3 weeks ago I got a job at Damon's Bar and Grille. It was a blessing, because I had been looking for a job for about 3 months. Correy works at Damon's, and ended up getting Link a job there. One day, Link and I had to run an errand to Correy at work, and the Kitchen Manager happened to be in. Correy asked him if he needed a dishwasher, and he said yes. So, on the spot, I got a job as a dishwasher.
I was pretty excited. So, have been working the weekend shifts for the past few weeks. Work pertains of me standing in one spot for multiple hours, scrubbing lots of barbecue sauce off of dishes, pans, plates, trays, and the like. Damon's also specializes in their "Famous Onion Loaf". Because of this, I often come home reeking of onions and barbecue sauce.
Yesterday, about 2 hours into my battle with the barbecue sauce, God taught me something. Usually when I work, I either let my mind drift to Alpha Centuri and back, or sing worship songs. Yesterday, my mind had been drifting for about 2 hours. I realized that the subject matter of my mind as it drifts usually pertains to my future. I think about all these things that I think will make my life better. Usually my thoughts go like this. 'So, 1 year from now if _________ happens, then that will lead to ________, which will help me achieve ________, which will then make me happy.' The things in the blank lines differ, but it all comes back to the same thing. I am not content with what I have. I am not rejoicing in the things God has given me. I am not loving Jesus today.
For most of my life, I have thought I will be happy when ________ happens. It has been all about the next experience. It has been all about the next adventure. In my mind, I have been seeing through the things God has blessed me with. Some of those things are...my brothers in Christ that I live with, being mentored by Don and Travis, my family, my friends back home, all the stuff that I have that I don't really need in my closet in Ohio and in Massachusetts... etc. CS Lewis said it well.
"You cannot go on seeing through things for ever. The whole point of seeing through something is to see something through it. . . . If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To see through all things is the same as not to see.”
I have not appreciated the things that God has given to me to enjoy. I have been so focused on "the next thing" that I have been thereby seeing through the things God has placed all around me. My inability to be satisfied with the things God has given me now has blinded me of the joy in treasuring those very gifts. I think a new adventure will bring me joy. And then when I am on that adventure, I am not satisfied. All I can thing about is the next adventure, which I think will bring me joy. And then it doesn't produce again, so I think about the next adventure. The cycle endlessly repeats itself.
That is the reason I have such a hard time committing to being in one place for an extended amount of time. Thankfully, by the grace of God, He is changing that.
So yesterday, God hit me with a verse. Timothy 6:7-10 says
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
and then it goes on to say in verse 11
"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness"
I believe Godly contentment is one of the most valuable lessons we can learn in life. To be content in every situation, whether in riches or in rags. Only through the love of Christ is this possible. If we fix our eyes on Jesus, and set our minds on the things that are unseen and eternal instead of the temporary, then God will fill us will all joy, peace, and contentment as we trust in Him.
"But you, man of God, flee from all this. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love endurance, and gentleness."
"For Godliness with contentment is great gain"
God had to use barbecue sauce in New Philadelphia, Ohio to get that to penetrate my heart. Sometimes the messy things in life teach you the most. I wonder if it will be onions today? I will find out.
JN
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