Contentment and Joe Montana

Arguably the best quarterback ever, Joe Montana had this freakish ability to forget the last play and focus on the next one. None of his energy focused on what didn’t just happen. No worries about the play after this one. He was all about current reality . . . about grasping the situation he was in and running the next play.

Could this be the key to contentment?

Try this on:

Contentment: Realizing what’s been given to you and being good with it.

I believe God is good, all the time. I believe He loves us and, as a perfect Father, wants what’s best for us over the long haul. It’s the ‘long haul’ part that’s troubling.

Here’s the Scripture that’s informed my head and heart about contentment:

“Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup. You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. Surely I have a divine inheritance.” (Psalm 16:5-6)

Takeaways:

1. The Lord assigns ‘portions’ and ‘cups’ – Either by His hand or through it, you and I have been given whatever we have. If we’re talking about a ‘portion’, we’re talking about our part. Can be our job, our share of the company, the piece of real estate we own or rent or the money we have. It’s a good thing to have a portion. There’s always someone who doesn’t have a portion, or has a smaller one than you or me. ‘Cup’ translates ‘suffering’. Not-good stuff. Suffering is also ‘assigned’. It’s coming from or through the same hand as our portion. A hand we must choose to trust.

2. My ‘lot’ is secure and pleasant – Because of Jesus, I know who I am and Whose I am. My ‘lot’ in life – my status, my identity, my skills & talents – these are all secure. I’ve been forgiven for all my stuff, the slate’s wiped clean. I’m an adopted son of the King of Kings! By the Holy Spirit’s presence in me, I have peace, love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self- control. And what’s crazy good? I don’t have to fear death. This life is simply a birth canal to the next one which is going to be far better. . . because God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will be there, in person, all the time. Your ‘lot’, my ‘lot’ is secure. Insert gratitude here.

3. Surely I have a divine inheritance – I don’t know what this looks like. I don’t think anyone does. We’re so passionate about the concept of grace, it’s hard for us to let ourselves think about ‘rewards’ and ‘crowns’ and stuff the Bible says will be part of our ‘divine inheritance’. But Jesus talked about it . . . both Matthew and Luke recorded His words. Matthew’s version:

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:12

So . . . can we become the Joe Montana of our circumstances? As the Apostle Paul, can we ‘learn to be content in whatever circumstances…’? (Phil. 4:11) Can we teach ourselves to be grateful, to ‘run the next play’ and trust our loving Heavenly Father for outcomes?

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