Contentment

One of the most difficult challenges in human life is to REALLY be CONTENT. Here we will discuss this issue a little bit, but after "talking," it is VERY DIFFERENT to LIVE what we TALK or SAY.

I. Jesus emphasized the importance of being content.
   a. God has showered numerous gifts and talents on everyone. But apparently we are never satisfied. We want MORE and MORE.
   b. When the crowds came to John the Baptist, the soldiers asked him, "What should we do?" John replied: "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and BE SATISFIED WITH YOUR WAGES." Luke 3:14. But, is it not true that we feel that we need more and more money. We are NEVER satisfied.
   c. Jesus taught this same message in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:25-34:
    "Therefore I tell you, DO NOT WORRY about your life, what you will eat or what your will drink,
      or about your body, what you will wear.
      Is not LIFE MORE THAN FOOD, and the body more than clothing?
      Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather
                        into barns,
      and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
      Are you not of more value than they?
      And can any of you BY WORRYING add a single hour to the span
                         of your life?
      And why do you WORRY about clothing?
      Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow.
      They neither toil nor spin,
       yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like
                         one of these.
       But if God so clothes the grass of the field,
       which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the over,
       will he not much more clothe you--you of little faith?
       Therefore DO NOT WORRY, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or
                         'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
       For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things;
      and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
       But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
       and all these things will be given to you as well.
       So DO NOT WORRY about tomorrow,
       for tomorrow will bring WORRIES of its own.
       Today's trouble is ENOUGH for today."
    d. All of our "concerns" are troubles which we import into our hearts and lives. The reality is: God GIVES us everything. Let us enjoy, and BE CONTENT.

II. Paul emphasizes the importance of BEING CONTENT. Here are only two texts which underline this truth.
     a. Philippians 4:11-13: "I have LEARNED TO BE CONTENT WITH WHATEVER I HAVE.
                                            I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty.
                                            IN ANY AND ALL CIRCUMSTANCES I HAVE LEARNED
                                            THE SECRET of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty
                                                              and of being in need.
                                          I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM WHO STRENGTHENS ME."
    b. 1 Timothy 6:6-10: "There is great gain in godliness COMBINED WITH CONTENTMENT.
                                         For we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it,
                                         but if we have food and clothing, we will be CONTENT with these.
                                         But those who WANT TO BE RICH fall into temptation
                                         and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people
                                                          into ruin and destruction.
                                         For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil,
                                         and in their EAGERNESS to be rich some have wandered away from the
                                                          faith and pierced themselves with many pains."

III. The author of Hebrews emphasize the same truth about being content.
      a. In Hebrews 13, the writer gives a long list of admonitions for all of God's people These include such things as: "Let mutual love continue;" "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers;" "remember those who are in prison;" etc.
      b. Hebrews 13:5-6 says: "Keep your lives free from the LOVE OF MONEY, and BE CONTENT with what your have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you or forsake you.' So we can say with CONFIDENCE,
              'The Lord is my helper;
                    I will not be afraid.
               What can anyone do to me?'"

Share YOUR reversals and fears and shortcomings and insights and experiences with others. Let me hear from YOU.

John Willis