The Power of Contentment
Dig In Discipleship • Sermon • Submitted
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· 632 viewsTrusting in God is the key to learning contentment
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What do we know about contentment?
Principle- You Can Always Get What You Want
Let me explain - Contentment, Allowing your will to be aligned to Gods will.
Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
How does one develop contentment?
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 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. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Phi
Contentment is Only Found In Christ - for negative example
Only when we are satisfied in God, and God alone, will we be content and be able to embrace whatever He sends our way with joy and patience.
When our Contentment is found in Christ and not Circumstances he will Give us everything we need.
When you are satisfied in Christ, You are in Gods Will.
Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Genesis 13 - When I Trust God He will Give me everything I need.
Genesis 13 - When I Trust God He will Give me everything I need.
1. Having much can sometimes cause conflicts (5-7)
1. Having much can sometimes cause conflicts (5-7)
Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South. Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there Abram called on the name of the Lord. Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land. So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord. And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.” Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the Lord.
Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents. Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together. And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.
Don’t buy into the lie that more is better…
More = Happiness - Promotion, Money, Friends, Things
More = Busyness & Desire for More
Are you pursuing something right now that may cause conflict with your family, friends, or church later? Why must you have this possession, reward, or possession?
2. Value people over possessions (8-9)
2. Value people over possessions (8-9)
Who was the promise to?
So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”
Why would Abram Give lot best Choice?
So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”
Contentment & Experience (failed Experience Gen 12)
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
People Matter More than Possessions
Do You Believe that? Does your life reflect that?
Don’t value being right or exercising your rights over relationships.
You don't have to die on every hill, pick and choose when to take a stand.
3. Learn that greener grass is not always the best option. (10-13)
3. Learn that greener grass is not always the best option. (10-13)
We live by Faith & Not Sight
And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.
Gen
What do we know about Sodom?
Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.
Decisions based on appearence will lead to Compromise
Pleasant to eyes,
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
If the Grass always looks greener on the other side it might be time to water your grass. - Craig Groeschel
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
If the Grass always looks greener on the other side it might be time to water your grass. - Craig Groeschel
If the Grass always looks greener on the other side it might be time to water your grass. - Craig Groeschel
Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.
4. Rest in God's provision (14-18)
4. Rest in God's provision (14-18)
And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.” Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the Lord.
But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord. And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.” Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the Lord.
He had Gods Promise
He had Gods Presence
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
You don't have to get your way to solve a conflict. God has a better way. Trust Him. Look to Christ as your joy. Find your contentment in Him.
You don't have to get your way to solve a conflict. God has a better way. Trust Him. Look to Christ as your joy. Find your contentment in Him.