Contentment

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie was by far my favorite childhood book, right up there with Brown bear and Goodnight Moon. I remember paging through that book over and over again enjoying the story of a little mouse who always demanded more. But isn't this exactly how we are? We want more, more money, more position, more power. No matter what we have, we want more of it. It's like most of us have what Francis Chan calls "spiritual amnesia." I know I've experienced it.I've worried and stressed over not having enough, haven't you?

Worry and stress though are the opposite of contentment. They are the roots of arrogance, as if we are saying that God is not capable of providing for us, as if we do not really trust Him. We forget often enough how much of God it takes for life to continue to go on. Think about your body for a second, how intricate it is, how everything must work just so to carry on. If one thing is wrong, one chromosome is missing, all comes crashing down. Are you thankful for your kidneys? Probably not, unless you've seen or had kidney disease. What about your heart? And the liver, that's one amazing and important organ. See what I mean, spiritual amnesia. We forget and we give into worry, stress, and malcontentment.

Paul was onto something when he wrote this: Philippians 4:11-13 "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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."

I don't believe that Paul was saying this to chastise us but rather to share a wonderful secret.. Remember your childhood..did you ever worry about food or shelter, how much a car cost, or where your next meal came from? Most of us here in the States did not, because we had parents who took care of that. We as children were more concerned with barbies, toys, and make believe. That's what it means to have faith like a child. To be content. To be worry free. It means finding contentment in where you are because you know without a doubt in your heart that God will take care of everything for you. That's true happiness. That's when we can enjoy whatever blessings come our way without worrying about getting more. Because we know when we need it God will provide.

Luke 11:9-13 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.11 If a son asks for bread[a] from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

God has always been and always will be concerned with the well being of his creation. Jesus tells us that if God can feed and take care of even the birds and the flowers, what do we have to worry about? I think that's why Paul who was beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, stoned, starved, and chased can tell us that he was 'content' in every situation. He knew God was faithful to provide. Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

So hopefully if you give a mouse a cookie, or a moose a muffin, they'll learn to be content with that.

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