It’s in our nature to struggle with discontentment. From a very early age, we naturally want more and are jealous of other people’s possessions. But in Christ, we are new creations and can fight against discontentment to find true and lasting contentment in Him!
In a previous blog, we talked about remembering who God is and that He is better than anything else. Today, we’ll keep exploring through some of Psalm 84, and see what other helpful truths we can discover to aid in the fight against discontentment.
How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You! – Psalm 84:1-2, 10-12
Moving forward through these verses, we can see that the psalmist makes a bold claim: just one short day in the presence of the Lord is better than a thousand days anywhere else. Wow – what a statement! Imagine the best place on earth – perhaps a warm sunny beach or beautiful mountainside or any of the most famous and beautiful wonders of the world. We could definitely spend a happy lifetime in some of these places, couldn’t we? Yet, even that would not even begin to measure up to the beauty, wonder, and perfect paradise that is the presence of the Lord. Even if we could go anywhere in the entire universe and see amazing sights no human eye has ever seen – one short day in the presence of the Lord is still far better.
We are often deceived into believing that other situations and lifestyles are better than the lives God offers us as His children. We follow patterns of sin because it is comfortable, easy, and we believe it will satisfy us. We want more and better and are discontent because we lose sight of truth: dwelling with the Lord is so great, even simply standing “at the threshold” of His house is better than dwelling anywhere else.
What an awesome God we serve! Keep checking in for further discussion on contentment.
