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It is remarkable to note that people have never been satisfied, even from biblical times. John the Baptist had to charge the tax collectors not to collect more than the legitimate amount. Though they were working for the Roman Government, the excess tax they found means of receiving was for their private pockets. Is it not interesting that these same soldiers came to him also for the baptism? They were told to be contented with their wages (Luke 3:14).
That problem is still with us, of people not being contented with the salaries they receive. If you ask them why they are not satisfied with it, their quick response is that it is not enough to meet their needs. Renegotiate with them an acceptable salary, and they will still employ other dubious means of making money at the expense of their employers.
Contentment is not restricted to employees of labour. It covers every spectrum of our lives, including everything we have, such as shoes, dresses, the house we live, et cetera. It stretches, even to our spouses. Churches and Christian ministries spend many months to counsel would-be couples about marriage. that there is nothing wrong for any intending spouse to opt out, even on the wedding day before they are joined. That is why pastors, with special wisdom of God, ask the two people standing before God for joining, before the congregation and before the devil, whether they will accept each other, ‘For better and for worse’. When the answer is positive, they are joined. It does not make any sense to give a positive response if one of them is not contented with the partner-to-be.
I wrote in this column some years ago, how Michal, King David’s wife, was looking for his fault through the window and of course, she found one. That was when David was dancing merrily in celebration of the Ark of God, which had been returned successfully to his city, and perhaps, his wrapper loosened! That was the only thing his wife could see, and not the work of God in that great assembly! She reviled him. What sin did David commit for that? In her case, her absence in the celebration might have grieved many people. Was God happy that the First Lady did not join other people in celebrating Him? And that was a woman who blamed her husband for nothing! David went home to bless his family members, including her, tolerating her absence during the celebration. If his dress unfolded, would she not be the person to cover his nakedness? Instead of apologising to him, she chose the easier path of blame.
Your spouse may be rebuking you all the time for not minding the type of places you sit. Her grouse, if you dare challenge her for rebuking you, could be that the wrong places you sit, could make your dresses to be dirty, thereby, affecting your personality. If people are around, their judgment will be in her favour. In fact, they will appreciate her for taking good care of you. God may be seeing it differently. And so may some wise people. It might not be your interest, after all, that she is protecting really. It might rather be to save her from the wahala of washing your stained dresses! With time, she may not even know that she is exhibiting discontent and that the devil is behind it all.
“If she realises that her words cannot change you, why then should she not tolerate it?” Love may ask. Can it be that she has forgotten the vow she made that day your nuptial knots were tied, ‘For better and for worse’? On the other hand, someone may ask, “Why should you not change so as to be doing your wife’s bidding?” It is good you do that, but if you try and still cannot change, love must accommodate you. Perhaps, during the youthful days, you were not taking any care of where you were sitting, and your wife did not complain. You may then begin to wonder then, why she should be doing so today. It may also be the exhibition of lack of contentment!
In all these, the devil is at work. He does not want harmony between any couple, and the absence of harmony, means that their prayers will not be answered. Caution is thus needed, for the one that insists for things to be done properly as well as the one that seems not to care about orderliness.
For further comment, Please contact: Osondu Anyalechi: 0909 041 9057; [email protected]
