Content With Discontent: Killing Comparison With Gratitudeಮಾದರಿ

I recently read a message online from a pastor in Chicago called “The Hellish Sin of Discontent.” His statement was this: “We will only get serious about pursuing contentment if we are convinced that the lack of it is a hellish sin.”

When we look upon our nation, our world, communities, churches, and, sometimes, our homes, we see a ramped-up tension that is comprised of anger, frustration, and anxiety. Discontentment is about moving from peace to anger, satisfaction to frustration, and from trust to anxiety. Contentment is about moving from anger to peace, from frustration to satisfaction, and from anxiety to trust.

Powerful stuff, right?

Why would this pastor, however, speak of discontentment as being a hellish sin? He referenced the book of Jude—a power-packed, straight-shooting kind of letter from the half-brother of our savior Jesus. If there is any ounce of ungodliness in one’s life, Jude sniffs it out and calls it out!

Let’s read verses 14 and 15 of his letter:

“It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.””
Jude 1:14-15 ESV

Jude wrote about an otherwise unknown prophecy from Enoch, speaking about a judgment coming for all the ungodly, which will convict them of their deeds of ungodliness, deeds they’ve committed in an ungodly way, and been talked about by ungodly sinners. FOUR TIMES Jude mentions some form of ungodliness in one run-on sentence. But in verse 16 he goes on to describe these "horrible, ungodly people":

“These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.”
Jude 1:16 ESV

What was so convicting to me was seeing the progression Jude provided in this one powerful sentence. It’s a progression no one knowingly seeks out, but many will follow without heeding the flashing warning signs found here in Scripture. Murmuring, griping and complaining, then following their own passion-driven desires. Close behind is speaking arrogantly and flat-out flattering or lying to gain greater power, control, and position.

All of that follows closely behind the symptoms of what you and I might casually call…discontent.

Dig a Little Deeper:

Do you recall a time in your life when you were tempted to grumble or complain because things in your life weren't going as well as you liked? Or perhaps they weren't going as well as you believed you deserved in comparison to others around you? Stop and think about it. How was your relationship with God the Father during that season of time?