Think on These Things: Positive thoughts in a negative world…
“If only” are two little words that keep us from contentment.
In the family favorite movie The Wizard of Oz, little Dorothy from Kansas longs to fly over the rainbow to escape her problems. In a way, she gets her wish when a tornado propels her house into a mystical land called Oz. Of course, Oz is not without problems, so she longs to go home. To do this she must go see a wizard. On her journey, she is joined by a scarecrow, tin man, and cowardly lion—all wishing to get something from the wizard.
The scarecrow feels he would be happy “if only” he had a brain. The tin man thinks he would be happy “if only” he had a heart. The cowardly lion would be happy “if only” he had some courage.
How many of us assume we would be happy or content “if only” we had this or that?
That’s how the Israelites felt when they left Egypt. Just read the accounts in Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Their journey to the Promised Land was not without hardships. They thought “if only” God would give them what they wanted they would be content and happy.
- “If only” they had food: God gave them manna and they got tired of it. They wanted meat.
- “If only” they had meat: God gave them quail to eat and they got tired of it.
- “If only” they had water to drink: God gave them water, yet they still complained.
- “If only” Moses would speak to them instead of God: Moses spoke to them and they weren’t happy.
Each time, God graciously gave them what they wanted and they still weren’t happy. That’s what “if only” thinking will do for you. Not only does it foster discontentment, but it skews one’s memory.
For example, the Israelites thought that “if only” they were back in Egypt they would have great food to eat (Numbers 11:4-5). They had forgotten how miserable they were in Egypt (Exodus 1). They didn’t have good food to eat. As slaves, they had scraps. The Egyptians made the lives of the Israelites “bitter with hard bondages.” The king even had their first born sons killed. The Israelites, just like us, had a tendency to idealize the past.
“If only” thinking keeps us from enjoying the moment. We think we would be happy “if only” we had a bigger house, “if only” we had a better job, “if only” we had married our high school sweetheart, “if only” our children were perfect, “if only” we were thinner…if only, if only, if only. Well, there are plenty of people who have all of these things and are not happy.
Paul learned how to be content in all situations (Philippians 11-13). Whether poor or rich, hungry or full, healthy or suffering, living in peace or affliction, Paul knew his relationship with Christ was the only way to achiever true happiness and contentment.
Sometimes we already have what we think we are seeking, but can’t see it.
The scarecrow thought he had to have a physical brain but he already had wisdom. The tin man thought he needed a physical heart but he already had the capacity to love. The cowardly lion was more courageous than he thought when someone he loved was in danger. And Dorothy found out that there is no place like home. She said, “…if I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard; because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.”
Where is our backyard, our home? It’s said that home is where the heart is. If our heart is with God, we can be content. “If only” we could learn that lesson, we would all be a lot happier.
*****
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” ~Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
