Articles
Discontented and Discouraged
These have to be some of the most unproductive mindsets any disciple could have: discontent and discouragement. Such mindsets will lead to unhappiness and an unwillingness to be involved in the work of the local church, and it is a mindset that easily spreads to others, if not eliminated. If we find that we have such a mind, or if we know someone who does, we would do well to take the time to learn why such mindsets exist, and what can be done to eliminate them. Without correction, it is inevitable that such thinking will affect others and, before long, the local church will become lukewarm, ineffective, and unmotivated, and its demise will be quickened by the simple reality that no one will want to be a part of it.
So, generally speaking, what are some causes for discontent and discouragement? How can we identify such mindsets and attitudes, and how can we eliminate them or prevent them altogether? In the limited space we have, let us consider a few things, take a look at self to see if we have such attitudes, and see what we may do to correct our thinking.
Discontentment. By definition, this is “dissatisfaction; a restless desire or craving for something one does not have.” Basically, it is unhappiness with what we have, who we are, where we are, or just our current situation or status. We may not like to admit it but, often, this discontent is driven by materialistic, worldly thinking. One is not happy with the possessions one has; one is not happy with their place in life and society; one is not happy with the amount of money in the purse or wallet or bank account; one is not content with the current job position; and on and on we could go.
For the disciple of Jesus Christ, discontent driven by materialistic thinking demands a change in thinking and priority. Paul’s admonition to the disciples of the first century is one we would do well to heed: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1, 2). Jesus said essentially the same thing, just put a different way: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19-21).
A materialistic mindset should obviously be something we do not desire, for it is displeasing to the Lord and a hindrance to our spiritual growth and maturity; sometimes such a mindset exists because of a lack of spiritual growth and maturity! [Consider the church at Corinth as an example!] Setting our minds on “things above” will go a long way in eliminating our discontent, if it is driven by materialistic thinking.
Sometimes, our discontent is driven by a lack of faith in God. Consider the Israelites in the wilderness, for example. It was there God provided their every need, yet they complained and were destroyed (1 Cor. 10:6-11); we should not be surprised to read that it was partly based on their lack of faith (Heb. 3:16-19). To avoid following their example, let us hear the writer of Hebrews: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Heb. 13:5). If we truly have faith in God — that is, if we believe He will provide our every need — we will be content with what we have, who we are, and where we are at in life. That doesn’t mean we can become complacent and quit growing; it means we are content every step of the way as we grow and mature and do all we can for the Lord.
Discouragement. This simply means one is in a state where one is “deprived of hope or confidence; disheartened.” We often think of this as a result of outside factors such as other people or situations that failed to meet our expectations, but it can also be a result of unrealistic expectations and no one’s fault but our own. It could be that our expectations are out of line with reality, our abilities, our maturity, our knowledge, or even our personality. Failing to attain our goal, we get discouraged and then potential negative reactions will result, such as giving up, doubt, carelessness, selfishness, and then also becoming a source of discouragement to others. [“If I’m not happy, no one should be happy!”]
If we become discouraged, it is then we need to quickly make an honest evaluation of the situation and why we were discouraged before it leads to the negative results. Within the Lord’s church, we may be discouraged because someone criticized something we said; instead of allowing the discouragement to fester, we should ask if the criticism was valid, and then learn from the situation. As long as the criticism is based on the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16) and intended to correct unacceptable behavior or words, we should be glad someone cared enough to tell us what we did wrong and what we need to do to correct it. Remember to listen to all criticism, whether spoken with the right attitude and intent or not; while we may not always hear words we like to hear, those harsh words may also be correct, though spoken with the wrong attitude.
Maybe we were discouraged because they didn’t pick me to teach a Bible class, lead a prayer, or fill a position such as elder or deacon. Instead of allowing our discouragement to take over, then would be a good time to consider what God’s word says about those who teach (Jas. 3:1), what it says about those who are qualified to be elders (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9) and deacons (1 Tim. 3:8-13) and work towards becoming one who is able and qualified, and not just one who is ‘willing.’ Ask others within the congregation how you can improve and if any of those positions are something you will actually be able to attain, or should desire. Not everyone is cut out for every position, and a failure to be qualified for one position within the Lord’s church does not mean you are useless. As Paul reminded the church at Corinth, the church is comprised of many parts [individuals], and we each have a function and degree of usefulness, and no member is unimportant or useless (1 Cor. 12:12-31).
At the very least, should we become discouraged for even some legitimate reason, let us not become a discourager ourselves. Discouragement was the cause for many Israelites to miss out on the Promised Land (Num. 32:9; Num. 13:31-14:4), and unjustifiable discouragement is something for which we will have to answer to God one day. The discouragers of Israel paid for it with their lives (Num. 14:36, 37); it may be that our complaints will cost us, and those affected by it, entrance into heaven. Let us heed the words of Paul when he wrote, “Do all things without complaining and disputing” (Phil. 2:14), and let us not be the source of discouragement for any.
When the Jewish Christians of the first century suffered persecutions because of their faith, the writer of Hebrews admonished them, “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Heb. 12:3). I am sure our sources of discouragement are far less than what they faced, so let us not give up, either.
In Christ, we have reasons to rejoice always (Phil. 4:4). — Steven Harper
