Complacent or Content?

When it comes to your life, which are you?

Complacent means to be “pleased with one’s merits, advantages, situation, etc. often without awareness of some potential danger”(http://www.dictionary.com/). This means you go along in life without any cares or concerns. When applied to your Christian walk, it means you are stagnant and unconcerned with pursuing more for yourself. It means you just walk in a daze without realizing that spiritual dangers lurk around every corner. You aren’t necessarily doing anything wrong, but you aren’t doing much to make sure you stay on the right path.

Complacency is dangerous. The Bible refers to this as being “lukewarm”. Revelation 3:16 says, “So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot or cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” We cannot be lukewarm; we as Christians must work for the Lord. Christ knows what effort we put into our faith.

There is a Switchfoot song with lyrics that I think are applicable. It says, “We were meant to live for so much more, have we lost ourselves?” Sometimes it’s hard to maintain a fervent zeal for God. As teenage girls, there are so many things out there ready to tear you down. Now, more than ever, you have to focus on Christ and be active in your faith. It is easy to lose your ambition or drive, so you have to continually study and recharge yourself spiritually. Make time to read the Bible and don’t discount the power of an active prayer life. Nothing you want to say to God is insignificant.

Content means to be “satisfied with what one has”. The difference is that when you are complacent, you are unaware of your situation; basically, you are uninvolved in your Christianity. If you are content, you are fully aware of the blessings God has bestowed upon your life, and you know your place in His plan. You are living your life to the fullest and are passionate about your faith in Him. I Timothy 6:6 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

So, what’s it gonna be? Do you want to be spit out of His mouth? Or do you want great gain?

Readers – how do you achieve contentment in your life? Share your responses in the comments.