I don't want to disclose the details, but I've recently been reconciling with people and organizations in my past. Let's just say that my past debt-freedom may not have been entirely true. Now, in biblical terms, of course it's not true. I always owe love, says Romans 13:8. But that's not what I'm talking about.
For now, that is all.
"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." -- Hebrews 13:5
One day, going to lunch at a nearby pizza place, I thought about contentment, or satisfaction, a lot. I wrote down a few notes with the intention of putting all this in a book. I've said in this blog that I might do a post on contentment, and tonight, I decided to give it a shot.
The tentative title of the first chapter is "The Source of Contentment is Jesus". Now, of course, presuming I write, finish, and publish the book, that this chapter will be released to the public for free, since it speaks of the Bible, and I don't want to make merchandise of the Word of God (2 Corinthians 2:17).
So, why do I say that the source of contentment is Jesus? Because this world is full of dissatisfaction. Even Mick Jagger said in the title song, "I can't get no satisfaction". It seems that everyone, especially in developed countries like the USA, are always striving for the next big thing in their lives, whether it be a better paying job, a nicer house, a nicer car, etc. I too once bought into the lie of the "American Dream".
Then, like in the lyrics to the theme song to "Friends", "it's like you're always stuck in second gear, when it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year..."
I didn't get a job in my college major.
I didn't move out, either during college (the school was blocks away from home), or after college.
I didn't get married.
I didn't get to have righteous sex. (I'm just being honest, my desire to be a father was secondary to my desire for the ever elusive dangling "pleasure of pleasures" (what I called it), I might do a post about the modern church's culture on sex, which had a HUGE effect on me)
So, I was especially dissatisfied with life, given that I also had tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt.
How then did I learn to be content with my life? Firstly, it was a biblical command to do so, reinforced by some preachers from time to time.
Now, I did have a positive attitude in the first few years after college, thinking that since I started at the bottom (due to the 2008 recession), the only direction to go is up. With the exception of some theophobic scrupulosity in the early 2010s, when I learned that modern Christianity is a big lie that sends people to Hell, I was generally OK with my life.
Then, one of my cousins, who I never thought would get married, got married. I was the oldest in my generation in that side of the family who was still single, 2nd oldest in my generation overall. That, with also battling lust led me to actively find a wife. Not "get married", but "find a wife". I was determined. I used I Corinthians 7 as my key Scripture in this "epic quest for the blessed fountain" (see Proverbs 5:18).
There was one preacher (who I later found to be false) named Vaughn Ohlman who even offered a practical opportunity for me to find a wife, but after arguing about dating, which he believed was unbiblical (in fact, the Bible never mentions it explicitly), I stopped listening to him. He even taught that you can marry an unbeliever, twisting the words of I Corinthians 7:11-16! He explained away 2 Corinthians 6:14, that speaks of "not being unequally yoked together with unbelievers" with the previous Scripture.
Anyway, dozens of women and three actual physical meetings with two people later, I was content with singleness, although not instantly. It took more study of Scripture, such as Proverbs 21:9 and 25:24, which says:
"It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman (and) in a wide house."
Proverbs 25:24 in the KJV adds the word "and".
And of course the recommendation by Paul for single people to stay single in I Corinthians 7 helped as well.
In essence, Scripture (whom Jesus also is, says John 1:1, John 1:14, I John 1:1, I John 5:7, Revelation 19:13) led me to contentment.
As for living at home, there were many pieces of Scripture that I studied in order to calm my dissatisfaction.
Firstly, there's the example of Jacob and his sons in Genesis 37 - 50. Generally, they all lived together (even with a long foot commute to and from Egypt). In fact, one of them is listed as having children of his own:
"And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again." -- Genesis 42:37
Thus, multi-generational living is a thing, albeit not always under the threat of death.
Secondly, there's the command to provide for your family:
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." -- I Timothy 5:8
It's easier to do this if you all live together. A provider is the OPPOSITE of a sponge. Besides, in Mark 7:9-13, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for disobeying the command to honor their father and mother for the sake of "Corban". In this passage, and similar ones in Matthew 15:3-6, the context of "honor thy father and mother" is supporting them, helping them, providing for them, etc.
In the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge entry for Mark 7:11, the author calls "corban":
"a formula common among the Jews on such occasions; by which the Pharisees released a child from supporting his parents; and even deemed it sacrilege if he afterwards gave anything for their use."
So, those two pieces of Scripture wisdom, in addition to the greatly decreasing stigma of living at home, helps in my contentment in this manner.
I say it again: The source of contentment is Jesus. He commands it, and He shows you how to do it.
Other Works Cited:
Bagster, Samuel. Edited by R. A. Torrey.
And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death? Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.
(Deu 31:24-29)
When I paid off my worldly debts on July 2, 2021, and for several months after, the only thing I could think of that was appropriate to do was to celebrate. Yet, in the back of my mind, I knew that one day, I will get used to this new freedom, and possibly take it for granted. Time and time again, whenever I had a big financial decision to make, I have tried to remind myself of all that I fought for, in order to stay out of debt.
Still, I can feel the joy of being a free man slipping away quickly. I've even started to consider options for another vehicle should my current one, the 2016 Ford Fiesta, breaks down to the point where it's rational to just finance another vehicle. This is sinful anxiety (Matthew 6:34), and I need to repent of it. On this, and other events which would greatly test my faith, I had to repeat the chorus of the song "One Day At A Time" by Christy Lane to myself:
One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from You
Lord, give me the strength to do everyday what I have to do
Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord, help me today, show me the way, one day at a time
Ms. Lane speaks the very essence of Matthew 6:34:
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
There is a secular quote, which is also true in this circumstance. It is disputed as to who first spoke it, but it goes like this:
Eternal diligence is the price of liberty.
To this I say, "Amen".
Here is a Scripture which speaks to me:
1Pe 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
This is the war I am waging in my heart. Perhaps it is a good fight (I Timothy 6:12, Jude 1:3). May God help me in this.
Lane, Christy. One Day At A Time. May 1974.
“A Quote by John Adams.” Goodreads, Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/quotes/7168127-the-second-day-of-july-1776-will-be-the-most. Accessed 30 June 2024. (Yes, I looked this up during Pride Month, but the actual posting of it wasn't until the next day)
1Ch 16:8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.
Not sure how to explain it, so let me summarize:
My car broke down. I had to get it towed to the dealership. I just happened to have the money for the towing and repair bill. I didn't have to finance another car. I had savings to be used for moving out. That's pretty much gone. What's also gone is the return to worldly indebtedness (Proverbs 22:7, Romans 13:8).
I thank God.
(based on my knowledge of game shows, I recall this phrase: "Close calls...narrow escapes...split-second decisions...", and in this instance, over $600 in cash, paid in full. "A combination guaranteed to make you say...")
