Contentment

Introduction

As we make our way into the Christmas season, we must realize that in addition to the joys that come with seeing relatives, giving gifts as expressions of love and appreciation, and ___, we must also realize that there are dangers that come with the Christmas Season. There are 4 main dangers associated with Christmas time. We will discuss all of them, but we are going to deal specifically with the fourth one.

Theological Danger

Evangelistic Danger

Economical Danger

Emotional Danger

The fourth danger associated with the Christmas season is an emotional danger. Specifically, the danger of discontentment.

How many of you, over the years, have had expectations as to what you were getting for Christmas? How many of those expectations were realized? I know for me, every year I would not so subtly hint at what I wanted for Christmas, whether is was a PSP or Xbox, or a movie, or a toy car, etc. I would ask for certain gifts, and then I would go and peak at the names on the tags of all the presents to see what ones were mine. I would then try to see if those packages looked like they might be what I had asked for. I would feel them, check their weight, shake them, and do anything I could to see if I could figure out if they were what I had asked for. Come Christmas day, I generally had one or two of the “smaller things” I had requested, but unfortunately, most of the bigger things proved to be too much for my parents to reasonably supply, though there were times they sacrificed in a big way to get us some really nice gifts. Every year, if I wasn’t careful, I would come away from the present exchange disappointed and discontented because I didn’t get what I wanted, or because someone else got something cooler.

Short story: Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” Christmas Edition- Studio C

Even today, as adults, if we aren’t careful we can find ourselves doubting God’s provision in our lives regarding finances, or material possessions, or the gifts that we receive.

says “Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have, for He hath said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

- The word “covetous” in this passage is often translated as “love of money” in other translations, and indeed it is fitting, but a translation of “covetousness” fits better with the author’s intended meaning of general contentment. The writer is saying, “Don’t let your life be characterized by discontentment, but rather, be content with what God has given you, because He has given you Himself, and that’s enough.

What does conversation mean in this passage?

Is not a specific reference to the way we talk, but rather encompasses the way we live our lives in general. “Conversation” is a substitute word for “lifestyle”.

What is covetousness?

Covetousness is not merely desire, but rather, it is a desire that produces discontentment. The primary issue with covetousness is not desire, but discontent. It’s telling God that He has failed in some way to give you what you need to be happy and serve Him.

New Truck vs. Old Truck - Kids vs. No Kids

The word “covetous” in this passage is often translated as “love of money” in other translations, and indeed it is fitting, but a translation of “covetousness” fits better with the author’s intended meaning of general contentment. The writer is saying, “Don’t let your life be characterized by discontentment, but rather, be content with what God has given you”,

because He has given you Himself, and that’s enough.

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible III. Concluding Exhortations (13:1–19)

Sexual impurity and the love of money (Heb. 13:4–6) are linked elsewhere (1 Cor. 6:9–10; Eph. 5:6) as sins of dissatisfaction with God’s provision and thus sins of unbelief, as the citations from Deuteronomy 31:6 and Psalm 118:6–7 demonstrate

The author’s appeal for contentment is based on God’s work on our behalf, namely salvation, but also the provision of everything we need to live Godly lives ( cf. , ) In other words, the author is saying, “Learn to be content because God has given you Himself, and that’s enough.” Game consoles break, toys get old and lose their appeal, painting and pictures fade, clothes tear, cars break and need services, gadgets short out, and money comes and goes, God will stay forever.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 13

He will neither withdraw His presence (“never leave thee”) nor His help (“nor forsake thee”)

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- Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), .

, , -

But 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 raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and ffollow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in jthe living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), .

Conclusion