Contentment Vs. Complacency

Intro

What’s up Guys, we’re so thankful for the opportunity to host yall this evening! Though i’ve met a lot of you, if we haven’t met yet, i’m matt, and i’m the student Pastor here at Gilliam.

A little bit of back story about me. I grew up in Boaz, and graduated from there in 2008. I then went on and did the whole college and grad school thing after that. Like most of yall, I grew up as an athlete. And tonight, I want to talk to yall from two different perspectives. The first is from that Athletic Perspective, and the second is from the Perspective of a Disciple of Jesus.

Going into my Senior Year in High School, me and my best friend Alex were considered two of the fastest Hurdlers in Alabama. Our Senior Football Season had come and Gone, we made it to the first round of the playoffs and were put out by the eventual State Champion Deshler High School. So for us, this was it.

We had come up just short of state the year before, and it was our time! And believe me, we were hearing it. From every direction, we were being told how good a year we were going to have, and how there wasn’t anyone in the region, or even classification that stood in our way, and truth be told they were right.

We went through the season, and were going 1,2, or 3 in every meet. Then sectionals come, Alex has had the edge on me all year. We go to sectionals, and I beat him. Not only do i beat him, I post the fastest time in the state heading into State, and I qualify for 3 other events as well. Alex only qualifies for 3.

At this moment, two very different things happened.

The First thing that Happened was that:

I became Complacent

I had been working so hard to get to this point, and i had allowed my understanding of my goal to get skewed along the way.

Between the sectional meet and the state meet, I allowed the success that i had already had, and the voices all around me to convince me that i had this thing in the bag.

What was the point of even running the race? I had already won!

That’s where it started. I worked in practice to maintain. I was laughing with my buddies, and jogging through reps.

I was “On the Fence” Half-way in and Half-way out.

The book of revelation talks about the person who “rides the fence” spiritually

God says:

Revelation 3:15–16 CSB

15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.

That’s some vivid imagery in the Bible, but it’s important for us to hear!

We are never meant to ride the fence with anything in this life. It’s dangerous. Have yall ever tried climbing a fence, and slipping half way over? 😳 There is some damage done.

In all seriousness though, i’ve heard people say “I’m not hurting anyone by jogging.” “What i do doesn’t affect anyone, but me.” This is a lie from the enemy.

Our Actions and motivation has an effect on the people around you.

This is even more true when we look at it from a Spiritual lense. God makes it plainly clear, that he would rather people just be completely out, than halfway in. At least then, we know where we stand. And we can work from there to get all in.

Ya’ll are undefeated. That’s awesome, it’s something to celebrate, but it has absolutely no bearing on what happens out there tomorrow night. ZERO

You may be wandering what the second thing that happened after that sectional meet my senior year?

When I was Complacent,

Alex was Content

but not in the way that you may think. You see, a lot of people try to say that these two words mean the same thing. NO,NO,NO, That couldn’t be further from the truth.

You see Complacency is Lazy and self assuring

Contentment comes from trusting in the Lord, working, and knowing that you’ve done all that you could have done.

It’s in the book of Philippians, where we find one of the most twisted verses in all of the Bible.

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

I have heard this verse quoted out context more times than i can count. And the message usually goes something like this. God is going to go out here, and help us run faster, jump higher, and lead us to victory....

This is not what paul is talking about at all!

In order to understand this verse, we have to know it’s context. Paul is writing from a roman prison. A roman prison from which he is almost certain he will only leave in order to be executed. And in this passage or scripture. He’s talking about being Content in the Lord. About accepting whatever fate the Lord deems worthy. Paul has worked his but off, traveling, teaching, and telling people about Jesus. He was faithful to the very end of his life.

Paul wrote most of the new testament, started a ton of churches, is largely responsible for a ton of people surrendering their lives to Jesus. It would have been easy for him to have just decided that what he had already accomplished was enough. That he was happy with what he had done, but He didn’t.

Paul Didn’t skip reps. He wanted to give everything that he had to Jesus! Not because he thought He could earn anything, but because to Him Jesus was worth it!

Philippians 4:13 is not about God granting super powers to his people, but about encouraging his children when their backs are against the walls.

While i was jogging, Alex was grinding. While I was cutting up, and skipping reps, Alex was staying after practice for more.

That was the difference between my Bronze Medal, And Alex’s State Championship Gold.

Are y’all happy where you are? Are you happy with being 4-0, Are you happy with your effort? Are you happy with where you are spiritually?

Guys, it took me a long time to realize that complacency is a cancer. It’s eats away at our drive, and our spirit.

So I have 2 questions to leave you with.

Are you Complacent?

Have you gotten to where you wanna go, and now are satisfied, now you’re done?

Or are you Content?

You trust your Coaches

You trust your Preparation

You’ve done right by your teammates

and You are ready to leave everything that you have on the Field!

On our teams, in our relationships, in our pursuit of Jesus Let us remember Paul’s words in

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.