Weekly Pastoral Message prepared by Rev. Murray Adamthwaite
for Sunday 16th February 1997

From the Pastor: Contentment

One of the very obvious features of our modern society is the upsurge of gambling. From being a society where such activity was restricted, and even in some forms banned, with a Gaming Squad to police the ban, Victoria is now the Casino capital of Australia. In contrast to this desire to get a windfall for nothing or very little, the Word of God enjoins not merely honest and diligent labour, but Christian contentment. It is easy to be dazzled by the glossy commercials wherein the bait of a new Porsche, an all-expenses-paid overseas trip, a computer package, or a large sum of money, are dangled before our eyes, then to say to yourself, "I want that!". As Paul eked out an existence in a Roman prison, chained to a Roman guard, with only the bare essentials of food and clothing he could well have desired to be in comfortable circumstances, attended with some of the luxuries of life. But he had in such circumstances learned to be content (Philippians 4:11), whether in plenty or in want, in comfort or in distress. Elsewhere he reminds us that there's great gain in godliness with contentment (1 Timothy 6:6). When all around us the notion is that there is great gain in "winning with George", let us be content with what our God supplies, and in the things unseen.