Are You Content?
It has become such a norm in our society to be discontent. It’s never enough and there’s always someone else who has it better than you do. Discontentment is not something we normally think of as a sin. In fact, we might not even be aware of its presence in our life. It can creep into our life so easily, especially when we are constantly scrolling through social media, comparing ourselves to others. Discontentment can be caused by a number of different things, but it often leads us to do things we know we shouldn’t in order to try and satisfy our desires. The article linked at the top of this post is a perfect example of a time when discontentment led to dishonest activity in the business setting. With the introduction of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans due to COVID-19, the temptation to commit fraud has been significantly heightened. One man took advantage of these PPP loans and opened up multiple fake small businesses named after “Game of Thrones” characters, and created fake documents and falsified tax returns in order to earn nearly $6 million in loans.
In chapter nine of Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate, Jerry Bridges talks about the sin of discontentment. Discontentment is one of the many sins that we consider “respectable” in comparison to others. However, Bridges says that discontentment can be just as dangerous because it “…can open the door of our hearts to greater sin.” (Pg. 73). This is a good reminder to me to take a look at my life and examine areas where I may be harboring discontentment. While it feels like such a “minor” sin, all sins are equal in God’s eyes and lead to the consequence of death (Romans 6:23). As a college student, it is easy for me to compare myself to others, feeling like I’m not doing enough or don’t have enough, causing me to be discontent with my life. The temptation to be discontent comes at us every second of every day, which is why it is so important to be intentional about placing our focus on God and not on the world. As you consider where you may be experiencing discontentment in your own life, check out this article to help you start moving towards contentment: https://www1.cbn.com/biblestudy/learning-to-be-content
Works Cited:
Bridges, Jerry. Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2007.
