GOD & TEXAS: Discontent in Content

Founded in Colorado County during the Civil War, Content, Texas, never flourished. The main strength of their community was the Methodist church. But then the church left town!

The history of Content is sketchy, but when the railroad went to East Bernard instead of Content, people became discontent in Content. By 1970, there were three houses left in Content, and the area is now deserted.

One of the prominent residents of Content was Louis Pietzsch. Hoping to escape political and religious oppression, Pietzsch had immigrated to Texas from Germany in 1868. Once here, he lived in several communities including Content. But when he saw the beautiful San Bernard River at the town of East Bernard, he knew he had found home. So, he packed up his family and bought four thousand acres along the river.

After settling in, Pietzsch invited his former neighbors in Content to join him in East Bernard. Since they were growing unhappy with the town, they agreed to move if provision could be made for their church. In 1893, they dismantled the church facility, board by board, and Pietzsch convinced the railroad company to move it without charges. It was then reassembled on the five acres of land Pietzsch had donated, and East Bernard became their home.

But there was one more stipulation the church members had before they would agree to leave Content. They wanted Rev. H. W. Weise, the beloved pastor of the Content church, to move with them. Once he agreed, the decision was final. The First United Methodist church continues to meet at 421 Pietzsch Street, to this day.

The dedication and commitment these people had to the Lord and His church is inspiring. With incredible sacrifice, they placed the priority of an edifice of worship above their own personal homes. It all began when the people became discontent in Content. There was a stirring in their spirit that change was needed.

What a great message for us today. We can be living in a favorable situation when God begins to stir our spirit for better things. This is often the way God does business. Abraham had a good life when God began to put a vision of better things in his heart. Abraham abandoned the comforts of home to seek a “city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:10)

The visionaries of Hebrews 11 were all stirred by God to make a change, to see the unseen, and to walk a path not yet traveled. Consider Hebrews 11:13 NIV, “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”

Is God making you discontent with content? Is God asking you to be transformed for something better? Then, it’s time to kneel before the Lord and prepare for a change.

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