"He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
But 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."
1 Timothy 6:4-8
Reading this today got me thinking about contentment. Like happiness, and so many other things, we often expect those things to be externally granted... to find a place in our lives where we finally have what we need to be happy, or content, or at peace... and I think that what God is teaching us here, and elsewhere in the scriptures, is that those things aren't external. As long as we have what we need to sustain life (here, food and raiment), we can find contentment within.
I don't think that God is telling us that we can't think about interesting things, but like anything else that we let into our minds, we should be choosy about how it affects us and the people around us. Are we just arguing and making ourselves upset, or are we learning about other viewpoints and spreading goodness? Probably a big difference in how we approach things like conversing online, just as there is with what television and music we listen to... or the kinds of language we choose to use. Everything we choose can bring us closer to God and other people, or pull us farther away.
Today, let's make sure our surmisings aren't evil, and inasmuch as we know how, let's choose contentment, peace, happiness, and all good things, rather than inviting the opposite into our lives. If we aren't sure how, then let's go to God and open ourselves up to his lessons on learning that. He is always willing to help, through his scriptures and through direct life experience. :)
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