Contentment – Part 2
April 27, 2003
Dear Friends,
There is a scene in the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling where Harry finds a mirror. In this mirror, he sees his dead parents and himself together. He spends hours looking into this mirror. Only later does he find out that the secret to the mirror is that it shows you whatever it is you desire. People waste their entire lives looking at this mirror because in it they see their deepest unfulfilled desires.
The modern media bombardment – TV, movies, advertising, etc. – is a lot like that mirror. We blame Hollywood for all kinds of ills from materialism to teenage pregnancy. I am not defending the entertainment and advertising industry at all, but if you understand that the media is just like that mirror, you have an insight that many people do not possess.
I am pretty sure that the media moguls don’t have an annual meeting and say “How can we destroy the fabric of morality in the world this year?” These guys have companies. Like most companies, they are motivated by profits. If they could make a lot of money on wholesome, family-oriented programming, they would. I believe they don’t care much at all about what is on the TV as long as you and I will watch it and buy the products or services of the advertisers. Day in and day out, the average American spends 6 hours a day staring into their mirror.
Contentment doesn’t move much product. If you are happy and content, you are less likely to buy the next great thing. If they can make you feel a little less content and provide you with the magic solution, you are just the chump – I mean consumer – they are looking for. The real shame is that the majority buy into it. If we just buy the next great thing, we can be younger, healthier, more attractive, happier, more admired by our family and friends, wealthier and all-around better off. Why wouldn’t you plunk down $39.95 for that set of knives with all of those accrued benefits? You would be crazy not to!
This plays right into human nature. Starving people want food. People who have food want it to taste good. People who have good tasting food want it presented pleasantly and someone else to cook it. This same principle of discontent applies to clothing, housing, recreation and so on. We are always looking for something better unless we are content.
The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:6-12 that “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
Contentment is great gain. We think of riches as great gain and are convinced by the media that buying whatever they are selling is great gain, but think of how many miserable people there are who have all of the trappings of wealth.
We have to learn that even with all of this against us, we have an opportunity to be content. God has provided us the answer to this secret. We hope to look at some of the keys next week, Lord willing.
Have a great week!
