Contentment by Faith
The Playbook of Faith • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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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.”
6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Pray
As a kid I remember watching shows where they would talk to athletes about how they became so great at their sports. Many of them would have similar stories. They loved the game from an early age, so they worked really hard to be the best. They all pursued excellence and eventually became some of the best players of all time. I remember Jerry Rice used to catch 5 yard passes, then run for 90 yards to the end zone. Pistol Pete would spend hours shooting the same shot over and over again until it became second nature.
What you pursue is what you become.
The reason for this is simple: when you pursue something with every fiber of your being, when you long to have that thing or to achieve that goal or to win that person, you are willing to do whatever it takes - even to the point of changing who you are if it will help.
What you pursue is what you become.
Some people make money their pursuit. They desire large amounts in the bank. They hunger and thirst for more stuff. Forget what they have - they are never satisfied. “More, more, more!” they cry. They look at money as a worthwhile goal - as a means to security and happiness.
I don’t know for sure, but I’m pretty sure that the person who first came up with the idea for money wasn’t trying to make security or happiness. Money was never intended to satisfy, yet people yearn for it none the less. And as Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:10:
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
What you pursue is what you become.
The Way We Relate with God Determines How Content We Will Be
The Way We Relate with God Determines How Content We Will Be
So how do we live a life of contentment? I believe that contentment boils down to how we relate with God. If we are in a proper relationship with God - one that is not focused on what God can do for us but on who he is and who he is making us to be - then we will be content. We will recognize all that God has done for us and money will lose its luster.
Let’s ask an important question - what exactly has God done for us? In this passage, I can find three specific gifts from God. As we think about and focus on these three gifts, we will learn to be content and satisfied with God. We will know first-hand that he is enough. First
Be Content with God’s Provisions
Be Content with God’s Provisions
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.”
When you pursue money - when you love it - you open the door for all sorts of evil. You become greedy and stingy. You turn a blind eye to the needs of people around you. You sell your soul for something that is temporary and fleeting. That’s why the Bible warns us repeatedly about loving money. Money turns its suitors vile and leaves them destitute.
He gives us a warning to make our entire way of life one that does not engage in a love of money. He’s just told us to love one another with brotherly love, and now he direct our attention to something that causes us not to love our brothers - an affection for wealth. This isn’t just about dollars and cents, either. It includes possessions too. Stay away from loving money!
Some of us might think, “I don’t have much money, so this isn’t a problem for me.” Careful - poor folks can have just as much (if not more) affection for money than rich folks can. In fact, many poor folks talk about money more than better-off people. I’ve heard poor people saying things like “if I just had more money, I’d...” The man with $5 to his name can be just as in love with the almighty dollar as someone with $5M to his name.
Loving money is a trap that we must avoid at all costs. What you pursue is what you become. If we pursue money, we will end up broke as well as broken. Instead of loving money, we must recognize God’s gracious provisions. He gives us all we need, and often more than we need.
Rather than pursuing more and more, we must learn to be content. This concept of contentment does not mean a passive acceptance. Being content is being satisfied. It’s recognizing that what you have is enough.
Some people struggle with contentment because they look at what they have and it’s not a whole lot. The pantry may not have much food in it. The car you drive may not be very reliable. It may be a struggle to make it from one paycheck to the next. I’ve been there. It’s hard to be satisfied when you’re struggling just to have enough. It’s hard to be satisfied when others seem to have plenty to spare and you don’t. It’s hard to be satisfied when you can’t figure out where the next meal will come from or even when it will be.
When we look at our problems and our lacks we cannot help but want something better. We begin to pursue what we think we need and we look at what we have thinking “this is not enough.”
Be Content with God’s Presence
Be Content with God’s Presence
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.”
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.
Be Content with God’s Support
Be Content with God’s Support
6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
The word for confidently also has the idea of courage.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”