Paul the Apostle, in writing to the Hebrews suggested, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5) I interpret that to mean the Lord values us, not what worldly things we have accumulated. It would be a simple and peaceful world if we could adopt that advice. However, it seems that the opposite is more true as many of us have an insatiable appetite for things we first covet and may even drive us into debt. We no sooner satisfy our drive for one thing than we are anxiously searching for the next thing. It, too, can drive our thoughts and actions until it is obtained.
The word content is the opposite of the word contention. Contention means to oppose, argue and even give battle. In our pursuit of things there is frequently an element of contention because of the personal energy created by the drive to obtain. There is often debt involved and the worry as to how that can be repaid. Solomon advised that, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” (Proverbs 13:10) To be content is to be well advised and therefore, that person is wise.
‘Want’ is the key and because our economy is driven by want, many a loyal citizen feels compelled to buy. Paul was so wise and his words almost seem to be speaking to us directly, instead of to the Philippians, when he said; “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11) Ah, to be content, would be the olive branch of peace between spouses, children, neighbors and nations. For whatsoever state I am in, therewith may I be content.
Today’s children don’t often get together and play sandlot softball, or neighborhood tag football. We don’t see or hear them playing hide and seek, kick the can or any number of other games as we used to play almost every day. We may have had runny noses, dirty and torn clothes from playing outside but I recall being healthy and content. One of the most universal games we played was the game of marbles.
For most of my youth the fall of the year was marble time. Most all young boys carried a sack of marbles of all colors and sizes. Most were made of glass; some were clear, some were clear with wavy stripes of color running through them, others were opaque.
We even had steel marbles called steelies and crockies, made of ceramic. Popular marbles were items of value; one with a steelie may have been able to trade it for three clearies, etc. We primarily played three different marble games: circle, pot and lag. In circle games we would draw a circle about a yard in diameter. Each player would then put a marble in the middle of the circle and we would take turns shooting another marble from between our thumb and forefinger from outside the ring. If we could knock a marble out of the circle we could add it to our collection.
In pot marbles we would make a hole about the size of a cup in the ground by spinning around on our heel. We would draw a line about 10 ft. away from the pot. We would take turns throwing or lagging another marble at the pot from behind the line and whoever was able to have their marble roll into the pot owned the marbles in the pot. A lag marble game was similar in that each player put a marble in a pool and then we would lag (throw) our marbles towards a wall and whoever lagged closest to the wall got the pool of marbles. During marble season our pant knees always had holes in them and the toes of our shoes would be all scuffed up from kneeling on the ground. What has the above got to do with being content?
The background in the game of marbles is the lead to the following story. This story is a classic in regards to contentment: “Ed and John were little boys in the long ago, playing marbles day by day, just like boys you know. Ed was clever, so was John. Ed one difference bore—winning marbles when he played made him wish for more. Heavier grew his little sack, still on winning bent—Ed had more than he could use, but was not content. John played marbles now and then, never lost them all; had enough to join the game when the boys would call; played at baseball, climbed the trees, loved the birds, and knew many a thrill of doing things Ed would never do. Kept his marbles in a sack smaller far than Ed’s. He didn’t have more than fifty mibs, blues and whites and reds. “John,” said Ed one day to him, still on marbles bent, “I’ve a thousand in my sacks, but I’m not content. Just how many now have you?” Answered John, “A few, fifty marbles, I would say, but I’ve more than you” “More than I?” said Ed, surprised, “Surely that can’t be!” “Yes,” said John, “I’ve more than you—I’ve all I want, you see.”
Who is content and has all he wants is richer than those who still seek more. “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” (1 Timothy 6:6, 8) Being content has even greater value than having all you need or want. Being content is being happy with what you have and who you are. It’s a position in life when the stress of seeking and wanting has turned to a time of peace. Let us take Paul’s advise and, “Be content with such things as ye have.”