Attitude of Contenment

A Content heart brings lasting joy and keeps us out of the spiritual wilderness

I Tim. 6:6-10, Proverbs 30:8-9

Last week we spoke about a covetous heart, an attitude of lustful desires. How the Children of Isreal could not see how they coveted things that were either good but for the wrong reasons, or compared things of the flesh with spiritual things. Not trusting that God was all they needed. So this morning I want to share what type of heart the children of Israel should have had and what type of Attitude we should have toward the life He provides for us today.

I Timothy 6:6-10 was read for our hearing, but we need to first understand where this first begins. Verse 6 is predicated on the previous text to be connected to ensure that verse 6 and the rest of this scriptural thought can be fulfilled. Before we get to today’s text, let's back up and see another component that is prevalent in having a content spirit. In verses 3-5, we see the word Godliness.

1 Timothy 6:3–5 (NKJV)

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

( I Tim. 6:3) Refers to teaching that does not align with the understanding of the gospel that Paul and other apostles proclaimed. Paul’s command assumes that Timothy is in a position to instruct these people, so it is likely that the false teaching arose within the church, possibly even among the elders. If that is the case, Timothy is being charged to correct their misunderstandings and misrepresentations of the gospel (compare 2 Thess 2:15; 2 Pet 3:15–16)

godliness, John Calvin Said that

1 Timothy 6:6 (NKJV)

Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

So after reading verses 3-5 we get a better understanding of verse 6, and how it begins with the word but from the ESV version. This means “ True Godliness should bread contentment and that Godliness will never be accomplished without contentment. Meaning the two go hand in hand.

If a person tells you they are content, but don’t believe in the truth or they are tossed two and fro running after anything they see or hear on tv in regards to their faith is lying to you and themselves.

Praise is the best of all sacrifices and the true evidence of godliness.

John Calvin

“Godliness + Contentment= "Great Success"

If every married couple would abide by this scripture many divorce attorneys would go out of business.

The Greek word used here, autarkeia, refers to satisfaction with one’s circumstances. Stoic philosophers valued contentment because it indicated self-sufficiency. The Apostle Paul, however, values contentment because it indicates Christ’s sufficiency (see Phil 4:11, 13

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

“Contentment is a close and trusting relationship with God that is not tied to circumstances.”

Circumstances are almost always out of our control. They are undesirable You’ve been where Paul was. You thought, If I just get this degree, I will get that job. You got the degree, but you did not get the job. You planned on being married by now, but you have not found Mr. or Mrs. Right. Or you did find and marry the right person, but everything went wrong. This is not the way life was supposed to go. You’ve been praying for years for your prodigal child wishing they would return to the church, but God has not answered that prayer.

I can’t control what color of my skin or who my parents are. That is my circumstances.

If we are true believers and we cannot find true godliness, then we will never be content

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

That’s because our relationship with God is tide to our circumstances

Making our situation my circumstance and my circumstances my situation.

Are we happy with who we are?

Paul testifies to the sufficiency of Christ’s strength. He is prepared to endure any circumstance in life because Christ empowers him to do so

3 Steps to Contentment

Point 1-Look to Eternity-Verse 7 ( Earthly Contentment is a house of cards)

When a person dies people usually ask how much did they leave me. The answer is the same “Everything” How clear is that

Bill Gates when he dies cannot take his software, his reputation. No special treatment of limo rides to the throne. Nothing

In Hebrews 4:13- say that we will be naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Point 2-We’ll never be content if we have everything( 8-9)

8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content

A second problem with making contentment a fulfilled wish list is that we rarely if ever look around and decide that this is as good as it gets. We always desire more or better. Covetous started way before the children of Isreal. It started in Genesis with the story of Adam and Eve. They had the perfect marriage in the perfect home – no worries about money or jobs, beautiful surroundings – yet Eve could still be tempted by Satan to believe there was something more, that God was holding back on them to obtain everything, yet not realizing all that she had was from God. She allowed satan to convince her that she could have even more if she was able to eat from the forbidden tree. When I was I High school, my Junior and senior years, my mom really never gave me a curfew, But when she did I never pushed the envelope and when I was in the 10th grade she allowed me to drive her car without a license and gave me a time to return. Even though it seems I was having fun I made sure I returned before the curfew to show her how much I appreciated her and that I wanted to let her know how responsible I could be.

All we need for contentment is room and board

Learn by example-Verse 9-11

Money allows us to go places and do things and experience pressures to sin that someone in poverty will never know.

This is the problem with the children of Isreal they did not trust God or His many signs and wonders to get their attention. Because their relationship with God was based on their circumstances and we as humans do the same thing today. If we have a trial we believe it’s based on our sin, or if we receive a promotion on our job, we praise god. Contentment means it does not matter if it’s good times are bad times we praise, pray, trust, and obey regardless of what’s going on in our lives. That’s how a marriage should work

In fact, that relationship is best when we don’t have everything we want. Being deprived in some ways makes us rely on God, which keeps us centered and trusting Him, which is the only place we’ll find contentment.

Godliness + Contentment=Great Gain

How many of these things are at least somewhat beyond our control?

Job – unemployment often happens due to decisions or economic factors beyond our control.

House – one bolt of lightning, a tornado, or a flood can take that away in a moment.

Health – no matter how much we exercise or how healthy our diet is, there are a million ways that we can be robbed of good health, and many of those ways are totally outside our control.

So one problem with tying contentment to circumstances is that our happiness depends on numerous things beyond our control. Our happiness will at best be rare accidents when all our circumstances just happen to be positive for the moment before something knocks down our house of cards.

Point 3-We’ll never be content if we have everything (11-13)

Contentment isn’t what we have, but who

So if contentment can’t be tied to possessions or circumstances, then what are the ingredients of a contented, balanced life? Let’s read a few scriptures, and then answer that question.

1 Timothy 6:11–13 NKJV

But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

Proverbs 14:30

30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Before we read some verses about contentment, let’s anticipate what God will say.

Why could deprivation on some level be a good thing, even a blessing? Why might God knock down our house of cards?

We were never designed to find complete happiness on this earth. We were made with a desire, a holy discontent, that desires something more and better than this place. The fulfillment of that discontent is found only in God. If we decide this earth is as good as it gets, then we will settle for much less than we should.

We will, in the words of C.S. Lewis, make the mistake of mistaking brass for gold.

If we surround ourselves with everything we want, we’ll feel secure in our possessions and cease to rely on God.

Proverbs 30:8-9

8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

According to this proverb, balanced contentment ironically includes deprivation on some level. The secret to contentment is not having everything you want. Listen to this prediction made by Moses about what will happen when the Israelites find themselves in Canaan with everything they want:

Closing

1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

The word “ Craving” is back, and last week we understood that the Greek word is Lusting, which means it's been in our hearts for a long time.

Money does a good job of amplifying what’s already inside you.

If you’re narcissistic in nature, social media gives you a new platform to Express your self-centeredness. If you lean toward workaholism, you’ll always have access to the office as you carry your device with you everywhere. If you’re inclined to look outside your marriage or current relationship for intimacy, it’s easier than ever before and takes far less courage than it used to. Money and technology didn’t create these issues. It just exposes and amplifies. What we’re facing is not a money problem but a human one.

Contentment is not about what you have, but who. You must have God.

Contentment begins the same as wisdom, which is how the book of Proverbs begins: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7).

Contentment is to find a solid rock to stand on in the middle of changing circumstances. Whether your cup overflows or your pockets are empty, contentment is that secure peace, that unchanging place where you can always, somehow, find happiness. That Rock is our unchanging, loving, eternal Father.

Proverbs 19:23

23 The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

Proverbs 15:16-17

16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. 17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.

A harvest of peace is produced from a seed of contentment.

Anonymous

Deuteronomy 8:10-18

10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

" A consistent attitude of contentment can bring lasting joy and lead you out of the wilderness of covetousness"