The Contentment Dilemma

Many of our problems come from wanting our own way, and many more come from having it. God sees the complete picture of our lives and is far more capable of knowing what is best for us. His plan for us, in all aspects, is better than our plan for ourselves. C. S. Lewis put it well when he wrote, “When we want to be something other than the thing God wants us to be, we must be wanting what, in fact, will not make us happy.” 45

We might ask God why He allows poverty, injustice, and all manner of suffering. But think about it, could God not even more justifiably ask us that question? A. W. Tozer wrote, “The cause of all our human miseries is a radical moral dislocation, an upset in our relation to God and to each other.” 46

God chose that we must build a personal relationship with Him and rely on Him to help us make correct decisions. Only by God’s help can we reach a condition of good. When we turn our backs on God’s will, He uses suffering to draw us closer to Himself. Consequently, many of our problems result from humanity’s poor decisions. They could be replaced with desirable situations if we humans would admit our mistakes and take steps to correct them.

God deeply loves us, and it grieves Him to watch fol ks go through vast amounts of suffering that traces back to the bad choices they made because they insisted on their own way. These people are plodding through life without the unlimited benefits God freely offers all who heed His instructions.

Earth’s climate was balmy and without extremes befor e the global flood (Genesis 6–7). This flood was likely the first natural disaster humanity had experienced. Due to mass corruption and indifference toward His will, God caused the flood to destroy the wicked people.

Earth now has a harsher environment, giving us more to think about so we spend less time getting into trouble. Have we humans not brought these severe conditions—including natural disasters—upon ourselves through our persistent stubbornness and disobedience?

(I do not mean disaster victims are worse than other people. I recognize humanity in general as having “earned” these severe conditions; thus, humanity in general experiences them.)

As for poverty and famine, are the wealthy not responsible for supporting the needy? If we all worked together and cared about others as much as we care about ourselves, we would provide for the less fortunate and educate them on supporting themselves. But is it not humanity’s corruption and self-centeredness that hinder these processes?

Would poverty not dissolve if everyone loved others as much as they loved themselves? Let us each make sure we are doing what we can to make a difference.