Contentment

Source: The Gospel Reminder, 1/11/04

LEARNING TO BE CONTENT

by Marvin Rickett

There were folks in Paul’s day who supposed that gain was godliness (1 Timothy 6:5). They had the mistaken idea that since God had promised to take care of the righteous, if a man was materially prosperous, this was proof that he was a godly man. Paul says that this is not so, and he warned the brethren to withdraw themselves from the people who taught such.

One important ingredient was missing from their gain and godliness theory: CONTENTMENT. Though gain doesn’t necessarily mean godliness, godliness with contentment is great gain. Many wicked people prosper with great gain, but they are not godly. The mark of the righteous man who prospers is contentment. If he is not content, something is lacking in his life. His gain counts for very little without contentment. That is a lesson which still needs to be learned today. A well-known saying is: “Money cannot buy happiness.” But folks just keep on trying.

Many just never are content. They wouldn’t be content if they could gain the whole world. Large numbers of “poor” folks are longing to be rich, and rich folks are trying to be richer. Some folks spend their lives pursuing happiness, not realizing that it is not a goal to be pursued, but a by-product of right living. Others are filled with anxiety, depression, and restlessness.

This world needs more contentment. Contentment contributes to peace, joy, and well-being. We need to learn to be content. In 1 Timothy 6:8, Paul says, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” Yet, how many are truly satisfied with enough to eat, enough to wear, adequate shelter and reasonable health? How many continue to be anxious about these things? Jesus said, “Take no thought (don’t worry) for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; or yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not life more than meat, and the body more than what ye shall put on?” “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:25, 33).

Paul had learned contentment in whatever circumstance life dealt him. He said, “For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:11-12). This is a hard lesson to learn. Most believe that if they could just change to a different state, they would be happy. Yet, they wouldn’t be happy there, either. They never learn to be content WHERE THEY ARE. If we are ever to be content, we must learn to be content wherever we are.

The author of Hebrews exhorts people to “Be content with such things as ye have” (Hebrews 13:5). Many people find this lesson hard to apply for they have been taught that happiness lies in more and better stuff. Television commercials, and newspaper and magazine advertisements exploit this philosophy by proclaiming, “If you’ll just buy our product, you will be happy.” Labor unions contend, “If we can just get this wage and benefits increase our workers will be content.” They seldom are for long. John the Baptist spoke in a very plain way to the soldiers, “Be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14). A discontented spouse may sigh, “If I can divorce this one and find the right one to marry, I will be content.” Yet this spouse fails to stir in the ingredients that would help him/her be content in the present state.

There is a place in everyone’s life for growing and improving and working. These things we need to do to fulfill our human potential and the stewardship that God gave us. This lesson is not against those things. It is against anxiety and trust in material things. Everyone agrees that “We can’t take it (wealth, material things) with us,” then they go on living as though they expect to. This saying comes from the Bible, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7).

There is another dimension that is essential to being content. It is the spiritual dimension. One can be content only when he has God’s assurance that everything will turn out for the best in his life. God has given His assurance: “For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). The apostle Paul, after he had expressed his contentment, said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). Paul gave God’s assurance to the Romans: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

The assurance of God’s providence applies to those who are His children, those who are the “called according to his purpose,” those who have been born again and are living faithful Christian lives. The world will continue on in discontent, unrest, and anxiety. Should a member of the world’s crowd seem to be content, it would be a delusion, for he is forfeiting his soul. For this reason, the very first step to being truly content is to become a Christian. The second step is to live a life of obedience and submission to God, seeking His kingdom and righteousness first. Then, one can apply the principles to his life which will lead to contentment. No Christian should be living in discontent. Those who accept Christ may know the serenity of live that comes from having learned to be content.

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Waterproof Rice

Posted by David Lemmons

The photo above I snapped on a Lord’s Day in Yogyakarta on the island of Java in INDONESIA in 2005. We were returning from worship with brethren and stopped the car to be able to observe and photograph this ancient life-giving practice of planting rice.

Many do not realize the great importance of rice in the diet of Asians.

As I walked in Mike Miller Park this morning, I was listening to NPR and heard a report about “Waterproof Rice,” which was very interesting to me. Of course, rice NEEDS water to grow, but there is also a point at which rice can get TOO MUCH water–as in flooding. Rice plants can drown if completely submerged in water, just as any plant can.

Scientists have developed now a variety of rice which can, supposedly, stay under water for nearly two weeks and “hold its breath” during that time. This will have tremendous implications for Asian rice production. With the monsoons and other flooding so frequent in many places over there, such a type of rice will save many lives.

You can read a full version of the story and even listen to the report by clicking H-E-R-E. I do not buy into the GLOBAL WARMING explanation given in the report, but it is very exciting news, especially for our Asian friends!

–David Lemmons

ADD & ADHD…

Posted by David Lemmons

ADD & ADHD… Are There Alternatives to Drugs?

Today, more than 2.5 million children under the age of eleven have been diagnosed with either Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and 4 to 6 million children and teenagers in America are on prescription drugs for these disorder. Could something as simple as a dietary and lifestyle change be a better solution than administering mind-altering drugs?

Ritalin, Adderall and Dexedrine, among others, are stimulants—powerful drugs with negative side effects. They have a high potential for abuse and the long-term effects are not well known. Not only are these drugs risky but, they don’t work. Ritalin can make Johnny sit in a chair, but that doesn’t mean he will learn.

There are several factors that contribute to the symptoms known as ADHD, not all of which are present in everyone who has ADHD. The factors can be classified in the two categories of (1) poor nutrition and (2) toxicity in the body.

Under the category of poor nutrition, we find poor essential fatty acid status, especially of the omega 3 fats; poor mineral status; low B vitamin intake; heavy use of refined flour and sugar; amino acid deficiencies; and the reactions to common foods and food additives.

In the realm of toxicity, we find high levels of toxic or trace metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, boron, chromium, copper, and aluminum; candida, dysbiosis and overuse of antibiotics; and high intakes of food additives (not just reactions to common whole foods but to chemicals in processed foods).

We have found that, when people eliminate the processed, sugar and chemical laden foods, and the antibiotic and hormone-containing meat and dairy products, and move to a predominately raw plant-based diet, not only do such problems as ADD and ADHD disappear, but so do almost all other physical problems.

Try giving a primarily raw plant-based diet, with the addition of the “Brain Power Smoothie” (see recipe in section 6 of this Health Tip) for three weeks, and see the impact it can produce in a child’s behavior and ability to learn.

But, even in situations where children have been reluctant to make a major shift in dietary choices, some have found the simple addition of the “Brain Power Smoothie” to their child’s diet is very helpful in nourishing the brain with many of the essential nutrients required for optimal function.

To read the results of 26 scientific studies that clearly demonstrate a strong link between what children eat and their behavior, visit www.hacres.com/diet/research.asp There you will find a more extensive article on ADHD.

(The above was adopted from an article written by Michael Donaldson, Ph.D. and Olin Idol, N.D., C.N.C., which appeared in the July/August 2007 issue #45 of Hallelujah Acres paper publication Back to the Garden.)

Gospel Meetings

Posted by David Lemmons

Source: Gospel Advocate, 1/19/1984

THERE’S A MEETING GOING ON!

by Sarah Hudson Pierce

Forty-five years ago someone said to a friend, “There’s a meeting going on; why don’t you go?” Because he said that to her, she went–and she became a Christian.

After becoming a Christian, she soon converted her husband. She was married to him 40 years, and after he died she married another man, she also converted.

Not long after becoming a Christian, she converted her mother and one brother.

She had one son. She was a Christian mother, so she raised him up to want to be a Christian. Her son had a friend who didn’t have a Christian home and desperately needed one and wanted one. He looked to his friend’s mother as his own mother. He was led to become a Christian also. He married a Christian girl and they had two children and later adopted a third. All three are Christians and one is studying to be a minister.

The lady’s son was attracted to a girl, and both the girl and her mother were drawn to the church and both became Christians. The girl had an older sister who wasn’t a Christian. The older sister saw the lives of her sister’s family and later she and her husband became Christians.

After the son who was attracted to the girl got married, they had three children. One son was born afflicted, but found a very special spot in the family and was sorely missed when he was called home 20 years later. The sisters who were left became Christians.

These two sisters have married husbands who have become Christians. Does the chain of influence stop here? I would have to answer, “No!” The chain of influence, whether for good or evil, never stops.

It was all because one friend, Lorene Ashford Atzenhoffer, listened and her heart was moved to obey the gospel that this chain of events started. It started when one man said, “There’s a meeting going on; why don’t you go?” Only eternity will tell how many lives were touched.

Sloshing Water

Posted by David Lemmons

SLOSHING WATER
by David Lemmons

I think it was at a Preachers’ Meeting in Greenfield, TN that I heard Lee Davis use the expression something like: “There’s not enough water in that argument to slosh in a bucket.” I believe that was the first time I had heard such an expression; though, if I recall correctly, Lee indicated at the time that it was not original with him. Of course the idea of the statement is that the argument was WEAK. Lee was saying that a conclusion had been drawn without adequate support from the evidence presented.

There is certainly a danger in “jumping to conclusions” in any area of life. Many things have been said, no doubt, between husbands and wives and in all other relationships which fall in this category. Such is especially dangerous and foolish when it involves spiritual matters, (i.e., teaching from God’s word). I subscribe to the fact that every Bible expositor needs to follow the “Law of Rationality.” I can recall hearing Roy C. Deaver cite and define this law numerous times. The “Law of Rationality” goes something like this: We must never assign to any proposition or claim any more weight than is absolutely demanded from the evidence presented.

As I prepared for Wednesday Night Bible Study this past week, I came across a lecture which contained a reference to the text I was studying, but had nothing to do with what I was studying. However, the lecture had an interesting title and I found myself sidetracked (as sometimes happens in my Bible study) and I read the entire lecture. There were some challenging and interesting statements made in the lecture by the brother, and he made some good points. The title of his lecture was: “Bridging Generation Gaps in Worship.” In discussing this topic attention was given to worship under the Old Testament, to synagogue worship, and to worship in the first century.

There was a statement made toward the end of this writing that, interestingly enough, was placed under the heading: “A FALSE CONCLUSION,” which I certainly believe the writer had drawn, although that was not the meaning he intended by supplying the heading. He made the statement about the reaction of a modern Christian visiting a worship assembly in the first century:

Even if the entire assembly was conducted in English (which did not exist), HE WOULD NOT RELATE TO ANY PART OF THAT WORSHIP (emphasis mine, DRL).

Surely all of us can recognize in this statement, even without having read the entire lecture, that this is an overstatement of immense proportions. I would submit to you, brethren, that if this is true where this brother preaches, the elders had better be doing a LOT of changing in their worship assemblies (which evidently is the desired result of this brother). Now I was with him on some of his argumentation, but when he put forth this very strong exaggeration, my reaction was to quit listening and to discount his proposition. Brethren, if we have the truth on a particular matter it is not necessary to use such tactics of argumentation as this obvious hyperbole.

The point of this article is that, as we teach, all of us ought to strive with all due diligence to avoid transgressing “The Law of Rationality,” because we are urged to use such care and caution in dealing with Scripture in numerous places in God’s word (Acts 17:11; Eph 5:6-10; 1 Ths 5:21; 2 Tm 2:15; 1 Jn 4:1). It really does our cause no benefit to draw conclusions which do not have the support of Bible evidence. Additionally, we need to realize that there are millions of examples of argumentation which “doesn’t contain enough water to slosh in a bucket.” Let us never be swayed into action by anything but TRUTH, which can stand on its own without the props of extended hyperbole and “needs-based” argumentation.

SOURCE: North Marshall Messenger, #510, January 9, 2000

Matthew 19:10-12

Posted by David Lemmons

Planting a Red Flag

by Travis L. Quertermous

A red flag is a warning signal. Thus, “to plant a red flag” has become a figure of speech meaning to give a warning. In this article, I would like to “plant a red flag” in all our minds on the subject of marriage, divorce, and remarriage.

I realize that this is one of the most controversial topics in our brotherhood today. More’s the pity since, in my judgment, the Bible is remarkably clear on its teachings on this point. The key text in the New Testament on this subject, of course, is Matthew 19:3-12. Space forbids us even to quote the passage in its entirety, but you are encouraged to re-read it along with this article.

There are at least six major (and many minor) false doctrines in the church today on the subject of divorce and remarriage. One thing they all have in common is their desire to justify those in adulterous “marriages.” It is not necessary to refute each one specifically nor is that our goal (For those who are interested, we would recommend the July 1997 issue of The Spiritual Sword on that subject).

In my judgment, one mistake too many brethren make when studying Matthew 19 is that they stop with verse nine. Here Jesus said, “But I say to you whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery” (Matthew 19:9).

Now how did Jesus intend for this teaching to be understood? Was it a loose teaching that permitted divorce for just any cause or was it a strict teaching meant to restrict divorce and remarriage? The reaction of the disciples in verses 10-12 shows that it was a strict teaching and Jesus agreed with them.

Now here is where I want to plant a red flag in all our minds. While we may not be familiar with every false doctrine taught on this subject, we can know that anytime we hear anyone teaching a theory of divorce and remarriage which makes it easier for people to do so, they are teaching error! Forewarned is forearmed, brethren–let us not be fooled by the devil and his agents!

SOURCE: The Reminder, of the Dexter church of Christ, Dexter, MO. Date: July 29, 2007

–Good suggestion, in my opinion, David Lemmons.

LemmonsAid

A Lemmons dispensing AID from God's Word (Ps 146:5).

Month: October 2007

Contentment

Waterproof Rice

ADD & ADHD…

Gospel Meetings

Sloshing Water

Matthew 19:10-12