Satisfied - Pt. 1

Opening Illustration:

In his classic monologue, comedian George Carlin riffed on the mountain of stuff we compile. His assertion is that “a house is just a pile of stuff with a cover on it.” So when you get right down to it, your house is nothing more than a place to keep your stuff . . . while you go out and get . . . more stuff. ’Cause that’s what this country is all about. Trying to get more stuff. Stuff you don’t want, stuff you don’t need, stuff that’s poorly made, stuff that’s overpriced. Even stuff you can’t afford! Gotta keep on getting more stuff. So you keep gettin’ more and more stuff, and puttin’ it in different places. In the closets, in the attic, in the basement, in the garage. . . . So now you got a houseful of stuff. And, even though you might like your house, you gotta move. Gotta get a bigger house. Why? Too much stuff!

Welcome this morning to a new series we are calling “Satisfied - A journey to Contentment”.

Our plan over the next 4-5 weeks is to look at this crucial subject and learn how that being grounded in the Gospel leads to contentment.

Over the next several weeks, we will see how the scriptures drive home the truth and ability to be:

Content with our Possessions

Content with our People

Content with our Position in Christ

CONTENTMENT can be defined as:

Internal satisfaction which does not demand changes in external circumstances.

The voice of contentment says, “I’m okay with it and I’m okay without it. I would like it, it would be nice, but

I do not need it in order to be whole.

Contentment is having a heart that is alive to God and the people around us even when we don’t have what we want.

Now before we go any further, I want to warn you.

When you enroll in the school of contentment, you’ll quickly learn it goes against our nature and our culture.

If I could give you a Word Pictures:

Salmon - going against the flow

Now the reality of our gathering each week is because we know there is something greater than our nature and our culture.

There is a Creator that is worthy of our all.

That Creator provided for us eternal life. A life that is reaches deeper into our being and extends further than anything or anyone else.

We gather together because of the Gospel!

Define the Gospel

God - Creator - sets rules

Man - Sinned and broke God’s Law

Jesus - Lived, died, and rose again

Response - Repentance and Faith

For many of us, we are either following hard after this gospel and the Christ who provided it - or we are still questioning the validity of it all.

For those following and still spectating:

The teachings of Jesus — his rather straightforward comments directed at our propensity to define our lives by what we own.

“Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

“You cannot serve both God and money.”

“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.”

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

One of the followers of Jesus, grasped the wealth of the Gospel in the midst of poverty. Turn with me please to two locations: Philippians 4 and 1 Timothy 6 .

Paul grasped the wealth of the Gospel when he wrote from Roman Incarceration in Philippians 4 these words:

Philippians 4:10–13 NKJV

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 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.

1 Timothy 6:6–10 NKJV

6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 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.

Theme verse for our series

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”