The Secret To Christian Living
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· 12 viewsChristian living requires contentment, flexability, and spiritual strength
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IT REQUIRES CONTENTMENT (v.11)
IT REQUIRES CONTENTMENT (v.11)
THE SECRET TO CONTENTMENT
THE SECRET TO CONTENTMENT
Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
Contentment is an illusive commodity today. In fact, much of the business world works hard to breed dis-content so that we will buy their product and keep the economy healthy. They tell us something is "new and improved" so we will feel that we have less than the best and are somehow "behind the times." Gambling institutions (including lottery officials) show us pictures of what we could do with the winnings of the lottery. They are deliberately trying to make us feel dis-satisfied with life by playing to our greed. They want us to believe that we are not significant if we don't have the best and the newest.
Paul was in prison but content (1:12-17)
Paul wanted to die, yet content (1:21)
Let me give you a prominent example. In sports your contract is no longer a matter of making a sufficient living. Contracts are no longer about needs . . . .they are about how much you get compared to the other guy. The athlete who gets a multi-million long term contract this year will want to re-negotiate in a couple of years because others are getting so much more than he/she. It's not about money, it is significance.
But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
1 Tim. 6:6-8
The problem with this mentality is that you are never satisfied. And if you are never satisfied, then you are able to enjoy life fully because you feel deprived. Let me give you my definition of what the Bible means by contentment: Contentment is a state of satisfaction that is anchored to our confidence in God that results in a joyful celebration of life.
1. IT REQUIRES FLEXIBILITY (v.11-12)
1. IT REQUIRES FLEXIBILITY (v.11-12)
godliness can be robbed of its strength if not coupled with contentment
brought nothing in and we can’t take anything out
He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.
For when he dies he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.
true gain is godliness. Don’t spend all your time storing up for yourselves treasures on earth that you can’t take with you
19 “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 neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Paul was content with the bare necessities, that only happens when the most precious thing to you is a relationship with God
when we are not content Paul gives 5 problems that the person who is obsessed with money
temptation - enticement to sin
snare - a trap that catches
foolish desires - senseless in view of the value of godliness
harmful desires - destroys the quest for godliness
plunge men into ruin and destruction - sinking and drowning
6:10 - some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith
a. Content – independent and self-sufficient
Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
i. Not on my own and in my own
IT REQUIRES FLEXIBILITY (v. 12)
IT REQUIRES FLEXIBILITY (v. 12)
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
b. Paul was in prison but content (1:12-17)
b. Paul was in prison but content (1:12-17)
c. Paul wanted to die, yet content (1:21)
c. Paul wanted to die, yet content (1:21)
But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
d.
d.
i. godliness can be robbed of its strength if not coupled with contentment
i. godliness can be robbed of its strength if not coupled with contentment
ii. we brought nothing in and we can’t take anything out
ii. we brought nothing in and we can’t take anything out
He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
1. NASB95 He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
1. NASB95 He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
2. NASB95 As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.
2. NASB95 As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.
3. NASB95 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.
3. NASB95 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.
iii. true gain is godliness. Don’t spend all your time storing up for yourselves treasures on earth that you can’t take with you
iii. true gain is godliness. Don’t spend all your time storing up for yourselves treasures on earth that you can’t take with you
1. NASB95 19 “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 neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
1. NASB95 19 “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 neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
iv. Paul was content with the bare necessities, that only happens when the most precious thing to you is a relationship with God
iv. Paul was content with the bare necessities, that only happens when the most precious thing to you is a relationship with God
v. when we are not content Paul gives 5 problems that the person who is obsessed with money has
v. when we are not content Paul gives 5 problems that the person who is obsessed with money has
1. temptation - enticement to sin
1. temptation - enticement to sin
2. snare - a trap that catches
2. snare - a trap that catches
3. foolish desires - senseless in view of the value of godliness
3. foolish desires - senseless in view of the value of godliness
4. harmful desires - destroys the quest for godliness
4. harmful desires - destroys the quest for godliness
5. plunge men into ruin and destruction - sinking and drowning
5. plunge men into ruin and destruction - sinking and drowning
vi. 6:10 - some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith
vi. 6:10 - some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith
vii. NASB95 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
vii. NASB95 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
e. Paul was poor at times and rich at times
f. Paul was hungry and filled at times
g. Paul had abundance at times and suffered at times
i. “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (, NASB95)
2. REQUIRES SPIRTUAL STRENGTH (v.13)
a. Strength that comes from God
i. “not that I speak from want” - he is not dependent on human help
ii.
b. Empowers one to do all things
i. Paul’s unseen source of sufficiency is inexhaustible
ii.
iii.
iv.
c. In every possible circumstance he finds strength in the vital union only Christ can supply
d. Available for all (4:19)
e. Through Christ we have all the power we need to handle the ups and downs of life
i. I can
1. ““Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (, NASB95)
2. All things with him, nothing without him
ii. Love – brethren/enemies (v1)
iii. Forgive and be reconciled (v.2)
iv. Be a peacemaker (v.3)
v. I can rejoice – in every circumstance (v.4)
vi. I can be gentle and gracious (v.5)
vii. I can overcome worry (v.6-7)
viii. I can control my thoughts (v.8)
ix. I can be content in every situation
f. Paul depended on the power of Christ at work in his life (see , ; ; )[1]
i. “Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (, NASB95)
3. What keeps us from being content
a. Being rich “‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,” (, NASB95)
b. I want it and I want it now (culture)
c. compare ourselves with others (facebook)
d. to always want more than we have (remember Adam and Eve?)
e. to interpret someone else's good fortune as coming at our expense
f. to complain
it is hard to feel satisfied, confident and joyful when,
others ridicule uswhen we are falsely accusedwhen the medical test results are not encouragingwhen someone gets promoted to the position that we wanted (and felt we deserved)when our plans are suddenly changedwhen loss comes barging into our lifewhen a loved one tells you they are walking awaywhen a financial investment falls on it's face
It's tough to feel content when life is not going the way you want it to be going.
g. Live completely in the present, don’t live in the should could would.
h. Stop looking around and start looking up
i. Value what God values
j. Trust God
k. Thank God ()
[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 98). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.