By Craig Manners
21st August 2023
As the "progressive" mind virus, spreading life-destroying “grievance thinking” continues throughout western nations, it is helpful to know there is a vaccine available: Gratitude and contentment.
While God makes clear that we are of course to work and work hard to make a good life and provide for ourselves and our families, without this "vaccine" we will never find peace, satisfaction, joy or that magical sense of contentment.
God has much to say in the Bible regarding contentment. He makes it clear we will have better lives if we work at being thankful and content with our lot.
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
“Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15).
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:12-13)
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” (1 Timothy 6:6-10)
So much of our modern world is geared toward breeding discontentment, self-pity, victimhood, grievance thinking, and resentment in us. It is obvious that these things never bring any happiness, satisfaction or peace. So, why do we bother with them? Why would we want to live that way?
It would most certainly have something to do with our fallen, sinful state. I say that because it is so deeply ingrained in people.
All the modern so-called “rights” movements swamping the West with increasing darkness, all proclaiming that people have been oppressed, abused, victimized, etc., all lead people to be overcome with a sense of restlessness, self-focus, hopelessness, hatred, anger and resentfulness.
It then leads to widespread depression and mental health problems, because people are simply miserable in response to these things.
The aggrieved always blame others, demand “justice”, reparations, and eventually they want to take revenge for things purported to have been done against them or those who went before them for historic wrongs, many of which are misrepresented to achieve ideological ends.
None of this leads to any lasting peace or happiness or contentment. None of it.
Choose contentment over grievance. Choose God's way of living over fallen man's way.
Read on to learn more: Grieved by the Grievance Virus - Craig Manners
Brief reflection and photo by Craig Manners.
21st August 2023
As the "progressive" mind virus, spreading life-destroying “grievance thinking” continues throughout western nations, it is helpful to know there is a vaccine available: Gratitude and contentment.
While God makes clear that we are of course to work and work hard to make a good life and provide for ourselves and our families, without this "vaccine" we will never find peace, satisfaction, joy or that magical sense of contentment.
God has much to say in the Bible regarding contentment. He makes it clear we will have better lives if we work at being thankful and content with our lot.
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
“Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15).
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:12-13)
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” (1 Timothy 6:6-10)
So much of our modern world is geared toward breeding discontentment, self-pity, victimhood, grievance thinking, and resentment in us. It is obvious that these things never bring any happiness, satisfaction or peace. So, why do we bother with them? Why would we want to live that way?
It would most certainly have something to do with our fallen, sinful state. I say that because it is so deeply ingrained in people.
All the modern so-called “rights” movements swamping the West with increasing darkness, all proclaiming that people have been oppressed, abused, victimized, etc., all lead people to be overcome with a sense of restlessness, self-focus, hopelessness, hatred, anger and resentfulness.
It then leads to widespread depression and mental health problems, because people are simply miserable in response to these things.
The aggrieved always blame others, demand “justice”, reparations, and eventually they want to take revenge for things purported to have been done against them or those who went before them for historic wrongs, many of which are misrepresented to achieve ideological ends.
None of this leads to any lasting peace or happiness or contentment. None of it.
Choose contentment over grievance. Choose God's way of living over fallen man's way.
Read on to learn more: Grieved by the Grievance Virus - Craig Manners
Brief reflection and photo by Craig Manners.
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