What are you deprived of? Whoa...that's a loaded question! It seems in this age of instant gratification and entitlements we all have our opinion of what we should have that we don't have. I mean, at the moment, I'm feeling a little deprived of winter. Not only me, but my yard. Basically, I live too far south to enjoy to the fullest my favorite of all seasons - winter. But that's ok. I choose to live here, so I choose to have less winter than I want.
There are all sorts of depravation in this world. Sleep depravation is a biggie for some of us. One might even consider oneself to be socially, financially, emotionally or physically deprived. How much of that is a choice? How much of that is chosen for us? Where does contentment come in?
I have now had my cell phone for over 3 years. Now that's a long time by todays standards. First of all, there's the technology of the thing. Most of the stuff that's available to download is either for another OS or too large for the device memory to handle. So I could consider myself technologically deprived, huh? Yet, I trudge (bad choice of words, maybe?) on with the old phone, content to have what I have. Heck, I don't even like talking on the thing anyway!
All of this is to say that contentmentis probably the opposite of depravation in this particular connotation. Why are we, then, so discontent? Certain discontentment is valuable. Contentment can lead to complacency if allowed to. Discontentment can lead us to positive action, but can also lead to depression and the like. Nope, don't want to go there.
Paul said in Philippians that he had learned to be content in any situation that he was in. Now that is a formidable task for most of us. I wonder what a Paul would look like today? to be content in everything takes a special person. I would even say that a human could not achieve that alone. But, with the pawer of the Spirit in us, I do believe that we can stay content with what we have been blessed with.
I think that I will probably be getting a new phone before too long. But, what about that? I hope that when, or if, that time comes, I would not feel as though I accomplished contentment by doing so.
Do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly.
No depravation hanging around in any of those commands.
I hope to get over my winter depravation soon.
Hey, spring is here! (forced smile...and a giggle)
Thank You Lord for Blessings and contentment!
