|
EXERCISE EIGHT
Blockers
A Study in Contentment
by Ron Wilkins
The “Where the rubber meets the road” point to remember from Lesson One is that “Every State Contentment” is both possible and practical. It is possible for those who “Ask, seek and knock,” and it can be a practical lifestyle. This is definitely a “few who find it” issue.
Contentment, and especially “Every State Contentment” is easily at the top of the “desired things” for all humanity. It’s also beyond the reach of the majority, hidden behind a strongly fortified wall of more than a dozen obstacles. A wall ingeniously build by the “powers of darkness” who war against the souls of mankind. It is no surprise that high desire issues will be safely protected behind, not one, but numerous obstacles so there will be “few who find it.”
Removing physical, emotional or spiritual obstacles is never easy, but it is absolutely necessary to any worthwhile endeavor. Learning to be content is no exception. There will be no “Every State Contentment” without the removal of obstacles. It is so much easier to settle for occasional contentment than it is to learn how to remove obstacles that the temptation to do so is off the chart. Is it any wonder that few will follow through with “ask, seek and knock?”
The belief that “Every State Contentment” is not possible is not the greatest obstacle that must be removed, but it is one obstacle that requires a step of faith to remove. Many others can be removed by the learning process. This one gets down to the “nubby-nitty-gritty” of applied faith. Faith is (and always will be) “the substance of things hoped for, and evidence of thinks not seen.” The belief that it can’t be done may be universally accepted, but it has it’s roots in darkness, not in the light of truth. A step of faith involves not being able to see or understand how something can be done, yet accepting that it can be. Some will progress no farther than this point in the study of contentment. “Every State Contentment” was not only spoken of by Paul, it is consistent with the words spoken of by the Master; “that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly.”
Obstacles are removed by either faith or by learning. The purpose of this lesson is both a call to faith and an opportunity to commit to the learning process. Removing the number one obstacle definitely requires learning how to do it. Hear the words of Jesus, “Learn of me, and I will give you rest.” Thank God for His Word that makes the learning process possible.
There is a long list of obstacles that prevent success in reaching the desired goal, but the number one obstacle today is the same as it was in the first century. That is an overload of emotion that won’t go away. A close study of the life of Christ reveals that He used miracles to meet the needs of the common people. He removed their pain. By doing so he was able to break through their walls of preconceived ideas and traditions so they might accept His teaching. He will do the same for us today through the “learn of me” process.
Jesus took away both physical and emotional pain. He took away the physical pain brought about by disease, defects and even hunger. He also took away their emotional pain that came about as a result of low self-esteem, hurtful experiences and deep regret. He often did for them, through miracles, what He will do for us by the learning process of His Word. They wanted their pain relieved badly enough to follow Him into the wilderness or to tear the roof off houses to get in. They asked, they sought and they knocked. So must we.
It doesn’t matter whether an obstacle is great or small if it prevents individuals from learning that which could make a great difference in their lives anymore than it would matter if a soldier was fallen by a large stone or a small one. Failure is still failure. The likelihood of failure is in direct proportion to the obstacles that hinder the learning process.
This Chapter will not cover every obstacle that can block the learning process, but it will leave no doubt that obstacles are not only possible, but probable, and that they are a matter which must be addressed if the learning process is to continue. The desire for an earthly kingdom was strong enough to prevent the most knowledgeable minds of the time from learning the teachings of Jesus. It is a mistake to underestimate obstacles that can block the learning process.
- The belief that “Every State Contentment” is not possible is one obstacles that requires a step of faith to remove. The willingness to accept occasional contentment is probably the number one blocker and it to requires a step of faith to remove.
- The fear of not being able to achieve “Every State Contentment” is both common and understandable. It can be done, but the learning process required is a greater price than many are willing to pay. “Every State Contentment” is not a subject that has room for shortcuts and quick fixes. It falls dead center of the instruction to ask, seek and knock.
-
The lack of opportunity is a blocker of global magnitude. Surprisingly, while contentment is a spotlight topic for all churches, “how to learn contentment” is not a subject commonly taught in the religious community. Most churches are not prepared to teach anyone how to achieve “Every State Contentment,” any more than they are prepared to teach anyone how to stop self-destructive escape behaviors.
- The fear of change is an obstacle everyone must consider. Even if the change is for the better, many individuals may feel they will not be able to live up to the challenges of change. The fear of change is intensified for individuals who have become entangled in self-destructive behaviors as a means of escaping emotional pain. A victim of addiction cannot visualize life without their escape behavior.
- An established pattern of behavior is a complex obstacle that can affect the unsuspecting church member every bit as much as the victim of a serious addiction. Established patterns of behavior are extremely difficult to change yet that is the exact purpose of this study. The idea of totally disassociating oneself with particular people, places and things that will hinder recovery is a very difficult thing to accept.
The list of obstacles goes on and on. It can involve everything from indifference to a co-dependent relationship. Preoccupation with bad health can be a blocker as well as financial problems, low self-esteem, self-centeredness or even loyalty to another individual. A blocker is anything that prevents the learning process. Great or small, it is not likely that those involved will see a blocker for what it is. The Lord taught about blockerswhen He said, “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and loses his own soul.”
It should be clear from the study of Chapter One that “Every State Contentment” is not only possible, it is the way of peace spoken of in the Bible. The “stew pot” point to assimilate from this Chapter is that there are going to be well placed obstacles that will
prevent the learning process from taking place. Remember how Paul spoke of those who did not know the “way of peace” in Romans 3:17? They were of the religious community.
QUESTIONS
1. How can obstacles be removed?
2. What point in the study of contentment will many not be able to get past?
3. According to this study, what is the number one blocker that hinders the learning process?
4. List two obstacles that require a step of faith to remove.
5. How could an established behavior patterns hinder the study of the “way of peace?”
TRUE or FALSE
1. Church members need not be concerned about blockers to the learning process.
2. Every blocker can be overcome through knowledge only.
3. All blockers to the learning process are mentioned in this chapter.
4. Prayer is vital in the study of contentment.
5. The ‘stew pot” point of this Chapter is that there is more than one blocker.
ANSWERS FOR EXERCISE SEVEN
1. Our thinking, spirituality, actions and physical health.
2. As long as we use flawed thinking.
3. Some irreparable damage.
4. Using it for the wrong reason.
5. No.
TRUE Or FALSE: 1. (T), 2. (F), 3. (T), 4. (T), 5. (T)
|