Contentment

Hosea 13:4–14 KJV 1900

Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, And thou shalt know no god but me: For there is no saviour beside me. I did know thee in the wilderness, In the land of great drought. According to their pasture, so were they filled; They were filled, and their heart was exalted; Therefore have they forgotten me. Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: As a leopard by the way will I observe them: I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, And will rend the caul of their heart, And there will I devour them like a lion: The wild beast shall tear them. O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? And thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? I gave thee a king in mine anger, And took him away in my wrath. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid. The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: He is an unwise son; For he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children. I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

I. What causes discontentment?

A. Abundance v.6

B. Wrong Priorities

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

C. Wrong Love

Isaiah 26:3 KJV 1900

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee: Because he trusteth in thee.

II. The Recipe for Contentment.

A. We must recognize the source of our provisions. v.9

Philippians 4:19 KJV 1900

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

B. We must recognize the source of our Protection. v. 10

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

I heard a pastor today and he said that as he drives, often his wife and kids are nervous and even scream for no reason. However, when they are tired enough they will all lay back and go to sleep.

This is the same way with God. We are nervous and distrusting yet, he has never let us down. Contentment comes when we get tired enough of fighting and just lay back and rest in his arms.

There is great peace in allowing God to have control while trusting him.

C. We should seek a heavenly Profit.

Matthew 6:20 ESV

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

We can have contentment when we recognize that our reward is not of this world.

There is no necessity for worldly accolades. Neither is there a need for reward in this life, although God rewards us greatly. Yet there is a need for an eternal reward.

If we lack contentment it may be due to the fact we are building treasures that do not have purpose or lasting value.

III. The Joy of Contentment.

A. It will keep you close to God.

1 Timothy 6:6 ESV

But godliness with contentment is great gain,

B. It will keep us safe. V.14

C. It will bring us into the favor of God.

Psalm 37:3–5 KJV 1900

Trust in the Lord, and do good; So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.