Contentment vs.“Socioeconomic Justice”
by Shane Ebanks
Watch Pastor Shane Ebanks sermon on James 4:1-6.
Research scientist and psychologist Dr. Daniel Cordaro, in his article “What If You Pursued Contentment Rather Than Happiness?”, found that in his travels to far-flung locations around the globe, where he observed the societies and cultures of various peoples - contentment was “revered as one of the highest states to cultivate in life.” Comparatively, he noted that, “… in the West, we were obsessing about happiness—and feeling more anxious, depressed, and stressed.” Ultimately, Dr. Cordaro diagnosed the symptoms relatively well, but not the illness, for example in his description of the“More Strategy”. He also left much to be desired in his prescribe cure for lack of contentment, in his “Enough Strategy.”
Overall the main thrust of this article (our pursuit and the illusiveness of contentment) shouldn’t be surprising. We in Western societies have sleepwalked our way into allowing covetous ideologies, primarily “socioeconomic justice”, which is grounded in socialist principles, to infiltrate all our major institutions of influence - our governments, our schools and universities, and our news and entertainment. We’ve welcomed those who propagate these ideas to tap into and manipulate our most based desires. Masking those fallen desires behind “pseudo moralistic stances” like “socioeconomic justice”. Intellectuals have convinced the masses, including many in the church that: socioeconomic disparities are in and of themselves evidence of racial, class and even gender discrimination; and have conflated equality of opportunity and equality of outcome (which they call equity). Ironically, such views sanitise and promote discrimination towards a particular race and class of people, namely white and/or rich people. The “have-nots” blame their lot in life on the “haves”, then their resentment spills over into riots, protests, and support for destructive wealth redistribution policies and initiatives, like D.E.I., reparations, or massive expansions to welfare.
Once again confirming that “there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl.1:9), we find parallels with our current cultural climate and what takes place in the James 4:1-6. Only in this case the curtains are pulled back and we get a clearer view of the spiritual conflict causing “quarrels and fights.” The sinful, covetous passions of these first century Jewish Christians, towards those in the church God has blessed in some way, has caused extreme disharmony within the church. This sin, like all sin starts internally and it metastasises into our physical environment effecting our relationships,
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.” (Jm. 4:1-2 ESV)
The first and most important relationship affected is our relationship with God. As covetousness first cuts off our means to sustenance and contentment by jamming communication with our Jehovah Jireh,
“You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (Jm. 4:2-3 ESV)
Those debased passions corrode our relationship with God even further, by aligning us with God’s enemy - the world,
"4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (Jm. 4:4 ESV)
The good news is that for those called according to God’s purpose, forgiveness, reconciliation, and satiation/contentment is never far from a humble and contrite heart,
5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.””(Jm. 4:5-6 ESV)
The covetous spirit is bond-up in "socioeconomic justice” as it promotes conflict centered on the confiscation of time, talent, knowledge and ingenuity of others. In the futile attempt to transform our societies into a type of Eden (Utopia), but without God in it. But what we see in the Judaeo-Christian worldview and scripture like James 4:1-6 and Matthew 6:25-34 is that our only effective strategy for true contentment is the “God Strategy”, seeking out God’s presence. Those who truly seek God’s face, God’s fist will open - it may or may not contain that which you longed for, but contentment, including the calming of that inner turmoil, will always follow whatever answer is given.
References:
Dr. Daniel Cordaro - What If You Pursued Contentment Rather Than Happiness?: https://wisdomcenter.uchicago.edu/news/wisdom-news/what-if-you-pursued-contentment-rather-happiness
Dr. Jordan Peterson quote: “pseudo moralistic stances” from QandA on abcqanda an Australian Broadcasting Corporation.