What in the world can we learn from 1st Samuel chapters 18 & 19? In this post early in the series, I wrote about Jonathan’s generous act of friendship. And because next week we’ll return to David and Jonathan’s friendship in chapter 20, in today’s post, I’d like to focus on another theme in chapters 18 & 19. The crippling power of jealousy, which is defeated by the enlivening power of the Spirit of God.
King Saul is bound up by discontentment, jealousy, and it ruins him. David is contented in the Lord, filled with the Spirit who gives David victory. See the stark contrast between Saul and David. Discontentment versus contentment.
When we are discontent, we are much more susceptible to embrace a viewpoint of life and actions in life that are contrary with the heart of God. I’ve often had very dark thoughts creep into my mind, flowing from my discontent. That makes me think about my basement, which I introduced in the first post in this series.
A house just down the road from where I live and work burnt down 6-8 years ago. I would drive my office every day watching as a construction crew demolished the ruins and cleared out the lot. Then their next step in the process surprised me.
They dug out the basement. I thought “Why are they digging out the basement?” It hit me. They were digging out the basement because it was an old house with a basement like my old house. It wasn’t an 8 foot basement or deeper, like new houses. They dug it out, then rebuilt the house so the new house could have a nice, finished basement with 8 foot ceilings a tall person like me could actually walk in.
You know what came to my mind? Not that I needed to dig out my basement. No. The thought that came to my mind was “I need to set my house on fire.” Why? If I burned my house down, then the builder can dig out my basement. A devious plan of arson and insurance fraud.
That’s dark, right? But that is what happens when we allow discontent to breed jealousy in our hearts.
But when we are content, we are much more inclined to be satisfied in God, and pursue him and his ways.
Here how Paul describes this in Philippians 4:11-13,
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
In Christ we have everything we need, Peter writes in 2 Peter 1. We can be content because of him, because of his presence in our lives. That’s where we should start. Battling discontent and jealousy in our lives by seeking to find our identity, our stability, our satisfaction in Christ alone. His love for us is enough. In Jesus we have everything we need. Rest in him.
What is causing you discontent? What are you jealous about? Take it to God. He already knows how you are feeling. It won’t be a surprise to him. But take it to him anyway, and cry out for his help, asking him to help you have a heart and mind that is content in him.
This is why we talk so frequently about walking in step with the Spirit, because to be filled with the Spirit of God is to be content in him, or growing in contentment in him.
Photo by shraga kopstein on Unsplash
Engaging Scripture 