Contentment

I am supposed to talk with you guys today about learning contentment. Somebody tell me what contentment is?

From the Truth for Today commentary- “Contentment is sometimes misunderstood. Contentment is not complacency or a false peace based on ignorance. It is not pretending circumstances are good when they are bad. It is not just trying to see a positive side to every problem”

Content- ἀρκέω / autarkes- To be sufficient, to have enough

Diogenes was a philosopher that lived at the time of Alexander the Great. Diogenes lived in a small metal tube. The saying went- “A tube is large enough for Diogenes but the whole world is too small for Alexander”

I would assume that good people such as yourselves are aware that being content is important. Being content is Biblical. So, just go and be content… end of class :)

The apostle Paul

It’s not that easy.

Focus on the Family suggests.

Establish a reasonable standard of living

Establish a habit of giving

Establish a list of priorities

Develop a thankful attitude

Reject a fearful spirit

Trust in God’s promises

I wanted to share that with you because I believe it to be a helpful list. I also, want to share with you that I don’t believe any of those things will make you a content person.

Contentment is learned, but it isn’t learned through a certain sequence of practices, it is learned through the knowledge of our savior.

I want to spend the majority of our time today in 3 passages of scripture that will shed some major light on how we can learn contentment.

Philippians 4:11–13 ESV

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11–13 ESV

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Notice, one of the most well-known verses in all the Bible is talking about contentment. That he was able to be content because of Jesus.

Notice, one of the most well-known verses in all the Bible is talking about contentment. That he was able to be content because of Jesus.

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If you have a desire in your life to be a contented person, you need to learn more about Jesus.

If you have a desire in your life to be a contented person, you need to learn more about Jesus.

Paul spent time being well off in his life, and he spent time being broken and imprisoned. His contentment was not based on external circumstances.

Too many people find their contentment in Money, relationships, jobs, etc… If you do that, what happens to your contentment if those things are taken away?

By way of reminder, Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter.

Imagine witnessing with your own eyes what Paul did on the road to damascus, what could possibly mean more to you than growing closer to the one you now know as your king?

John 4:12–14 ESV

12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Jesus was having a conversation with this woman at the well. She was coming to draw water daily and Jesus mentioned to her that He could give her living water.

This woman who was drawing water from a well that Jacob had dug asked Him, are you greater than our Father Jacob?

Anytime we seek answers/sustenance from a source that isn’t Jesus, we will wind up unsatisfied.

Jesus was speaking to this woman who came day after day to get water (just like all of us need water) and He said he had the ability to satisfy her completely.

Jesus gave the reason why it would completely satisfy. Because partaking in Him, would lead to eternal life.

Mark 10:20–22 ESV

20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Rich young ruler. Great man. Misguided priorities.

Jesus knew that this man’s heart wasn’t quite right, and He loved him too much to keep it that way.

Ecclesiastes 6:7 ESV

7 All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.

No matter how rich, no matter how hard you work, no matter what goals you achieve, if those are the end, you’ll never be satisfied.

Jesus’ phrasing here is interesting. “You lack one thing”. In all the wealth of possessions that this rich young ruler had accumulated, he had forgotten something… a relationship with Jesus.

What being discontent reveals about me.

My walk with the Lord is sorely lacking.

In each of these passages, the key to being content (With prison, no money, Christ as the living water, and giving up possessions) all hinged on a relationship with Jesus.

When you find yourself struggling with being content with your lot in life (Job, friends, family, money, stuff) examine the amount of time you are spending with Jesus. chances are you are spending far more time dwelling on what you do not have than you are focusing on your king.

I do not trust God the way that I should.

Jesus famously said, In Mathew 6:33- “Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you”.. all these things meaning - all that you need.

Sometimes we are discontent because we feel like we don’t have what we need.

However, I believe that the majority of Christian’s struggles with a lack of contentment aren’t shallow (I need a brand new car) but are born out of concern for their future financial stability…

Philippians 4:6 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Prior to telling the church at Phillipi the secret to contentment, He Paul uses the imperative command to not be anxious about anything. But in everything to talk to God.

Paul is saying, simply, in all of your anxiety, pray, and trust God.

How can I learn to be content? The answer isn’t to get just a little bit more… The answer lies with building my relationship with Jesus and trusting God.