1 Timothy 6:6‑10 NIV— But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Contentment is one of the most distinguishing features of a godly person because he has his heart focused on God rather than on possessions, position or power.
The Greek word means, “self-satisfaction, sufficiency.”
It is the same word God used when He told Paul, “My grace is SUFFICIENT for you…”
It is the same word in…
2 Corinthians 9:8‑9 NIV— And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having ALL THAT YOU NEED, you will abound in every good work.
The CONTENTED saint knows the sufficiency of God’s PROVISION for all his needs and the sufficiency of God’s GRACE for his circumstances.
He believes that God will meet every material need in his life and that He will work all his circumstances for his good.
He has found satisfaction and rest in his soul.
We tend to think that contentment only refers to possessions or money, but there are other areas in which we need to be content as well.
We also need to be content with our POSITION in life or in the body of Christ.
Then we need to be content with the PROVIDENCE of God in relation to our physical attributes and limitations, unpleasant neighbors, living situations, trials and even persecutions.
Acts 5:41 NLT— The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus.
The CARNAL believer often murmurs and complains about his lot in life questioning the goodness of God.
The very first temptation in the Garden of Eden was an effort to sow discontentment.
satan basically told Eve, “God is keeping the good stuff for Himself.”
satan tried to do the same with Jesus when he tempted Him in the wilderness.
satan’s own downfall came as a result of his own discontent with his position
Discontentment is one of the most satanic of all sins because it causes us to rebel vs. God just as the devil did.
CONTENTMENT WITH POSSESSIONS
God puts a high priority on CONTENTMENT.
He lumps COVETOUSNESS right in there amongst murder, stealing and adultery in the 10 Commandments.
Jesus hits the subject in His most famous sermon.
Matthew 6:24 NKJV— No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
MAMMON is anything in which we put confidence to meet our needs other than God.
Jesus hits the subject again in Luke 12:15…
Luke 12:15 NIV— Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Paul gets into the act…
1 Timothy 6:10‑11 NLT— For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. But you, Timothy, belong to God; so run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good. Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
The writer of Hebrews concurs with Paul…
Hebrews 13:5 NLT— Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.”
God doesn’t just give us instructions… He gives us examples.
Romans 15:4 NIV— For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Remember Achan in Joshua 7? His covetousness cost 36 Israelites their lives as well as his own along with his children.
Remember Gehazi, Elisha’s servant in 2 Kings 5? He took the reward Naaman’s offered to Elisha and he and his descendants were forever cursed with leprosy.
And no one can forget Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5.
John makes it clear that a craving for possessions is being in love with the world.
1 John 2:15 NLT— Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you.
Lovers of the world are lost. They are not Christians. That’s more serious than leprosy.
CONTENTMENT is not an option if we are to train ourselves in GODLINESS.
How do we develop this godly quality in our lives?
- Pray
Psalm119:36‑37 NLT— Give me an eagerness for your decrees; do not inflict me with love for money! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through Your Word.
- Focus On The True Values of Life.
Mark 8:36‑37 NLT— And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul?
Young men spend their health trying to amass wealth. When they are old, they spend all their wealth trying to regain their health.
3. Serve God By Serving Man.
We are all ministers of God who do various jobs to pay the bills while we serve the Lord.
4. Remember That All We Have Comes From God As a Result of His Grace.
1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT— What makes you better than anyone else? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?
5. God Sovereignly Chooses To Give Some People More Wealth and Possessions Than Others.
Matthew 20:15 NIV— Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?
6. Remember That With Privilege Comes Responsibility.
Luke 12:48 NLT— Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given.
7. Contentment Comes When We Share What We Have With Others.
2 Corinthians 9:7‑8 NLT— You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
CONTENTMENT WITH POSITION
There are no small jobs in the Kingdom of God.
There is no difference between SECULAR and SACRED.
God places us where He wants us… how He wants us… and when He wants us.
Romans 9:20‑21 NLT — Who are you, a mere human being, to criticize God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who made it, “Why have you made me like this?” When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?
I become content when I realize that an all-loving, all-wise, sovereign God has put me where I am, not people, or circumstances.
I become content when I realize that I don’t deserve to be where I am.
I become content when I realize that I am a part of His Body and that every part is indispensable.
Ephesians 4:16 NLT— Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
I become content when I bloom where I am planted.
CONTENTMENT WITH THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD
God does not ZAP us with contentment. It is learned.
Philippians 4:11 NKJV— Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.
Paul knew the secret of contentment.
2 Corinthians12:9 NIV— But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
95% of all people interviewed said that they would change their physical appearance if they could.
We all murmur and complain. Physical problems, relationship problems, problems period.
I become content when I realize that God’s grace is sufficient.
I become content when I know that I am where I am, and I am who I am because God made me exactly who and what He wanted me to be.
“Lord, give me the grace to accept myself, my position, my appearance and my lot in life with joy and gladness that I am pleasing to You. That’s all that matters. Your grace is sufficient. And I can all things thru Christ Who strengthens me. Amen.”
Blessings,
Kenny
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