Contentment
Feb. 7, 2018
Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT)
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, [a] who gives me strength.
Matthew 6:25-26 (NLT)
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?
Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)
5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”[a]
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NLT)
6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.
When was the last time that you can honestly say that you felt content?
This morning as I was studying my bible, the Holy Spirit prompted me to look up the word contentment. The purpose for doing this was to see what words were used to describe its meaning. The words that stood out most to me were satisfaction and ease of mind. I found that interesting, in light of the fact that there are very few people in our society these days that are really satisfied with their lives, or that have ease of mind.
I think that we all would be amazed if we knew just how many people were diagnosed with ulcers each year, or other stress-related diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes, not to mention nervous breakdowns.
Most of us can’t recall a time when we were completely stress-free. We live in a very fast paced society which tries to demand that we do more, have more, and be more in order to measure up to its unrealistic expectations. When you live your life on this wheel it never stops, simply because nothing is ever enough.
Greed seems to be the new normal, which can play a great part in this also. Unfortunately, however, greed is the enemy of contentment. Which is ironic, because most people think that living like this will eventually lead them to contentment and actually it does the opposite. This lifestyle creates a desire to focus on our wants instead of our needs. Therefore, when our needs have been met, we are not as grateful and appreciative as we should be. This is usually because we are constantly reaching over them for our wants.
Please hear me well, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a better life for yourself and your family. It only becomes a problem when we fail to acknowledge and appreciate what God has already provided.
Contentment is when you can be completely OK with whatever God provides.
At some point, we must reevaluate our lives and ask ourselves, what is the true source of my discontentment? More times than not, we are looking for things and people to fill a void that only God can fill. In order to remain content, we must keep our eyes on Jesus and we must live in this world with an eternal and heavenly perspective, not a worldly one.
I encourage you to mark or highlight these three scriptures in your bible. They will help to bring your focus back into alignment with God’s eternal.
1 Peter 2:11 (NLT)
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
Philippians 3:20 (NLT)
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
1 Chronicles 29:15 (NLT)
15 We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.
Ladies, please know that God gave us an appreciation for beautiful things for a reason, and there is nothing wrong with owning some of them. Just keep in mind, that we are just traveling through, so don’t get too attached to your things. Pack light! This is not our destination. Heaven is our home.
Most importantly start to seek contentment, because where there is contentment there is peace, and remember that our God is the Prince of Peace. Seek contentment in eternal treasures, not worldly treasures. Allow God to be enough.
When you are totally satisfied being in His presence and doing His holy and perfect will, you will have contentment like you have never had before. Only God can truly quell your anxieties. Today why not decide to be at peace by resting in Him, this will truly be the first step on your journey to a life of contentment.
Luke 12:15 (NLT)
15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
