Rev. Roger Perry
"noli me tangere"
Membership Level: Full
Posts: 5164
Status: Offline | Contentment
A bishop of the early church who was an extremely contented man, was once asked what his secret of contentment was. He told the enquirer, “ it consists in nothing more than making the right use of my eyes. In whatever state I am in., I first of all look up to heaven and remember that my principle business here is to get there. Then I look down upon the earth and call to mind how small a place I shall occupy in it when I die and am buried. I then look around in the world and observe what multitudes there are who are in many respects more unhappy than myself. Thus I learn where true happiness is placed, where all our cares must end and what little reason I have to complain.”
As I look around at the people I know, I see more discontent than I would like. Sometimes, when visiting the homes of some of them, I see all the latest electronic gadgets, up to date computers, blue ray, 3D television etc. yet still they are unhappy with their lot. Then when I am out, I sometimes meet a man of undetermined age, he could be 50 or 70. He has no home and lives on the street. He mainly keeps his own company and will sit for hours just watching people. He finds the majority of us amusing as we bustle about, never stopping for rest. He is grateful for the gifts some of us give him, whether it is food, clothing , money or even a can of drink. He is content and obviously knows the old bishop’s secret. The big question is: Have we learned the lesson of contentment?
Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody. (Benjamin Franklin)
Philippians 4.11-14:-
11 Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 12I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress | | Report Post |
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