be genuinely thankful and grateful for all we have and not be addled with covetousness over what we do not have--which leads us not to appreciate all God has provided.

Should it become apparent our outlook is marred with greed, covetousness or discontent, many people "try" to be content--as if that is the problem in itself.  The reality is, our lack of contentment is evidence of lack of godliness.  Children of God can fight a continual losing battle to be content in the LORD when we have not first acknowledged and repented of our greed and covetousness and thanking God for all He has given.  Confessing and repenting of our sin is a critical step to walk in godliness with contentment.  Our good God will see to it we will remain troubled should we remain unrepentant in sin.  Contentment is not carelessness or rejection of material possessions but gratitude, thankfulness and joy in the LORD who has given us all that pertains to life and godliness.  We can be thankful and praise God for all He provides for us--even when a chisel gouges the counter.  In our God is only gain, and by faith in Him we can be content by His grace.

Our Sure Help

"For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? ¹⁰ Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope."

1 Corinthians 9:9-10

In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul demonstrated the relevance of precepts from the Law of Moses for present personal application.  While Christians were not "under the Law" or obliged to keep the letter of the Law, even a passage that prohibited the muzzling of an ox that treads out the grain provided guidance in the financial compensation of Christian ministers who laboured in the word.  This insight provides precedent by the leading of the Holy Spirit to open up enlightening and refreshing applications tucked away in the Old Testament modern-day believers ought to consider and heed.  Paul's point was God included the law that forbade muzzling oxen at work--not just to prevent animal cruelty--but for the sake of guiding and exhorting Christians to contribute towards the temporal or financial needs of Christian workers.

Understanding the timeless relevance of God's righteousness in Law, wonderful insights are provided for the hungry seeker.  I was greatly encouraged by another passage that happened to involve animals in Deuteronomy 22:4:  "You shall not see your brother's donkey or his ox fall down along the road, and hide yourself from them; you shall surely help him lift them up again."  Children of Israel who saw their brother's ox or donkey fall over and struggle to rise were not to pretend they did not notice the animal in distress.  Even if the brothers or neighbours were not on the best terms, people were legally obligated to help their fellow Jew to lift up their donkey or ox--a tiring, time-consuming task.  As Paul mentioned, though this passage in the Old Testament is about a donkey or ox falling down, this is written for our sakes.  If we see our brother in Christ stumble or fall into sin, we should not hide ourselves from helping support and strengthen him, desiring him to be restored to fellowship with God and the church (Gal. 6:1).

Carrying this further, we know by the scripture God never commanded people to do things He did not always do Himself.  If God should command brothers to help one another lift up a fallen beast of burden, we can know the God Who sees all does not act oblivious when one of His own precious children stumbles and falls.  God knows very well when we are cast down and unable to lift ourselves.  The Good Shepherd will leave 99 sheep to search and rescue one, and thus we know He will not hide Himself from us even when we are to blame for wandering from His side and into trouble.  God said to His people, "You shall surely help him lift them up again" and we can have confidence God will not hide Himself from us in our distress:  He will surely help lift us up again.  He is the lifter of our head and more still.  When Ezekiel was confronted with the glory of God and fell on his face, Ezekiel 2:1-2 reads:  "And He said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you." ² Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me."  Ezekiel stood and heard, yet it was all God's doing.

When we struggle to rise and it seems God is far from us, know He is aware of our need for help.  He does not hide Himself from us to "teach us a lesson" but draws near to help lift us up so we might again walk in the light.  God is not to be blamed or at fault for our falls:  it is we who are weak, stray, stumble and fall and ironically are reluctant to seek or cry out to God in our distress.  He draws near to all who draw near to Him in faith, and should God be hidden from our sight most likely it is because we have not actually sought Him.  We have hoped in ourselves or looked for something or someone other than God to do what only He can.  Psalm 43:5 wisely says:  "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God."  By hope in God those who despair are made to praise Him with joy and gladness.

The Unchanging, Good God

Understanding context is very important.  Many times we have come into a conversation at the "wrong time" and were left confused or perhaps offended by what we heard because we didn't understand what was said before we arrived.  This can be applied to situations as well.  Imagine walking into a room and to your shock see masked people in white coats removing organs from a living human being.  To people ignorant of surgery, this would seem the most inexcusable, barbaric butchery.  What could seem cruel and horrific was a procedure done by trained, experienced professionals to promote the health of a consenting patient.

I believe this illustration of the one who unwittingly stumbles into an operating theatre is fitting for many people who read the Bible and are appalled by God's judgments and actions.  Even Christians can be confused and almost embarrassed God would judge people and nations that result in death.  Perhaps they had only been exposed to a view of God that emphasises His love, mercy and grace without comprehension of His righteousness, justice and wrath which complement one another.  They have come into a conversation without knowing God's revelation of Himself in truth; they have wandered into passages they cannot understand because they are not mixed with faith that God is good, His ways perfect, and He is our Peace.

No Christian needs to defend or apologise for anything God has done, for His righteous, loving and just ways are higher than ours.  When God chose to use the Canaanites, Philistines or Babylonians to judge His people by oppressing them or killing them in battle, He was wise in doing so.  There were also times God used the children of Israel as His instrument to judge other nations long in sin.  Know that this was never without warnings and opportunities to repent and submit to God.  The Law commanded the Hebrews give a proclamation of peace before attacking if their enemies would willingly surrender (Deut. 20:10).  Some might be aghast God would kill the firstborn of man and beast in Egypt with what would surely happen if they would not let His people go.  God said to Moses in Exodus 4:22-23, "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD: "Israel is My son, My firstborn. ²³ So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn."

Even as faith in God was required for Pharaoh to hear and heed the word of the LORD, so it is for those who read the Bible to obtain understanding and wisdom from it.  Those who are not convinced God is good, gracious, just and merciful will balk to receive the truth of scripture.  Refusal to submit to God's ways as right and our own perceptions and judgments as infinitely inferior will prevent us from walking in the fear of God.  As long as we stand in judgment of God as unnecessarily harsh and brutal, we blind ourselves from God's goodness to show the wickedness of sin.  It is not the licensed, skilled surgeon who has blood on his hands that is in the wrong, but those who call him a butcher because they--in their ignorance--do not agree with his methods.  God was willing to come to earth and shed His blood (Acts 20:28) so we could be forgiven, redeemed and saved, and He is the merciful and just God of the Old Testament as well.

The Shield of Faith

"Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the spoiler to destroy. ¹⁷ No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me," says the LORD."

Isaiah 54:16-17

In Australia, there are homes that are "heritage-listed," which means they are old homes of cultural and historical interest.  These houses often have unique features from modern dwellings like vaulted ceilings, ornate moulding and carvings, or even quarried stone.  These homes can be expensive to renovate because of the rules and regulations established to ensure the character and appearance of the house is preserved and compliments the original.  "Heritage" in a basic sense suggests it has been inherited--like the ownership of a house is passed down through generations.

A lot of people are still waiting for the benefits of an inheritance given by others.  The inheritance God spoke about through the prophet Isaiah would be received and enjoyed by the Jews during the future millennial reign of their Messiah.  Spiritually speaking, however, this heritage for all who trust in Jesus Christ as LORD is to be received and enjoyed today by all believers.  God promised no weapon formed against His people would prosper, and no accusation brought against them would stick.  Even as God created the blacksmith with his tools and fire to bring forth metal instruments, so God is able to harness and direct Satan to accomplish God's will and redemptive purposes.  We see this in the crucifixion of Jesus.  Had the powers of darkness known how God would use Christ's atoning sacrifice to deliver souls from death to eternal life and spiritual fruitfulness, Satan would never have worked to that end.

In the New Testament, Paul utilised an analogy of a warrior's armour to explain the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.  A Christian is able to "be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might," not by what we try to accomplish in the strength of our flesh, but by Who Jesus is and all He has created us to be in Him.  Paul wrote of an especially vital part of armour provided by the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 6:16, "...above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one."  Notice the shield of faith is able to quench "all the fiery darts" of the wicked one:  no weapon formed against us shall prosper.  There is no flaming arrow Satan can fire at us that can shatter the shield of faith in Jesus that extinguishes them.  Our strength is not our own; our righteousness is not our own.  In Christ by faith in Him we are given strength for the day and righteousness forever by His grace.

Above all we are to take the shield of faith with which we will be able to quench all the fiery darts of Satan.  Just because the shield is impenetrable and we are able does not guarantee a flaming arrow will not at times find the mark.  People with genuine, saving faith are not guaranteed to always walk by faith in Jesus.  Like Samson, a man greatly used by the LORD, we can think to ourselves in folly, "I will arise as at other times," thinking we are sufficient in ourselves to deliver ourselves!  Those who are in Christ ought to live by faith in Christ, and when we take steps of faith in obedience to Christ we are perfectly protected from all spiritual attacks and evil intent.  Job was greatly afflicted by Satan through loss and severe illness; Jesus was crucified and died on Calvary.  Yet Job was brought through the trial like gold refined seven times and doubly blessed, and Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into eternal glory.  I am convinced the greater our faith becomes the shield of faith is lighter and more effectively wielded, for the Holy Spirit helps us in our infirmities.