Aware & Discontent

Awareness produces discontentment.  

I was content with my perfectly good cellular phone that I used to call and text my friends and family.  That is until I became aware of this device known as the iPhone there was a sense of discontentment within me.  I purchased the iPhone 3G and became content, until I became aware that Apple came out with the iPhone 4. (I passed on the 3Gs.)  My discontentment subsided when I made the upgrade.


The purpose of advertising and marketing is to make you aware and discontent.  We were perfectly content with our lives and 'stuff' until we saw and advertisement became aware of the car that we can talk to, the slim line TV, the headphones made by a Dr., or the shoes that look like gloves.  Although we still go to the same old destinations in our new car, watch the same old shows/games on our new TV, listen to the same old music with our new headphones, and do the same old walking/running in our new shoes, our discontentment is temporarily gone. 

Discontentment can be a good thing.  

People are filled with discontentment when they become aware of a devastating earthquake, flood, tornado, wildfire or tsunami.  People can become overwhelmed with discontentment when they become aware of modern day slavery and sex trafficking.  Bethany First Church of the Nazarene and Southern Nazarene University became aware and discontent that the African country of Swaziland has the highest percentage of people with the AIDS virus. My wife became aware of the large amount of young women who do not feel beautiful and has been discontent ever since. 

Many organizations such as the Red Cross, Samaritans Purse, and countless local churches are spreading discontentment by making others aware when needs arise during natural disasters.

Discontent groups like Not For Sale are spreading awareness of human trafficking.

Discontentment caused BFC & SNU to develop the Swaziland Partnership to spread awareness.

My wife started The Beautiful Campaign and will tell you that making others aware of their true Beauty in Christ is her 'Holy Discontent'.

Millions of people are discontent that there is not a cure for breast cancer, so much so there is a month-long campaign dedicated to making people aware!

The key is becoming aware of what makes you discontent.  If you're not careful, you'll become discontent about material possessions and "keeping up with the Jones" rather than making a difference in the world around you.

What makes you discontent?