Cool, Calm, and Contentment

Psalm 23:1 “1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

These are four principle words, practical and potent words that I can put into practice when it comes to my life “I shall not want.” Left to myself, my life is defined by numerous deficiencies. But knowing I belong to the Good Shepherd, who is self-sufficient, inexhaustible, and unchanging, I will lack in no part of my life. The Good Shepherd is enough for all things and will provide for me.

Main Idea: No matter where I am in life; green pastures or dark valleys, my Good and Great Shepherd has promised to be with me in presence and provide for me for His name sake.

I. The Person of the Shepherd.

II. The sheep's Placidity.

Objective: How do I live unruffled, undisturbed, keeping myself from becoming unperturbed, and remain cool, calm, and collected, in spite of all the demands in life?

I have two choices when it comes to how I live.

I can live my life never giving any thought to careful planning, living by sheer whim, capricious inclinations (impulsiveness) when it comes to urges, desires, and ideas.

I can live a productive and satisfying life by entrusting my life to the care of the Good Shepherd; giving everything to Jesus!

A. The Prolific life the Shepherd provides for the Sheep, John 10:10.

John 10:10 “10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

The abundant life is the life Jesus promised to be more than what we ever expected life to be, Romans 8:32 “32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” goes beyond what is necessary.

‘Abundance,’ perissos, the abundant life is above base level living, in which our contentment is based upon the fact that God is equal to every emergency and is able to supply all our needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus.”

Abundant life is not long life. Abundant life is not a comfortable life. Abundant life is contentment in Jesus.

God’s priority for believers is not material abundance, but living a life defined by a passionate pursuit of knowing and understanding God; spiritual abundance. Abundant life is eternal life, and eternal life is knowing and understanding God, John 17:3 “3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”; access to Himself.

Abundant life is a consistent growing to know God and Jesus on a deeper level, John 10:9 “9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”

The apex of the abundant life is knowing God and Jesus on a level we never imagined to be possible in this life.

Believers are to seek this life and everything else will fall into place, Matthew 6:33 “33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ; cf. Matthew 6:25-32; Hebrews 13:20-21 “20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

“Seek” carries two nuances:

“to seek something that has been lost,” desperation, nothing left unturned, a careful retracing of steps, never giving up, and endless pursuit.

“To demand what is due,” serious effort, demands my life.

I cannot let material stuff place a greater demand on my life than seeking God and chasing after the righteousness of the Kingdom. I cannot be driven by what I supposedly don’t have or worry over what I need, and drain every ounce of energy that prevents me from chasing hard after Jesus.

My life must reflect desperation and demands, Psalm 84:11 “11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Uprightly: walks with integrity).

This does not mean God will withhold good when I don’t walk like I should. My life cannot be about material circumstances only being supplied by my performance.

When my relationship with God is where it should be, everything will fall into place, Matthew 6:32 “32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”

I must be in a continual process in my Christian life; learning, practicing, maturing as well as failing, recovering, adjusting, enduring and overcoming.

B. Greener Pastures are never the best choice.

Two places everyone will find themselves.

Not being in want because Jesus is Shepherding your life.

Being in want because Jesus is not Shepherding your life. You’re empty, lonely, in despair, frustrated because life is not playing out. It is obvious something or someone else is shepherding your life, you will never be satisfied, constantly delusional and disappointed.

The heart of discontentment is questioning the goodness of God. The very first sin, Genesis 3:1-5 “1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.””,questioning God’s goodness.

When I question God’s goodness I become a sheep who views the grass as greener on the other side of the fence. I find myself a carnal Christian, “fence crawling” Christian, and a half-hearted Christian. I want the best of both worlds.

I cannot be that Christian who is never content with the way things are.

I cannot be that Christian who is always looking for loopholes to crawl through.

I cannot be that Christian that in spite all that God has done —it is never enough.

C. My Perspective must be revolutionized, Romans 12:2.

Romans 12:2 “2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Matthew 6:32 “32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things,”

Philippians 4:11-12 “11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”

Philippians 4:13 “13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

I must make up my mind to be content. “I” is emphatic denoting “forceful and firm” resolute and wholehearted, determined. Leave it to others to be discontent; I will not!

I must learn how to be content, Philippians 4:12. Contentment is a learned behavior, it does not come naturally. “Learned” to decipher information practically and conceptually.

I must understand God is my sufficiency. “Content”—The Greek, literally expresses “independent of others, and having sufficiency in one’s self.” Christianity has raised the term above the haughty self-sufficiency to the contentment of the Christian, whose sufficiency is not in self, but in God, cf. 2 Corinthians 3:5 “5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,” ; 1 Timothy 6:6 “6 But godliness with contentment is great gain,”; Hebrews 13:5 “5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””

Four words that will change your life, “I shall not want.”

Four words proudly, positively, and profoundly Expressive of the sheep thoroughly satisfied in their Shepherd.

Four words Encapsulating the Essence of being a Christian, and that being utterly contented in our Great Shepherd not craving or wanting anything more.

Four words that sound Eccentric with pain and problems, anguish of spirit, acute hardships, an abundance of difficulties, and so much that we lack and desperately need.

Four words that must not give the impression that sheep are Exempt from personal privation and adversity, cf. Psalm 34:19 “19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Job 14:1 “1 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.” John 16:33 “33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””

Too often we live under the false pretense that blessings, happiness, contentment, and satisfaction equals stuff, Mark 10:17 “17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”” Mark 10:20-21 “20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.””

David is not talking about stuff.

A careful look and coming to terms with the truth that everyone at some point will experience problems, pain, physical indispositions, and maybe even poverty.

And still have the strength to proclaim, “I shall not want!” 2 Corinthians 12:9 “9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” .

A happy life and favorable outcomes, and what makes the difference when it comes to how life will turn out, depends on whose running my life, who have I entrusted my life to, and who is boss!

D. Principles to being a cool, calm, and contented sheep.

Be aware that we are people with needs, “I…”

Make the distinction between needs and wants. A need is something that is necessary to live and function. A want is something that can improve your quality of life. If I don’t get what I want will I still be able to live and function in a normal capacity.

Our needs must correctly be identified, Psalm 23 highlights needs that we all have; Physical needs, Psalm 23:2, Spiritual needs, Psalm 23:3a, Present life needs, Psalm 23:6a, Future needs, Psalm 23:6b, Needs when life becomes scary and hard, Psalm 23:4-5, Practical needs, Psalm 23:3b.

Do not become Anxious over your needs, “shall not want…” Matthew 6:25 “25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

“Anxious” means “to experience worry, nervousness, unease; very eager and concerned for something to happen.”

I cannot let my needs consume me, control me, define me nor derail me!

Philippians 4:6 “6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” We are prone to worry over; families, foes, food, finances, friends, and our future.

“Shall not want,” when sickness comes, sorrow comes, shadows come, struggles come, when shame comes, and ultimately when the silent reaper comes (death).

“Shall” imperfective aspect of the verb in the Hebrew.

The action of the verb is viewed from the inside or unfolding.

Habitual action, action in progress or completed action with unfolding ongoing results.

Action in process!

Past, “I have not wanted!”

Present, “I don’t want now!”

Future, “I will never want!”

Align you life in the proper order and everything will fall into place,”The Lord (first)…I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1; Matthew 6:32-33 “32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Philippians 4:19 “19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Goodness and grace of God, who assumes the role of the Shepherd make total provision. The ability is never in the sheep, but in the shepherd.

“I shall not want,” God’s riches are unreachable, joy unspeakable, power unlimited, faithfulness unfailing, His word unshakable, and His love unchanging, Psalm 34:9-10 “9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! 10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”

When God is the main thing, God will makes sure every need is met in order to keep the focus on God being the main thing!

“My brethren, the reason why you have not got contentment in the things of the world is not because you have not got enough of them. That is not the reason. But the reason is because they are not things proportionable to that immortal soul of yours that is capable of God Himself. Many men think that when they are troubled and have not got contentment, it is because they have but a little in the world, and if they had more then they would be content. That is just as if a man were hungry, and to satisfy his craving stomach he should gape and hold open his mouth to take in the wind, and then should think that the reason why he is not satisfied is because he has not got enough of the wind. No, the reason is because the thing is not suitable to a craving stomach.”

— Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Edinburgh, 1964, p. 91.