Leaders detect discontentment
If you are a leader, remember that discontentment is a seed to scatter your followers. “To be content” means “to be satisfied, gratified, appeased and delighted”, with something.
It also means “to be thrilled, tickled, bewitched, captivated, charmed and enraptured”, with what you have.
Contentment is a product of the heart and not a product of one’s circumstances. There are people who do not have much but are very happy.
Discontentment is an evil spirit that needs to be dealt with. No circumstance is perfect but you cannot lead people who are not thrilled, satisfied and delighted to be with and work with you.
Manifestations of discontentment
Some of the greatest manifestations of discontentment are grumbling and murmuring. These were characteristics that were obvious in the Israelites as they journeyed from Egypt through the wilderness.
Here was a group of people so burdened by the ill-treatment given them that they only wished to escape. And yet the same people, after a short while in the wilderness started grumbling and wishing for leeks, garlic and other things of Egypt.
Did Egypt not represent such evil? Was the life there not a burden? How did Egypt suddenly become a nice place to wish for?
Discontented people also compare things that they should not compare. Sometimes their comparisons are simply ridiculous!
…but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Corinthians 10:12
Whenever people focus on what others have, they become discontented. In the story below, the master had promised good wages to his workers.
Initially, they did not complain about the salary because they thought it was fair. At the end of the day, however, new workers were employed who were given the same wages.
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? Matthew 20:1-15
The hired labourers had been okay with their hire. Suddenly, discontentment reared its ugly head. The original team of workers were no longer happy with their wages.
Many people are content with what they have until they look next door to see what someone else has. I am happy with what God has given me.
I may not have what Benny Hinn, Oral Roberts or T.D. Jakes have, but I am content with what God has given me. If I start to compare myself with some other people, I may begin to think that I am inadequate.
If you start to compare yourself with someone else, you will degenerate into discontentment. You will become a complainer, a doubter and an ungrateful person. This is a must-avoid!
Be a wise leader and detect this canker as soon as it shows up. Your followers are not equal and it is not possible to reward everyone with the same package.
People who start grumbling and complaining become resentful and unhappy. Like Moses, as soon as your followers begin to grumble and complain, you may lose control and your mission may fail. Our prayer is that leaders will not be unaware of discontentment but will detect it and deal with it so that there will be a sweet spirit within every team.
The writer is the founder of the Lighthouse Group of churches.