How many of you believe just a little more money would make life better?

Buy that whole Shein wish-list.

Get that new phone, game, computer parts, that meal out. new clothes, buy a car, not worry about paying for that dream school, etc..

The title of this message is

HOW TO BE DISSATISFIED

1 Timothy 6:6–8 ESV

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

We’ve got food, i mean there’s snacks downstairs even, we’re all dressed, we all made it here tonight, but if I’m being completely honest,

MOST OF US ARE NOT CONTENT

We believe if we had more we would be satisfied

so what do we need in order to be happy? studies actually show that people want more and less of different things.

More time

Less homework

More followers

Less chores

More freedom

Less responsibility

So how much would you need to be happy?

A little more, and a little less.

So how do we stay dissatisfied?

1. FOCUS ON BEING UNGRATEFUL

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 ESV

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Focus on being ungrateful, never talk to God about anything, and always look for the bad in every circumstance. It doesn’t matter how GOOD something is, there’s still something bad about it.

NO! Rejoice, pray always, and give thanks. There’s always GOOD in things, even when it doesn’t seem like it, look

An attitude of gratitude will always satisfy you

James 1:2–3 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

Even in trials there’s benefit, even in the bad things good can come out of it, no matter the circumstance there is joy to be found in it. Rejoice!

2. COMPARE WHAT YOU HAVE TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE MORE

2 Corinthians 10:12 ESV

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

I’m sure we’ve all experienced the comparison trap but let me put it simply,

there’s no win in comparison.

When you compare what you have, you always lose. You never see the whole of someone elses situation, they might look amazing on instagram or those snap chats where there always out with friends having a good time, but you’ll never know what their life is really like.

Parents gave nice things but were often absent story

My life might have looked awesome, I had a lot of cool stuff, and I enjoyed it, but even with siblings things could be a little bit lonely.

3. PURSUE TEMPORARY POSSESSIONS OVER ETERNAL TREASURES

Luke 12:15 ESV

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

There’s so much more to life than possessions, there’s so much more to life than just the things we have. If we always just focus on stuff, we’ll never really be fulfilled because it doesn’t last forever, the only things that do are the things we can store up in heaven.

Matthew 6:19–21 ESV

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

What treasure are you storing up? Is it material? Is it things that won’t last? Is it all the things that you replace every 2 or 3 years? Or is it eternal, is it friendships, relationships, a deep faith, a strong prayer life? Is it temporary or eternal?

Find satisfaction in Him who made you, and only then find satisfaction in yourself as part of His creation.

Augustine of Hippo

4. DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF ENTITLEMENT

It’s easy to become entitled when we start focusing on what we think we deserve instead of what we actually do. Let me remind you what the Bible says that we ALL deserve.

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ultimately, since we’re born into sin, live in sin, and die as sinners, we deserve death. That’s the payment for who we are, that’s ultimately all that we deserve, we shouldn’t be entitled but thankful that our God is merciful and made a way for us to enter into perfection with Him. It’s HIS gift that sets us free, it’s HIS gift that leads to eternal life, not anything we did, not anything we ever could do, it’s not something we deserve, it’s only because of Him.

Thank God for 3 things

HOW WE LIVE REVEALS WHAT WE BELIEVE

The world is always saying this

“What Christ offers is not as good as what this world offers.

-Drift from God (shiny things take our attention)

-Addictions: God offers peace, joy, and freedom

-Toxic Relationships (idolizing acceptance)

-Focus on Christ - Grateful!

-Gratitude turns what we have into enough

An Attitude of Gratitude will always satisfy you

Let’s pray