The culture of discontent
posted: May 8, 2008 | category: faith
tags: politics
From Pastor Joel:
“…back to contentment. There is a joy that comes with living within one’s means, a great sense of satisfaction. We’ve lost that joy. We need to reclaim it.
We’re not lab rats and Pavlovian dogs. We don’t have to say ‘how high’ when the merchants of discontent say ‘jump.’ We need to tell them to go to hell…”
Amen.
I have affluent friends who’re living their lives chasing the dollar, and I have poor friends who’re doing it, too. It’s an equal opportunity affliction in this country. It seems that no matter who you are or what you have, our culture teaches you to want more. But enough is never enough — even if you already have what you need. And how do you define what you really need? Ask someone who has nothing. You might be surprised by what you hear.
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Amen!
I’ve spent the last…uhh…several years learning this lesson. Reminds me of a quote from George Eliot:
“The discontented are never rich; the contented, never poor.”
~Anna
Beautiful. Thanks, Anna.
I’ve been blessed to be born into a family where I’ve never had to worry about having my needs met. I haven’t always had all my “wants,” but needs — absolutely taken care of. (Actually, I don’t have a lot of wants. I have a place to sleep, a car to drive, clothes to wear, food to eat and medical care. I’m good.)
Over the years I’ve learned that the real joy is in giving to others. As platitudinous and maybe nauseating as that probably sounds to some people (I know), it’s just true. I’d so much rather give than receive. I’d so much rather buy something for someone else than myself. Do something for someone else rather than for me. Not because I’m this great person. I’m sooo not. (For real. Hang out with me for a while. LOL.) But because there’s tremendous joy in being content with having just enough or even less so that someone else can have what they need, or even sometimes, a little extra.