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Contentment -
Being
Satisfied
Philippians 4:10-13
If you have your Bibles with you this morning please hold it up high
where we can all see it. Now that you have held it up I want you to open
it up and read with me today one of the hardest passages in the whole
Bible. It not difficult because it is filled with names and places in
the Old Testament, as a matter of fact this passage is not in the Old
Testament but rather in Philippians 4
Read Philippians 4:10-13
Did you hear it? Did you cringe? Probably not so les look at it a little
closer. Lets reread the 11th verse.
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever
situation I am to be content
There it is, one of the hardest teachings in the whole bible is found in
the Apostles last word, contentment. Paul penned this while in prison.
And, he was content! How could he be? Well, he had learned that
contentment and happiness are not dependent on external circumstances,
but on inner qualities of the heart, and upon a right relationship with
the Lord.
David gives us another picture of contentment when he writes in Psalm
23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still
waters.
April 9th, 1945 Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hours from his death in a Nazi
Concentration camp for his role in the underground church and
involvement in a plot to assassinate Hitler. On that fateful day, this
impressive theologian would write his last words. What do you think they
were? Would they be words that denounce the Nazi regime? Words calling
all believers everywhere to rise up and overcome this Nazi war machine?
On the contrary, this is what he wrote: "What is happiness and
unhappiness? It depends so little on circumstances; it really depends on
what happens inside a person."
Contentment is something that we all strive for, the problem is that the
world tells us to all look in the wrong place, so we either become
apathetic where we don’t feel anything or we spend our lives thinking
you know if I only…
We think, “If I only was 20 pounds lighter then I would be happy.” And
the world says you can buy a one month supply of lard off for only
$59.95 and drop that unwanted weight.
We think, “If I was smarter then I would be happy.” And the world says
buy Dr. Libby's original, patented Sublingual B-12, B-6 & Folic Acid
pill and amaze your friends.”
We think, “If I was only funnier, or more popular, and had more people
like me then I would be happy.” And the world says, wear our brand of
clothes, drink our beer, drive our car, buy our DVD with 50 great party
jokes and you will be popular.
But what happens when you loose 20 pounds, and can answer the questions
on Jeopardy, while you wear stylish clothes and tell great jokes during
the commercials? Are you truly content?
The problem with the worlds contentment is that you are like a dog
chasing their tail. You are never fast enough to fully grab a hold of
all that there is to offer, so you just fall to the ground wore out and
dizzy.
What is contentment?
Well good ole Webster says that contentment is to rest satisfied, to be
positive and well-pleased; to not be disgruntled or disheartened.
Freedom from care or discomfort.
The Pulpit Commentary says that, "It is quiet restfulness in the midst
of all kinds of changing events. It is a cordial acquiescence in the
arrangements of Heaven."
The JHV or Jeremy Houck Version says that it is peace in the very core
of your soul.
So many of us live day to day without that peace in our souls that not
only do we not know what it feels like but we have forgotten that it is
supposed to be there, but God says if we are his children we are to be
content.
In Luke 3:14 we read "And be content with your wages."
Here John was teaching the soldiers, and to us today. You see
contentment would prevent the soldiers from intimidating others (doing
violence), and practicing blackmail (falsely accusing) because of their
low wage scale.
It helps us to remember that God has fulfilled His promise to provide us
with all that we need. I have got to learn not to make money so I can
live, but trust that God will allow me to live with what I make.
Paul again writes but this time in 1 Timothy 6:6-8 "But godliness with
contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and
it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let
us be there with content.".
I believe that the poorest man in the world is the man who has more than
he needs but feels like it isn't enough. Remember the parable of the
Rich Fool in Luke 13?
The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He says to
himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest. So
here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then
I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self,
you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy
and have the time of your life!’
But we know that’s not going to happen. Soon I have a bigger barn so I
need more stuff and then I need a bigger barn then more stuff.
That’s what happens when you fill your barn with something besides God.
God provides us with a gift or a blessing and we can’t have peace.
Then we read in Hebrews 13:5 " Let your conduct be without covetousness;
be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I
will never leave you nor forsake you.”."
Now I don’t believe that God is saying here that we shouldn’t set goals
to improve our status in life, like buying a new car when we need one or
a bigger home when we have 4 kids and live in a two bedroom town home.
But I do believe that He is teaching against a misplaced emphasis on the
material things. God has given us possessions to use for His glory and
not our position in life.
Our trust and confidence must be placed in God alone, that is the only
way that we will ever be satisfied with our condition. We are told that
if we are faithful, God will cause all things to work together for our
good.
Milligan says “Be diligent; do all that you can and consistently improve
your own condition and to promote the happiness of others and then with
calmness and resignation leave all the consequences to God."
Unfortunately it seems that all to often in the church while our Father
says live lives of contentment we suffer with an "I can't be satisfied"
attitude. It seems to me that we often misread Philippians 4:11 as, "I
have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be discontent."
It is amazing that as we talk about these heart diseases how often I am
reminded of life with a 4 year old and a 15 month old. You see the very
things that cause the dam to burst and fights to start in our house are
at the very core of what causes us to live lives of discontentment.
Foes of Contentment
Covetousness
Scott, a friend of mine took his young son Andrew to McDonald's one
afternoon after soccer practice and ordered him a happy meal. After
sitting down at the table and smelling the fries, Scott reached across
the table and grabbed one. Andrew looked at Scott and said in an angry
tone "those are mine."
Scott was a little angry at first but instead of causing a scene he just
sat there and during the quiet he began to reflect about his son's
attitude, and came up with two thoughts.
1) Andrew forgot who bought the fries for him.
2) Andrew didn’t understand that Scott had the power to take them from
him or buy him 20 more orders.
Scott confessed to us one night that Andrew had an attitude problem, and
it was a problem that he learned at home. There are times when his
attitude towards God and things are wrong too. The french fries became a
lesson on overcoming covetousness.
All to often we forget who is the giver of all good gifts, and that at
anytime God can take our blessings from us or bless us beyond our
wildest imagination. It is in this forgetfulness that we allow covetness
to enter our hearts and make us discontent.
The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have and
being able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach."
Unbelief
God instructs us to be content , and like every command from God the
command of contentment is based solely on His promises.
He has promised us that He will not forsake us, that He will not leave
us, that He will help us and that we need not fear what man may do.
He promises to sustain us with all the physical necessities of life.
Do we really believe these promises? If so, how could we be another way
but content? Sometimes I believe that we put the emphasis on the wrong
thing? Never forget, God takes care of His own.
Envy.
We all know what envy is, jealousy of the good fortune of another. And
this spirit will keep us from contentment.
In 1 Samuel 18 we see that Saul was content with what praise he was
receiving until he saw David was getting more. Then he could not even
enjoy the praise that was being heaped upon him.
Envy is a dangerous evil which must be wiped out from our hearts. Paul
writes in Galatians 5:19-26 Now the works of the flesh are evident:
sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity,
strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy
drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you
before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of
God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such
things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the
Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited,
provoking one another, envying one another.
Pessimism.
The story is told of two buckets that were hung in the well house. The
first bucket was a dreadful soul and often complained "No matter how
full I come up, I always go down empty." But the second bucket would
always remind him, "Yes, and regardless how empty I go down I always
come up full."
Kenfield Morley expressed how pessimism effects our contentment this
way. "I can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because
thorn bushes have roses."
We who are followers of God know that this is not the end. Our roof may
have a leak in it but one day we will be in a mansion. Our clothes may
be tattered and torn but one day we will wear robes of white. The sky
may be dark but one day we will see the light of the throne of God.
Truly there is a better life awaiting the child of God on the other
side.
Finally there is Complaining.
We talked about this heart condition a few weeks ago, but did you know
that when you complain you destroy any contentment that you might have?
You see it is one thing for a thought to rattle around in my head but
when I voice it I give it power.
My Paw used to tell me that you can’t keep a bird from flying over your
head but you can keep it from making a nest in your hair. I can’t stop a
fleeting thought from entering my mind but I can keep from voicing it;
and, deepening the thoughts of discontent. Those who gripe and complain
live a sad life filled with sorrows. Because it is that complaint that
shows that they forgot the blessings of God.
We must cultivate an attitude of contentment
The first way we can do this is by working at it!
Paul says in Philippians 4:11 that he had to learn how to be content.
Contentment must be cultivated in our lives. We need to start looking
for the blessings in our lives and be thankful for them.
God says in Matthew 25:21 that if we can be loyal with small things,
then He will let us care for much greater things. I believe that if we
can learn to be content with what God has blessed us with now the he
will allow us to be content with greater things.
Count your blessings
We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5: 18 to give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Everything that is going on in your life at this very moment is God’s
will for you. If you are being blessed at this moment then you need to
thank god for your blessings. If life is rough at this moment then you
need to learn, like Job, to thank God that He considered you worthy to
endure the trial.
Wouldn’t we content if we would loose ourselves counting what we do
have, food, clothing, shelter, family, health, freedom, job, rather than
on those things you do not have.
With that in mind we must learn that happiness is not tied to things.
In Ecclesiastes 5:10 we read He who loves money will not be satisfied
with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity
We live in a society that is centered and oriented on stuff. And as
enlightened as we have become we either disbelieve what Solomon wrote or
we have not figured it out yet.
So many of us rush through day after day to "climb higher" or "get
more." And we never find happiness and contentment.
That’s why psychiatrists and counselors are in such high demand, ulcer
medicine is big business, and with all of the warnings about how
cigarette smoke will effect your health more people started smoking last
year than the year before.
Solomon was right contentment does not come from externals but from
internals.
Finally we must develop a deep sense of appreciation for the simple and
necessary things of life,
Paul writes to his son in the faith in 1 Timothy 6:8 "And having food
and raiment let us be therewith content"
That is what God led Paul to write, and David put it this way, "A little
that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked."
Psalm 37:16
And finally Solomon said it like this: "Better is little with the fear
of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith." Proverbs 15:16
Our contentment in this life tells the secret of our contentment with
God. If we can learn to be content with what we can see and touch and
feel then we can truly be content with a God that we only know by faith.
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