KB - The Overflow DevoSample

Fight

Contentment and humility are the oxygen of the spiritual life. You can't breathe without them. They are not life, but they make life possible. They create the atmosphere for Christ to reign in our lives. I think I can say that because their opposites—pride and discontentment—are perhaps the worse poison to spiritual growth. Pride comes with a promise: “You will fall soon”. If you who hold fast to it, you can be assured that God is aiming to stop you, and He will hit his target every time. God is also not a fan of pride’s relative: discontentment. Discontentment nullifies joy in gain. You always feel like you need more to solve your problem when, ironically, getting more merely furthers it— now you have more stuff with which to be discontent! John D. Rockefeller, one of the richest men in history, was asked how much money was enough and he replied, "Just a little more." That could totally be the official slogan for all pride and discontentment: You (God) are not enough; we need just a little more.

But the reality is "just a little more" is not some distant wrestle of the world; it is our everyday battle. Notice that, in Philippians, Paul says, "I have learned… contentment," as opposed to, "I was given...contentment." This signifies that humility and contentment are not statuses, but pursuits. A lot of things happen overnight, but humility and contentment are not among them. They lie within "the good FIGHT of faith." This fight is complete with training, rounds, wins, losses, and never giving up.

The Spirit of God is transforming us through this wrestle and ensuring our victory in the end. So, when you look at your life and see discontentment and pride, don't lose heart. Prepare to fight! "All of life is repentance,” said Martin Luther, and we have a merciful Savior that allows us to begin again.

Repent and fight with these: ­Remind yourself you have nothing that you haven't received. ­Don't boast in your gifts, abilities, or opportunities; they have all been granted to you. (Even what you’ve earned was done with borrowed strength, energy, and intellect.) ­When you don't have something, remember you deserve nothing; yet, God in Christ has given you everything! Boast in the privilege of knowing and understanding God.

Lord make us humble and satisfied! You are enough.