The "Little Sin" of Discontentment?

What’s the big deal with contentment?  Why have I been posting so much about contentment and discontentment?  Isn’t that a minor thing compared to all of the sin, iniquity, and transgression in our day and age?  Let us not forget that it is the little foxes that ruin the vineyards (Song of Solomon 2:15) and it is also compromise on the “little sins” that lead to greater ones. 

There are 3 things which contentment frees us from.

            1.  It frees us from a continual murmuring and complaining.  Murmuring is no better than mutiny in the heart; it is a rising up against God.  The Apostle Paul tells us to do all things without murmuring and complaining…all things...not some things, the big things, the religious things...but all things...all things.  

            2.  It frees us from moodiness.  We can become so discontent with our current situation that we can become consumed with our situation and be unfit to pray, study, or meditate upon the things of God.  And we soon find that we are not ourselves. 

            3.  It frees us from pouting and frustration.  When I am impatient and unable to see how to deliver myself from the present situation, trial, or circumstance, I can easily find myself falling under the weight of it.  A despondent spirit is a discontented spirit. 

In the words of Thomas Watson, “Contentment is a sweet temper of spirit whereby a Christian carries himself in an equal poise in every condition.  The soul which is possessed of this rich treasure of contentment is like Noah in the ark, who can sing in the midst of a deluge.”

            Imagine if a king should say to one of his subjects, I will take care of you.  As long as I have any crown revenues, you shall be provided for.  If you are in danger, I will secure you; if in want, I will supply you… would not that subject be content?  We must often ask ourselves, “who has placed us here (whether it is in a “good place” or a “low place”)?"   Obviously it wasn’t chance!  It was the all-wise God in His providence that has placed us where we are, wherever we are, for His glory and our spiritual good.  God has set us in our station, and has done it in wisdom and with purpose.  The wise God has ordered our condition.  If He sees that it is better for us to abound, we shall abound.  And if He sees that it is better for us to want, we shall want.  I must learn to be content… to be at God’s disposal.  Will I be discontent at that which is enacted by a decree and ordered by Providence?  If so, am I being a child of God or a rebel? 

This “little sin” of discontentment…if I am guilty of it, am I being a child of God or a rebel?  When you think of it that way it isn't such a small sin is it?  Something to think about until next time…