February 16, 2025
Beware of Destination Addiction – a preoccupation with the idea that happiness is in the next place, the next job and with the next partner. Until you give up the idea that happiness is somewhere else, it will never be where you are. – Robert Holden, Ph.D.
There is a restlessness in our culture. Always looking for the next thing, the next shiny object, the better life, the new partner, the new job, the bigger car, better set of clothes or bigger house.
Paul writes to the Philippian believers from prison. He writes, I have learnt contentment…whether in plenty or in want.
So what is the spiritual practice that helps us learn to be content? I don’t have all the answers. I suspect part of it for Paul was being incredibly impoverished at times (you didn’t even get fed in prison in those days) but discovering that God is still there. The Lord of the mountain top sometimes leads us into the valley of shadow to help us realise that having him is having everything we need. Now of course, that’s a tough way to learn contentment that I wouldn’t wish on anyone including myself.
But maybe also there are daily practices to help us resist the allure of the shiny things the whole advertising industry is built upon…
Some traits of God’s Spirit can be nurtured by being in situations where you are forced to nurture them. Patience, for example. If we make choices this fruit can be learnt by being with people who ‘try your patience’! Likewise contentment with how much money you have can be nurtured by giving more away! Jesus says as much (I would argue) to the rich young ruler. Maybe it’s by noticing the needs of others worse off than you and helping them emotionally, practically or financially. But contentment is also practiced by thanksgiving. When Jesus says consider the grass of the field (the phrase is literally ‘study diligently’), he is saying – look at what you’ve got, be grateful – you know the creator, your times are in his hands. You have self-awareness to see how blessed you are. Plants do not. So practice thanksgiving every day and disconnect from the blue screens that market products you don’t need and make you envious of people ‘living their best life’. Name and list the good things you have, particularly the important things like the people in your life.
Practice thanksgiving. Learn contentment in the process. And gradually it will seep into your DNA.
There’s another bible word we could use – shalom. Translated peace – not restlessness. But it also means wholeness – not brokenness. When we know that Christ has made us whole (‘my peace I give to you’), we are called to train our minds and instincts towards what Christ has already given us.
May each of us learn contentment and I pray that none of us need to be in prison like Paul! May we embed in our psyche each day the truth of the words we often sing, ‘Christ is enough for me’.
Julian Holdsworth
BSBC Pastor
