This article explores how the kingdom addresses the notion of success and failure through obedience and contentment.
The proliferation of waste is common; greed is the norm; amassing more than needed has become the standard.
“Treat these two imposters the same: success and failure”, Rudyard Kipling.
A citizen understands that success and failure is not defined by what one has achieved or not. Success is characterised by the commitment of a citizen to accomplish the dream of the Father. Jesus was successful not because of the acts He performed or the feats He achieved; but solely on the basis that only He completely realised the Fathers dream; which was to raise citizens and establish His government on this earth.
Ecclesiastes 1:2
The proliferation of waste is common; greed is the norm; amassing more than needed has become the standard.
In the time that Acts of the Apostles was written it depicted a culture where the citizens understood what contentment was and looked like. This was illustrated as the citizens joined together with one soul and one mind; producing infrastructures established by polices which were composed from the law of old. To ensure that the community is self-sufficient and neither lacked nor was in want.
Acts 4:32-35
The world is subject to God’s sovereignty, and an active citizen that has attained to a state of contentment does not lust for more or regret what has been.
Proverbs 30:7-9
It is comforting that as Paul declared that God is all he needs in his darkest hour with little as a quill to keep him company. In all circumstances God has provided all the resources one needs to manage, control and even deal with any given situation appropriately. This is to echo the words of a wise man ‘Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the Lord?” Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God’ (Proverbs 30:7-9).
1 Corinthians 10:13
Contentment can be likened to a steady state not to be tempered by the pull and push of external forces. Contentment may not be easily achieved but when it is attained it should remain a permanent feature demonstrated in the community. How to attain to contentment will vary for each individual depending on the content, process, knowledge and maturity that each citizen experiences.
1 Timothy 6:6-8
Definition of the state of ‘contentment’ is:
“An internal satisfaction which does not demand changes in external circumstances”—Holman Bible Dictionary.
Jehovah Jireh is able to ensure that through His government there is robust and appropriate infrastructure that manages community resources effectively so that all citizens maintain a similar quality recognisable within the culture that is produced. A personal state of contentment is prerequisite for a corporate state of contentment to be experienced. Hebrews12:2; Revelation 1:8; Psalm 54:4, 55:2, 119:116; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12.
