Happy and content

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. NIV

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” NIV

“Why Didn’t I Say Ten Pounds?”

Coming downstairs one morning, Lord Congelton heard the cook exclaim, “Oh, if I only had five pounds, wouldn’t I be content!” Thinking the matter over, and anxious to see the woman satisfied, he shortly after handed her a five-pound note, then worth about twenty-five dollars. She thanked him profusely. He paused outside the door to hear if she would express her satisfaction and thanks to God. As soon as his shadow was invisible, she cried out, “Why didn’t I say ten?”

One hundred years ago it was figured that the average person had 70 wants. A similar survey taken recently showed people had nearly 500 on his list. (our orphanage experience)

·        Godliness with contentment is great gain.

con•tent•ed

: Feeling or showing satisfaction with one’s possessions, status, or situation

• v:7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
• Some people the goal seems to be who can die with the most stuff.

·        People who want to get rich fall into temptation (bait) and a trap (foot in)

§  Easy to get into, hard to get out.

o   BIG Question “Why do people want to be rich?”

·         Security,

§  I don’t want to be rich, just have the normal things in life. What is that?

·         V:8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

§  We make ourselves susceptible to these temptations because we are looking for wealth as a goal in life.

·         Life’s goals – to be rich?

o   Famous to be influential or rich?

o   Doctor, Lawyer, etc… used to be to help people now to make a lot of money.

Matthew 6: 19-25, 31-33 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? …

31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  NIV

·        Into many foolish and harmful desires

o   For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

§  Not only the treasure that you have but the treasure that you seek after.

o   Many foolish and Harmful desires (taking over the passion of your heart)

§  Foolish – silly buying, competitive buying, consumerism trap, junk collectors.

§  Harmful – over spending, big debt, addiction, gambling…

Dr. Wilbur Chapman had this which he called ““My rule for Christian living.” The rule that governs my life is this: anything that dims my vision of Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it.”

o   that plunge men Into ruin and destruction

§  Distraction from true purpose – over involved in other activities

§  Time wasters – having everything means you will need the time to play with it, maintain it, repair it.

§  Overeating

§  Hopeless search Pursuit of happiness or contentedness by what money can buy.

·        For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.

o   Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

o   This sin is not only committed by the rich.

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” NIV

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

• Who you serve is the one that you are devoted to and love.
• Serving the God of money is serving yourself.
• How do I know if I am serving myself?
• Test: what I do with what I have now shows me what I would do if I had more.
• If I spend what little I have on me, then if I had more I would spend more on me. If I give generously from what I have now, I will do the same with more. This reveals which direction my heart is pointed.

1. I can trust God that if he can provide it.
2. If I don’t get it he gives me the grace to live without it. (I can do all)

Philippians 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. NIV

Communion

1Cor.10:14 So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. 15 You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true. 16 When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? 17 And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. 18 Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?

19 What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? 20 No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. 21 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. 22 What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?