Choose Contentment Over Comparison

TEXT: Philippians 4:10-13

INTRODUCTION: One fellow who was on the old game show, 'Let's Make a Deal' told of his experience. He had been visiting  friends when it was suggested that they get dressed up and go to the show. They never expected to win anything, but thought it would be lots of fun. Turns out that he won $500. After the show, he was in a room with the other winners to sign legal releases and the like. He was thinking that he wished he had won the 'Big Deal', the woman who had won the 'Big Deal' was complaining that the furniture didn't match the decor of her home.

Do you get the picture? They both had won things, but they began to compare and grew discontented over the blessings that they had received. Comparison causes us to be discontented!

People are discontented with their jobs, and employers are discontented with their workers. Husbands and wives discontented with one another keep the divorce courts filled with such cases. Families are destroyed because parents are discontented with their children and children feel the same way toward their parents. It is true in the business world, politics, sports, and, perhaps, the greatest tragedy of all-the local churches! The challenge this morning is for us to choose contentment over comparison.

I.                   What Contentment Is Not

Amos 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!

A.       It is not complacency

1.      To be complacent one is satisfied with self

Several years ago a young Frenchman captured the attention of the world by walking a tightrope between the towers of New York's World Trade Center (1350 feet high). A few months later, however, while practicing on a relatively low wire in St. Petersburg, Florida, he fell 30 feet and was injured. As he lay waiting for help, he reportedly beat his fist on the ground saying, "I can't believe it! I can't believe it! I never fall!"

Complacency is a blight that saps energy, dulls attitudes, and causes a drain on the brain. The first symptom is satisfaction with things as they are. The second is rejection of things as they might be. "Good enough" becomes today's watchword and tomorrow's standard. Complacency makes people fear the unknown, mistrust the untried, and abhor the new. Like water, complacent people follow the easiest course -- downhill. They draw false strength from looking back. 

2.      It carries the idea of no longer caring about what happens

3.      To resign or give up on life

4.      Not to become complacent in the Christian life

a)      Satisfied with only salvation

b)      Not interested in growing as a Christian

c)      Just come to church

B.        It is not the natural attribute of sinful man

1.      Note: v11 "...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

2.      Contentment is something we must learn.

3.      We learn by practice and we know by experience.

C.       It is not having everything that we think we might enjoy

Years ago, Russell Conwell told of an ancient Persian, Ali Hafed, who "owned a very large farm that had orchards, grain fields, and gardens... and was a wealthy contented man." One day a wise man from the East told the farmer all about diamonds and how wealthy he would be if he owned a diamond mine. Ali Hafed went to bed that night a poor man--poor because he was discontented. Craving a mine of diamonds, he sold his farm to search for the rare stones. He traveled the world over, finally becoming so poor, broken, and defeated that he committed suicide. One day the man who purchased Ali Hafed's farm led his camel into the garden to drink. As his camel put its nose into the brook, the man saw a flash of light from the sands of the stream. He pulled out a stone that reflected all the hues of the rainbow. The man had discovered the diamond mine of Golcanda, the most magnificent mine in all history. Had Ali Hafed remained at home and dug in his own garden, and then instead of death in a strange land, he would have had acres of diamonds.

A man became envious of his friends because they had larger and more luxurious homes. So he listed his house with a real estate firm, planning to sell it and to purchase a more impressive home. Shortly afterward, as he was reading the classified section of the newspaper, he saw an ad for a house that seemed just right. He promptly called the realtor and said, "A house described in today's paper is exactly what I'm looking for. I would like to go through it as soon as possible!" The agent asked him several questions about it and then replied, "But sir, that's your house you’re describing."

1.      Foolishly, I used to think that as long as I had a job that would provide me with enough money to buy the things I wanted, then I would be content

Eccles. 2:10-11 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

a)      Solomon learned by practice and knew by experience that satisfaction and contentment cannot be found in things.

b)      A grave marker was observed with this inscription:

c)      SHE DIED FOR WANT OF THINGS: HE DIED TRYING TO GIVE THEM TO HER.

Eccles. 5:10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

Psalm 62:10 Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

II.          What Contentment Is

Be content with what you have, never with what you are.

A.       It is shifting the source of our contentment from without to within

1.      Paul said, "...In whatsoever state I am..."

2.      The word 'contentment' comes from the word 'containment' which describes a person who is 'self-contained'.

3.      That is, he is able to derive satisfaction from his inner resources, rather than from external resources.

a)      Because he has Christ in his life.

Col. 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

B.        It is not a result of having great wealth, but in having few wants

1.      Contented folks are satisfied with their lot in life, while others want a lot more!

Philip. 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

2.      Contentment is not having everything we want, but is enjoying everything we have.

III.       How Can We Choose To Be Content?

A.       Paul's Example. v10-13

1.      Rejoice in the Lord!

a)      In the way that this church was taking care of him.

b)      It wasn't a question of Paul wanting...

2.      He had learned contentment!

a)      Whether was abounding or was being abased.

b)      Whether he was full or was hungry.

c)      Whether he was suffering a need or having his needs met.

3.      The power of Jesus Christ was enough to strengthen him in all things.

a)      This verse has been taken out of context as some sort of magic formula to do the impossible.

b)      However, Paul was talking about dealing with contentment.

c)      Jesus Christ is able to make us content regardless of our circumstances!

B.        We can be content because Philippians 4:19

1.      There is the great Provider: God Himself. No matter what the need is, the need is not greater than God. God can and will meet the need. But note the pronoun “my.” It is “my God” who shall provide for the needs. A person has to make sure...that the God who can really provide for needs is his God.that he knows God personally—well enough that he can trust and depend upon God to meet his need.

2.      There is the great assurance of provision: “my God shall supply.” There is no question about the provision being supplied. God is God; therefore, He is able to provide, and He will supply whatever provision His dear child needs.

3.      There is the great provision: “all your needs.” This promise does not refer only to the physical needs for food, clothing, and shelter. It refers to mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. It refers to any need that arises, engulfs, or confronts the believer. No need will be omitted or overlooked. No need is too big or too little. No need is unimportant—not to God, not if His dear child is really experiencing the need.But no matter what the trial or need is, God will supply all our needs.

4.      There is the great resource: “according to His riches in glory.” Take all the riches and wealth, glory and majesty of heaven—it is all available to meet the needs of God’s dear people. There is no limit to the great resources at God’s disposal. God can provide for any need.

5.      There is the great Mediator: “by Christ Jesus.” This is critical to note, for God does nothing apart from Christ. No person can approach God without coming to Him through Christ Jesus. This is the key to having our needs met: surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ, and asking God to meet our needs in Him. We must always remember that God has only one begotten Son: the Lord Jesus Christ. God loves Christ so much that He will do anything for the person who honors Christ by sacrificially giving to share the glorious news about Him.

C.       We must center our lives around Jesus Christ.

1 Thes. 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Tim. 6:6-8 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

1.      The Word of God instructs us to be content...

a)      with our jobs and wages

b)      with our circumstances

c)      with our financial status

d)     with our marriage partner

D.       We should never be content...

1.      With our knowledge of God's Word.

2.      With our service to the Lord.

3.      With the amount of time we spend in prayer.

4.      With our level of giving unto the work of God, or.....

5.      With the number of people we are reaching with the Gospel.

CONCLUSION: Are we comparing or are we contented? Comparing will only bring dissatisfaction and heartache. Contentment will bring joy, peace, and fulfillment. It is time we choose to learn to be contented. If you do not know Christ as your Savior, you will never know true contentment. Do you need to come today?