A CALL TO BE CONTENT

INTRODUCTION

In this final chapter of The Epistle To The Hebrews , we have noticed exhortations..

To let brotherly love continue (Heb 13:1)

To show love toward strangers (Heb 13:2)

To remember those in prison and others who are mistreated (Heb 13:3)

To hold marriage in honor, abstaining from fornication and adultery (Heb 13:4)

We now find a warning against covetousness

Hebrews 13:5a

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness (KJV) - or - Be ye free from the love of money (ASV)

The previous verse was a warning against “the lust of the flesh” (immorality)

Here we have a warning against “the lust of the eyes” (materialism)

Both of which are contrary to the love of the Father...

1 John 2:15–17 KJV 1900

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Covetousness - a strong desire for material things - is strongly condemned in the Bible...

Jesus said it defiles a man, and that we should beware of it…

Mark 7:21–23 KJV 1900

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Luke 12:15 KJV 1900

15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Paul taught that covetousness...

Will keep one out of the kingdom of God - 1 Cor 6:9-10

Like fornication, should not even be named among us - Eph 5:3

Is nothing less than idolatry - Eph 5:5; Col 3:5

The antidote to covetousness is contentment...

Hebrews 13:5b–6

5 …be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear what man shall do unto me?

If we are content, then we won’t be covetous

Contentment is therefore an important virtue for Christians to develop...

But what is “contentment”?

What is the key to being content?

In this lesson, “A Call To Be Content”, we shall seek to answer these questions, using the text of our lesson (Heb 13:5-6) and other scriptures that deal with the subject of contentment...

DISCUSSION

THE VIRTUE OF CONTENTMENT

Contentment Defined

The English word “content” means “desiring no more than what one has”

The Greek word is arkeo, which means “to be satisfied”

When one is content, satisfied with what they have - covetousness no longer becomes a problem!

The Value of Contentment

From the pen of uninspired men...

“He is richest who is content with the least.” (Socrates)

“He is well paid that is well satisfied.” (William Shakespeare )

“He who is content can never be ruined.” (Chinese Proverb)

“He who wants little always have enough.” (Johann Georg Zimmerman)

“If you are not satisfied with a little, you will not be satisfied with much.” (Unknown)

“The contented man is never poor, the discontented never rich.” (George Eliot)

Paul wrote that “...godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim 6:6)

Godliness, which is godly living expressed in devotion to God, is of great value only when accompanied with contentment

For as we have seen, covetousness (a lack of contentment) would render any service to God of no value

Contentment Exemplified

In Fanny Crosby (1820-1925), a blind songwriter who wrote:

O What a happy soul am I! Although I cannot see,

I am resolved that in this world Contented I will be;

How many blessings I enjoy

That other people don’t!

To weep and sigh because I’m blind, I cannot, and I won’t.

In Helen Keller (1880-1968); blind, deaf, and mute, yet she wrote:

They took away what should have been my eyes,

(But I remembered Milton’s Paradise)

They took away what should have been my ears,

(Beethoven came and wiped away my tears)

They took away what should have been my tongue,

(But I talked with God when I was young)

He would not let them take away my soul,

Possessing that, I still possess the whole.

In the aged prisoner, Paul the apostle...

Who saw how his imprisonment accomplished much good...

Philippians 1:12–14 KJV 1900

12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Who had learned contentment…

Philippians 4:10–12 KJV 1900

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

The virtue of contentment richly blessed the lives of these and countless others.

But has Paul indicated, contentment is something “learned”.

How then does one develop contentment?

THE KEY TO CONTENTMENT

Trusting in God’s Providential Care

This is the reason given in our text for us to be content...

Hebrews 13:5–6 KJV 1900

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

God has promised never to leave nor forsake us

With the Lord as our helper, what can man do? ...

1 John 4:4 KJV 1900

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

This is the reason Jesus gave for us not to worry...

Matthew 6:25–32 KJV 1900

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

We are of greater value to God than the birds or flowers

He providentially cares for them, will He not do the same for us?

The key to receiving this care is to put God’s will first in our lives...

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

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

Contentment comes, then, when we trust that God will provide what we need!

The key to contentment is Knowing What You Can’t Take With You

As Paul discussed contentment, he pointed out certain truths...

1 Timothy 6:7 KJV 1900

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

We brought nothing into this world

It is certain we can carry nothing out! (have you ever seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul trailer?)

Why then become anxious or worked up over things...

That at best are only temporary

That will wear out, be stolen, or left behind (or burned up at the coming of the Lord)

2 Peter 3:10 KJV 1900

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Contentment comes, then, from knowing that material things are only temporary

The Key to Contentment is Realizing What is Truly Essential for Life

Paul also revealed what are the only true “essentials” to sustain life...

1 Timothy 6:8 KJV 1900

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

They are “food and clothing”

Anything beyond this is a “luxury”, for which we ought to be thankful

Since God has promised to provide food and clothing (Mt 6:25-33), we can rest knowing that our “essentials” will be provided

Contentment comes, then, by realizing what is truly “essential” for life, for then we will realize how richly blessed we really are!

The Key to Contentment is Understanding that Material Things Do Not Satisfy

Solomon observed this inadequacy of material things...

Ecclesiastes 5:10 KJV 1900

10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

Those who love silver (money) will never be satisfied

The same is true with those who love abundance (what money can buy)

Material things do not meet the true needs of the soul...

Ecclesiastes 6:7 KJV 1900

7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

Isaiah 55:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, And he that hath no money; Come ye, buy, and eat; Yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, And let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, Even the sure mercies of David.

God placed a longing in man, that man might seek for God...

Acts 17:26–27 KJV 1900

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

Sadly, many people try to fulfill that longing with material things

They never succeed, for only one thing can fulfill it: God Himself!

Contentment comes, then, from understanding that material things will never provide lasting satisfaction

Finally, True Contentment is a Gift from God

Here is another observation Solomon made in his search for life’s meaning:

The ability to enjoy the fruits of one’s labor is a gift from God...

Ecclesiastes 2:24–26 KJV 1900

24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? 26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 3:12–13 KJV 1900

12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:18–20 KJV 1900

18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. 19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. 20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

On the other hand, many are allowed to “gather” and “collect”, but will not enjoy the fruits of their labor...

Ecclesiastes 2:26 KJV 1900

26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 6:1–2 KJV 1900

1 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

God has the ability to provide lasting satisfaction...

Psalm 107:8–9 KJV 1900

8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, And filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

He promises to give that which truly satisfies (makes one content) (Isa 55:1-3)

And in Christ, He enables one to be content...

Philippians 4:11–13 KJV 1900

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Contentment comes, then, when God sees fit to bless us with that which truly satisfies: “the sure mercies of David” (i.e., the blessings promised through the coming Messiah)

CONCLUSION

The virtue of contentment is a wonderful blessing, one that comes from God Himself...

Whose Word reveals to us:

The temporary nature of material things

The inadequacy of material things to satisfy man

The things that are truly essential in life

Who has promised to us:

To never leave us nor forsake us

To provide the true essentials in life

To fill our soul with that which truly satisfies

To enable us to enjoy the material blessings we do acquire in life

But what God has promised is contingent upon what Jesus said...

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

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

If you desire to be truly content, you must set as your priority the Will of God; have you made His Will the primary focus of your life?