Tag: contentment

From Sinkholes to Satisfaction

©Photo by Arpan Sharma on Unsplash

Remember Korah? Not content with serving God, he wanted to become somebody in his own eyes. He grumbled and complained against Moses and Aaron. Worse still, he stood his ground against the warnings of God. And the ground opened, taking him to the depths. He and all that belonged to him was condemned to the judgement of God. This is a truly sobering story, and it warns us about the dangers of jealousy, pride and self-pity in Christian ministry.

But there is a puzzle. When we arrive at the Book of Psalms we discover a number written by none other than the sons of Korah. What’s going on? Didn’t they all get destroyed? Are the sons of Korah a kind of ancient tribute band, like the Beatnix to the Beatles? Why on earth would they even do that? Or is there something we’ve missed?

“The Sons of Korah Did Not Die

A few chapters after the judgement of God on Korah, we read of a census of the new generation of God’s people.

The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram, chosen from the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the LORD and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning.  But the sons of Korah did not die.  (Numbers 26:9–11. My emphasis.)

The sons of Korah somehow remained. The line of Korah continued. How could this be? The only answer is that they heeded God’s warning, given through Moses, when he said,

Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins. (Number 16:26)

The sons of Korah chose not to dwell in the tents of their wicked father. They turned aside from evil and escaped God’s judgement.

The Ministry of Music

The sons of Korah continued their family ministry as doorkeepers at God’s tabernacle and later, under King David, they were also entrusted with the ministry of music. David put them

in charge of the service of song in the house of the Lord after the ark rested there. They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order. (1 Chronicles 6:31–32)

The sons of Korah are a testament to the faithful love and mercy of the LORD. The LORD preserved their family and their ministries for generation after generation. Even more wonderfully, God by his Holy Spirit has spoken to us through these sons of Korah. These ancient musicians, inspired by God, continue to instruct God’s people and incline our hearts to worship. They point us to find fulfilment in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

People Content in God Himself

One of the most beloved of their songs is Psalm 84, where we are reminded that

a day in God’s courts
  is better than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
  than dwell in the tents of wickedness. (Psalm 84:10)

Can you hear these words with a new gravitas? There’s a deep thread weaving back to the days of their ancestor, Korah. His sons would rather continue in humble service to their Redeemer than have anything to do with the pride, envy, or self-pity of their father. They chose and continued to choose a different path to Korah.

Psalm 84 reveals God’s people content in God himself. They come before him in humility, with no sense of entitlement. They know that true blessing is to be found in the presence of God, and that we journey to him in his strength by trusting always and only in him. God alone is our sun and shield. He protects us, guides us, enlightens us, and satisfies us.

Our world with all its attractions ends up nothing more than a graveyard. True life is only to be found in the house of God. And we can only come into his house because God chooses to “look on the face of your anointed” (Ps 84:9) Jesus, our anointed Messiah, is our shield, our protector. It is only as God looks on his incarnate Son our Saviour that we who trust in him can be counted among the righteous.

When we are tempted to discontent and when feelings of personal entitlement raise their ugly heads, let’s turn to Psalm 84. We won’t find blessing by chasing the things of this world. Nor will we find blessing by envying the ministries of others. Satisfaction is found in trusting God and God alone. Father in heaven, satisfy our souls, by reminding us of your truly amazing grace. Fill us with the longing to be with you all our days. Keep us from giving into temptation. Strengthen us to persevere until that day we gather in your house forever more.

(This post originally appeared on TGCA website)

Recommended reading (April 28)

readingFrom time to time I plan to link to some helpful articles and ideas that I’ve been reading, This is my first instalment…

Contentment (1) At a time like this by Jean Williams is the first in a 10 part series on Christian contentment. Jean writes will clarity and a deep understanding of the implications and joys found in trusting Jesus.

Five pieces of advice for young men by Con Campbell is sage advice for men of all ages who are seeking to grow in the likeness of Jesus.

Six myths of discipleship by Col Marshall helps us to see that discipleship is the essence of being Christian, rather than a particular process for a select few.

Seven Basics for Better Staff Meetings by Eric Geiger offers helpful tips for improving those meetings we all love to hate.

Heading home

I confess this is the first book that I’ve read by Naomi Reed. I think my mother and Fiona have read them all, and I’m just disappointed that I’ve waited this long. Heading Home: My Search for Purpose in a Temporary World is her third in an autobiographical series of books, following on from My Seventh Monsoon and No Ordinary View. I’ll need to catch up on these stories later.

This was a book in season for me, because we’ve spent a year working through where we belong, who we are, what we should be doing, why we do and don’t feel at home, and constantly being confronted by the Bible’s message that we are not at home until we are home with the Lord.

Naomi tells the story of returning to their ‘home’ in the Blue Mountains, near Sydney in Australia, after being overseas for some time, mainly in Nepal. The account is full of humour and pathos as we’re given a window into the confusion of reverse culture shock. After living through a revolution in Nepal, and being without many of the things Aussies take for granted, it was overwhelming to visit supermarkets and department stores with the complete over-indulgence of choice. And no time is worse than Christmas with it’s red and white pimping of the season. The real message of Christmas barely gets a look in. I’ve spoken to other returned missionaries, coming back from economically poorer countries, who’ve found this so difficult. One family vowed to never return to Australia in the lead up to Christmas. They found the whole experience obscene.

I’d suggest that returning missionaries would be helped and encouraged by reading this book, and knowing that those who support them have read it too. So why not read it yourself, encourage others in your church to do the same, and send a copy to your partners overseas before they return.

Heading Home is a mosaic of themes and ideas that paints the bigger picture of discovering and living out who we are in union with Christ. It’s a profound message that raises real issues for all who claim to follow Jesus. I believe that Naomi is well placed to write such a book for a number of reasons: (1) she has the advantage of looking at different societies both as an insider and an outsider; (2) she has taken the time to reflect, meditate, and have her thoughts informed by Scripture; and (3) she has an endearing humility that comes across in each chapter.

As I reflect on the impact of a year of cancer and treatment, the book has had much to say to me. Who am I? Where do I belong? What am I to do with my life? Why don’t I feel settled? Naomi’s shared experiences have rubbed a little salt into a few of my wounds – and I’m glad she has. It’s easy to think that I really should be in Darwin, planting a church for God, making a difference, finding fulfilment in the challenge of ‘exotic’ and recognised ministry. But I’m reminded that it’s not a matter of which particular vocation, or which particular location. It’s about being content in the fact that God is in control, and he will use us wherever, and however, to fulfil his purposes, and for his glory. Naomi writes of dreams and plans coming to an end, and feeling loss of purpose upon returning to Australia. I could relate to this and was moved to pray her prayer also:

Lord, there are times in our lives when we feel purposeless. The dream is over. We don’t even know what do anymore or why …
But Lord, when we feel like this – lost and directionless and lonely – please remind us that we find our living in you; we find our focus in you …  (p20)

This leads to a highlight of the book for me. Every chapter finishes with a heartfelt, well-considered prayer to God. Naomi is not satisfied with raising the dilemma, or even with finding resolution in the words of God – she brings these matters to God in prayer. This is an excellent model to us all as we grapple with issues in our lives:

      1. observe our circumstances
      2. analyse and consider what we’re going through
      3. reflect on Scripture
      4. change our attitudes and actions
      5. talk to God about it

Naomi models this, and her prayers give a head start to those of us facing similar issues in our own lives.

Heading Home is a helpful book for people who’re not sure where they belong, or who are going through significant, even unwanted life changes; people with illness that’s not going away; people who are experiencing significant job changes, redundancy, unemployment or retirement; people suffering bereavement and grief; people finding themselves strangers in a foreign place (that they might even know well). Its helpfulness and hope lies in applying God’s word into our lives, and then helping us to bring this to God in prayer. Ultimately, this book succeeds by reminding all Christians that God deeply understands our circumstances and this world is not our true home – heaven is.

So Lord, today, when we are surprised by being the outsider or by a myriad of choices or misunderstandings or falling in between two worlds, or not belonging anywhere, help us to comprehend the fact that you have walked our road and felt our pain and suffered for us, so that every day, here, we belong to you and that’s enough. Lord be glorified in all we do and are, today. And remind us that there will come a day when we will never be outsiders again.
Lord, thank you.
Amen  (p46)