Contentment

“Discontent! Was there ever a time when there was so much restlessness in the world as there is today? We very much doubt it. Despite our boasted progress, the vast increase of wealth, the time and money expended daily in pleasure, discontent is everywhere. No class is exempt. Everything is in a state of flux, and almost everybody is dissatisfied. Many even among God’s own people are affected with the evil spirit of this age.”

I would say this is a pretty good description of what our world is like today.

Crazy thing about that quote, Arthur Pink wrote that more than 70 years ago. In 1952

Yet, the relevance of that statement continues today.

I would actually argue there is more restlessness today. We’re almost encouraged to be restless. Marketing campaigns telling you that you need something that you didn’t know existed before today, for a problem that you didn’t even know was a problem.

Or our ability to instantly access other peoples lives through our phones and the pressures that come with comparing your whole self and your whole life, while looking only to someone else’s carefully curated highlights.

‌The bombardment of news stories and tragedy’s. Who wouldn’t feel restless and disrupted by constantly being shown information on every negative thing that is happening around the world. Can our minds really manage the emotional and mental toll of knowing, let alone caring, about so many different things that are happening?

Stack that on top of the age old rest interrupters like job pressures, looking a certain way, helping our kids follow their dreams, following our own dreams.

And then you have pursuits of pleasure or escape like substance abuse, distractions, or maybe just simple neglect of our responsibilities.

Pick your poison, the list of things to make you feel discontent is endless.

Yet somehow, our desire for more keeps sending us back.

What I am here to talk about today, the part of this passage that will drive our study this morning, is this,

The New International Version (Chapter 13)

...be content with what you have, because God has said,“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Right here, we see the core of what the writer of Hebrews is calling us to do.

Be content. I will use the word contentment a lot today so let’s define it.

Contentment is the state of being satisfied with ones possessions, status, or situation.

Being content, is being satisfied. Fulfilled.

Take a moment and think about that definition. What is it like to be completely satisfied?

What does it feel like to be content?

When we think about the things that make us feel content, it’s no wonder we want more of them.

That’s because contentment is something good and beneficial that God wants us to experience. It is a gift God that wants us too be fulfilled in life.

When we think about times in our lives where we have been most satisfied, it’s likely that many of those times are good times. But God is not blind to the fact that not every part of our lives will be filled with happiness. In fact, some parts of our lives will be tragic and heartbreaking. Some times our life will be filled with sadness or frustration. Defeat or lose.

Yet scripture tells us that even in those times, we can be content.

It’s important to note that contentment and happiness are not the same thing.

God says that we can and should be content in all things. Whether times of joy, or times of sorrow.

It’s okay right now to be asking, “really. I should and can feel content in every circumstance, even the bad one?s How is that possible?”

Scripture tells us the secret here

“and be content with what you have, Because God says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

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Because.

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Whenever you see that Word in the Bible, underline it. Whether literally or in your mind, underline it. The writer is about to tell you the “Why” for what is being discussed, the reason for what was just said or commanded.

Slow down when you come to a “because”, it’s there to make sure you don’t just know the command or the argument, but that you know the “why”.

And what is the “why”, what is the “because” of contentment

God says He will “never leave you or forsake you” Forsake us meaning turn away, or abandon.

‌Knowing and experiencing that is the reason we can find fulfillment through all things. We are most satisfied in that “he will never leave nor forsake us”

*poof*. Sermon over.

If you don’t know, now you know.

I won’t be so naïve as to think that we’re done here. Just cause I’ve told you the “because”, doesn’t mean you’ve been filled up with a lifetime supply of contentment.

That’s just not how the Word of God works. Yes, we are justified once, and that holds for eternity. Yes, Jesus died once, rose from the grave once, and all those being done just once was enough.

But the impact of Biblical truth on our lives usually doesn’t function in the same way. The Holy Spirit often works much slower than that when it comes showing us the wisdom of God’s Word and how it changes our life. It is doing a deep work in our heart. A transforming work. And often, it’s not a quick or hasty work.

Think about getting physically healthier.

You go to the doctor, and she says “Your body needs you to treat it properly to foster healthy results. Take some vitamins, eat better, and get exercise.”

Just because you have the knowledge of what to do to get healthier doesn’t mean you just walk out of her office, do those things once and be like, “yep. Got my dose of doctor truth, did what she said, and I’m healthy now, forever”.

No.

Good health is something to be gained. It takes commitment, whether in getting healthy or continuing in efforts to remain healthy.

Contentment is similar in that.

1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV)

…godliness with contentment is great gain.

If we want the great gain that comes from godliness with contentment, we need to do similar to what we might do to get healthier.

Take the steps to reach it, and maintain it.

For contentment, that starts with a need to reach for a deeper understanding of the “because” part of this passage. If we want fulfillment, we are going to need to remember and experience God’s truth and be changed by it again and again and again.

But in grasping that truth and being changed by it… friends there is no shortage of obstacles that can get in the way of it.

See, contentment is not an exclusively “biblical” word. The concept, although uniquely defined in scripture, is used in many other places and forms throughout history and up to today.

That means, we need to address some of the ways other than pursuing knowing God, that the world might use to gain contentment and satisfaction.

Some of the ways we will see are clearly unhealthy, even counter to how God calls us to live. Some of them are actions that one would see and expect from one living in a Christlike way. And there is every example in-between.

But even the good things in this world will never be enough.

So let’s go through four types of worldly contentment that one might pursue.

The first type.

Types of Contentment

- “It’s all good.”

This is the laid back approach of contentment. Choosing to not care about something, or lack involvement, in order to enjoy the satisfaction of not having to worry or feel the pressure of whatever is not being addressed.

I had a friend in high school who once broke his leg. And in the name of being laid back, tough, and caring more about not caring, he never got it fixed. Just went about, trying to play off as if it was nothing. I remember him limping around school for weeks, refusing to go the doctor cause, as would put, “it would heal on its own”.

I will tell you, it did on it’s own.

And of course a few years after high school, having not seen him for a while, we hung out, and after briefly wondering why he walked sort of funny, I remembered that he had broken his leg and never went to the doctor so it didn’t heal properly.

But when I asked him about it, he reminded it was all good.

Now that may be an extreme example to many of you, but as I go through this list, know that some of them will make sense to you, some of them won’t. And the ones that don’t might make sense to you, might make sense to your neighbor, or vice versa.

Like how some people choose intentionally to stay out of politics, not vote, and not contribute, because they feel that “it doesn’t really effect me that much. Life will still be the same no matter who or what policy gets voted in.”

About half of you in the room went “hmmm, I can understand that” and the other half of you just shuddered.

The it’s all good type of complacency might even just be saying “i’m okay with my life the way it is. Job, friends, family, possessions. I’m not looking for more.

Maybe it’s just a matter of having given up on something that’s hard. Maybe its giving up on trying to better your life because there is just too much working against you.

Maybe it’s not following your conviction to love, care for, or help someone because you know that, after the initial guilt of denying your help, forgiveness or love, you’ll get over it.

“It’s all good. They’ll figure it out.”

The next type is

Types of Contentment

- “It’s all good”

- Temporary/Impulsive

This is that contentment that we aren’t regularly thinking about until we feel we need it, and then we really need it. It’s like a 6 year old’s bladder. They’ve almost forgotten it exists, as if life could go on without ever peeing again.

Until all of a sudden they remember 10 minutes into the car ride that “OH MY GOSH, DAD, I HAVE TO PEE NOW”

I gotta say, it likely has nothing to do with your bladder, but you already know what you sometimes seek for temporary, maybe even impulsive satisfaction.

Maybe it’s just moment, or an experience, something to make you feel good or help you escape for a bit.

An easy example of this might be Unhealthy eating or snacking habits.

Sometimes for me, it’s hopping on my phone and scrolling through the news, social media, email, Linkedin.

For some it’s substance abuse. Pornography.

Running away from responsibility when push comes to shove.

Maybe it’s thrill seeking.

Urgently seeking to spend time with someone that makes you feel happy.

Turning on your tv for some distraction.

Filling up that amazon cart.

Putting on a happy face to your spouse or friend to pretend that everything is okay, because even though you feel completely hopeless, “right now you don’t”

Types of Contentment

- “It’s all good”

- Temporary/Impulsive

- Once I have ___

Once I have this thing, or am living that life, or reach that age, or our country is this way, our my spouse is that way. Or maybe it’s once I have a spouse, have a job.

Once my job settles down, or once I get that promotion. Once this season of life is over.

Once the house is clean, laundry is done. Once the kids get to bed. Once I’m free from this.

What about “once I have enough money.”

Or “once they get ones coming for them” “once justice is served” then I can rest.

I think we’ve all seen the frequency with which crime drama television shows get renewed for another season that we all know, detective so and so will never find rest. He is going to solve crimes for our entertainment forever.

Once I’m out of this job. Once the kids are older. Once I retire.

The last type is

Types of Contentment

- “It’s all good”

- Temporary/Impulsive

- Once I have ___...

- Never be content

Because sometimes, and for some people, we just don’t want to be content. And ironic as it sounds, we can feel fulfilled not being content.

I mean, from this perspective if you’re content, you will never get what you want. Don’t you want to reach your full potential. Don’t you want to be the best. Overcome, conquer, improve. Nothing is ever enough. Thus being content, is settling for less than the best.

I would assume that most billionaires experience this one. Tom Brady, Kim Kardashian, whoever is making all the Marvel movies. They’re just never going to stop are they. It’s like Thanos is the one making the movies and he will not stop until every movie screen at the cinema is showing Marvel comic book adaptions, forever.

I think for me, I’ve experienced this one most after letting my guard down or not pushing as hard as I could, resulting in me getting hurt or missing out on something I wanted. After the hurt or the missed opportunity, my brain was like, “uh oh. Brian, you don’t get to be content. That’s where we get hurt and miss out. Rest is for the weak, for those who want to be victims. Satisfaction is for those with low expectations.”

I’ll tell you, whenever I tell myself these things, one of the areas of scripture I am forgetting most is Jesus first few statements during the sermon on the mount. “blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, blessed are the humble.”

Why can’t it say, “blessed are the superstars for kicking butt and never giving up and helping God get some Christians up at the top of the cultural food chain. Blessed are the strong, for giving God a break and having one less person to have to help out all the time.” If you’re wondering, those last two. The Bible doesn’t even come close to saying those. Oh how my proud heart is humbled when I read the words of Jesus.

As we go through life, we will come across times when we experience a feeling of contentment that can come with these worldly desires.

And that’s not always bad, because some of those experiences and efforts aren’t inherently bad.

One of my favorite things to do in the world is to sit out with my wife on the patio, listen to some 90’s alt rock, and just talk with Jessie while our kids play. It is my favorite “it’s all good” type of moment. And in those moments, I usually feel very peaceful.

And friends. It is a great moment that I hope to experience many more times in my life.

But the feeling of peace that moment brings, it’s not the answer to the deepest desires for satisfaction in my heart. That feeling and what provides it is temporary and fragile.

—Story about not feeling content after getting the promotion, buying a house, meeting Jessie.

You may be thinking, “Brian is using his life as an example a lot today.” Yes! I am. Because I’ve learned the hard way too many times that putting my trust in things of this world, whether success, or possessions or family or friends, I’ve learned the hard way time and time again that none of them will ever be enough.

I would guess I’m not the only one in this room that’s been learning that the hard way.

See the reason I am setting up these types of contentment and satisfaction with so many examples is because we need to understand that nothing outside of God will ever truly satisfy us, and if our pursuit of satisfaction is on worldly things rather than God, we will miss out on the contentment that He has made available to us.

That’s why we are told not to love money. Not because money is the problem, the argument isn’t for an economic status quo. The argument is that contentment is an issue of the heart. The issue of our misguided desires and efforts to try to replace what only God offers. That is the problem.

How foolish to think that we can find greater pleasure in created things when the creator himself offers us satisfaction in Him. God created us for His glory. He understands better than we ever will the deepest needs of our heart. Needs not found in possessions, status, pleasure, good ideas, loves ones, or perfect circumstances.

And it’s important that we do not let the temporary satisfaction we have experienced in this world blind us to think otherwise.

Because eventually, the tough moments will come for all of us. And things that have brought us satisfaction before will prove to fall short.

Church, I hope that I have made a case for NOT trusting in created things, trusting in ourselves included. A case to look to something greater than those things that will eventually be shattered by the brokenness of our world. The case that we need to look beyond ourselves, because even our best efforts, if done apart from God, will be corrupted by our sin and fall short of what we need.

There is only one thing that can truly sustain us in the toughest moments. Sustain us through the loss of a job, our home, death of a loved one, cancer, poverty, prison, abuse.

There is something better available to us than we have ever experienced in this world.

And that thing that is available is closeness to GOD! God presence is better than all of it. And He wants to be in relationship with you because He is glorified in your complete enjoyment of Him.

That is why our satisfaction must be rooted in the “because” that we read in Hebrews.

That he will never leave us nor forsake us.

And the reason He will never leave us, is because He is always with us. He will never forsake us, because He is always for us.

Friends it is the truth of the Gospel that contains the secret to our satisfaction. It is the reason for which we can be truly content in this life NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.

Titus 3:4–7 NIV

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

This may be the spot to illustrate specifically how this truth changes our perspective in the tough times, and the good times. Or maybe after the next paragraph.

Church, we can be content because you were saved by mercy. You don’t have to worry about your past, you don’t have to question your salvation when you mess up. You are saved from the pit of hell not because you’re doing a great job, and will hopefully keep it up. No. You are saved because of God’s mercy. You are reborn, filled with the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our savior, and Justified, meaning no longer guilty for your sins. And because of that, God is with you. You are never alone.

In saving you, God has not only saved you from your sins, but He has reconciled you to Himself, meaning He has brought you into relationship with Him.

Knowing this truth breeds reason for contentment in all times.

Look at what Paul writes to the Philippians. And keep in mind, when he writes this, he is in prison.

Philippians 4:12–13 NIV

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Guys, Paul’s not talking about cheap worldly contentment. Those four types that I listed, don’t stand a chance, at bringing anyone what Paul is describing.

Paul can be content, because he is not looking for that fulfillment in things of this world that will pass. Instead, he is content because deeply rooted in his heart is the truth that no matter what happens, no matter how bad things get, how hungry he is, how sick, how broken, he has already received the greatest gift all, knowing and being known by God. A truth so great that one could feel satisfied even in their lowest moments. The truth that God, the creator of the universe, loves you, calls him His own, and will be keeping him for eternity.

And friends, that exact truth which brought such Paul great contentment, is true for you as well. and for those of you that are maybe on the fence about God, or are just checking things out, I want you to know, that it is available to you as well, if you believe in Christ and declare Him as your Lord and Savior.

Church, the deeper our embrace of this truth and our love for God go, the greater our satisfaction in all things in this world will be, because our satisfaction will not be of this world. And it works because God made you, and He made you to be truly satisfied by… Him! And He will never leave you nor forsake you.

That’s why we can sing with the Psalmist when he says

Psalm 62:1–2 NIV

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Church, we need this. We need rest from the crazy messed up world we live in.

The hurt, abuse, disruption, disappointment, persecution, exploitation, betrayal.

Something else I need rest from, is me. My sin. My brokenness. My mistakes. My anxious mind.

The restlessness I’ve experienced because I have been a part of what is wrong in this world. Friends when God found me, I was broken. And at times that brokenness, that pain, that sin in me, it still bubbles up inside and tries to take over. Tries to knock me off course from what God has for me.

You may just know what I’m talking about. No one knows better than you just how dark some of those things inside you are. The hate you’ve felt. The lies you’ve told yourself. The pain you’ve fostered. The things you’ve done.

Before we met Christ, as Paul tells us in Ephesians

Ephesians 2:1–3 (NIV)

... we were dead in [our] sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world.. All of us... gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts... we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Sometimes that old me, that one that wasn’t seeking Jesus, he doesn’t seem that far back in my past. He wants me to forget the verses that comes just after these ones.

I think the biggest thing that keeps us from contentment is ourselves. Our own sin.

That’s why we have to remember whenever we are in those moments. Experiencing that seep of all that is not of God trying to make it’s way into our hearts and minds.

When we feel those things, remember this.

Jesus says, “no more. You are not lost. You are found. And you are mine.

slow I will never leave you nor forsake you.” pause

That’s why we must continue to read on in Ephesians to this next verse,

Ephesians 2:4-5a,8-10(NIV)

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions... For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

When you feel the restlessness of your sin, remember that you are alive in Christ.

Remember that we can be content in our salvation and relationship with Him because it is a gift, that will not be taken back. And that despite our imperfections and stumbling’s as believers, we must remember He has already prepared in advance the good works He has for us to do. We can have contentment, because, if I can put it simply, God’s Got This.

I will warn you though, pressing deeper and deeper into the Gospel, and the contentment that follows…

It’s going to change who you are.

Don’t expect to find rest in God, and not be changed by it.

His presence is powerful.

As we mentioned earlier, like when we go to the doctor, we can’t ride on one moment of learning and effort forever, if we actually want it to change us.

When Paul was in prison and wrote being contended, there is a key word he mentions that helps us with our next step.

Philippians 4:12 (CSB)

I have learned the secret of being content

He doesn’t say, “after my epic conversion and hearing of the Gospel for the first time, I became content and stayed that way.”

Learned.

He learned the secret of being content, and you can to.

As you saw on your seat when you walked in, there is a prayer prompt card for you to take with you this week.

Praying through His Word is the next step in moving from hearing, to believing, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, transformed.

So before we end today, I want to briefly walk us through the prayer cards. This is a step in learning how grow in our relationship with God, and in doing so, grow in contentment.

There are three sections each followed by scripture. Both of which you will pray.

Help me to wholly believe and be changed by the Gospel. Titus 3:4-7

Here we pray through this summary of the Gospel, asking that God would write it on our hearts and minds.

Help me to live as one who belongs to Christ and reveal in me the fruits of your Spirit. Galatians 5:22-24

The fruits of the spirit are characteristics of what one living for Christ looks like. We pursue this not for perfection, but in order to align our hearts with Gods heart, which brings us closer to Him.

Help me to feel content always, knowing God is with me, even in the most difficult of circumstances. Matthew 5:3-12

Lastly, we need to pray asking that He would sustain us and bring contentment, even in the hardest of times.

So I ask once more. When we meet hard times in this life how do we survive those moments? We triumph when we learn to be fully satisfied in our relationship God, and that we are not alone, because He will never leave us, nor forsake us.

Psalm 62:5 “Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him.”

Help me to wholly believe and be changed by the Gospel Titus 3:4-7 “But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.”

Help me to live as one who belongs to Christ and reveal in me the fruits of your Spirit Galatians 5:22-24 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Help me to feel content always, knowing God is with me, even in the most difficult of circumstances Matthew 5:3-12 ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”