The Attitude of Contentment

Bill Woody

Things That Accompany Salvation • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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The Attitude of Contentment

Text: 1 Timothy 6:6–10 (KJV 1900)

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Introduction: Definition of contentment: ‎* Contentment is an Internal satisfaction. * Contentment is not determined by external circumstances. * Contentment is freedom from Anxiety and worry. * The idea of contentment comes from a Greek word that means “independent, “or “self-sufficient.” In other words, a person becomes content when he realizes that there is no need to worry there is no problem or circumstance of life that he cannot handle. * A contented person will have a certain attitude toward life that says” “I’m ok”, “No problem!”, or to quote a popular term from our present time “Don’t worry, It’s all Good”

* The Apostle Paul defines the attitude of contentment for the Christian in Philippians 4:10–13 (KJV 1900)

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. I. The secret to a contented and happy life. Illustration: * When I was in elementary school I learned that contented cows give more milk. * I saw a commercial for a milk company the other day that said their milk was better because it came from contented cows. * Now, I don’t know if contented cows really give better milk, but I do know that contented Christians are much better that no-contented Christians. * Contented Christians have Joy in their life. * Contented Christians have great peace in their life. * Contented Christians are happy people. Contented Christians smile. * Contented Christians give to the church and to others generously. * Contented Christians are always full of hope. They always see the glass half full instead of half empty. *Non-contented Christians are always grouchy. * They are always complaining.

* I have been in some churches that seem to think, that in order to be qualified to be a deacon, you have to look like a mule eating saw-briers. * Non-contented Christians always have a frown on their face. They look like they were born on the dark side of the moon and were weaned on a dill pickle!

* Non-contented Christians are always bickering and fighting and talking about one another. * Non-contented Christians have no peace. They are always worried about everything. Their glass is always empty.

* Non-contented Christians are stingy. They are afraid to be friendly because it might cost them something. A non-contented Christian wouldn’t give a dime to see a snake ride a bicycle. I don’t know if contented cows are really any better than non-contented Christians, but contented Christians are definitely much better than non-contented Christians!

I. The secret to a happy and contented life.

Hebrews 13:4–6 (KJV 1900)

‎5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

A. The secret to a happy and contented life is learning to completely trust God to meet every need.

Luke 12:22–34 (KJV 1900) 1). Jesus gave us the secret to overcoming worry and anxiety:

22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

2). Worry is a lack of faith in God to meet your needs:

28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

3). Put Spiritual things first:

31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

4). Because we are not worried about ourselves, be generous to others:

33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

B. ‎God has promised to not let you down.

Psalm 37:2–4 (KJV 1900)

‎ 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;

‎ So shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

‎ 4 Delight thyself also in the Lord;

‎ And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

‎ Psalm 37:24–25 (KJV 1900)

‎24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:

‎ For the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

‎ 25 I have been young, and now am old;

‎ Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,

‎ Nor his seed begging bread.

‎

‎ Job 13:14–15 (KJV 1900)

‎ 15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:

‎ But I will maintain mine own ways before him.

C. Learn to trust the sovereignty of God. God in His sovereignty distributes wealth according to his perfect will.

Psalm 75:4–7 (KJV 1900)

‎4 I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly:

‎ And to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:

‎ 5 Lift not up your horn on high:

‎ Speak not with a stiff neck.

‎ 6 For promotion cometh neither from the east,

‎ Nor from the west, nor from the south.

‎ 7 But God is the judge:

‎ He putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Job 2:6–10 (KJV 1900)

6 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. 7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

‎

Proverbs 10:2–3 (KJV 1900)

‎2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing:

‎ But righteousness delivereth from death.

‎ 3 The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish:

‎ But he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

I. Jesus was content with God's Will

Luke 9:57–58 (KJV 1900)

57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

Illustration: The Story of trying to decide if it was God’s will to go off to Bible College. “His will is our Peace.” II. Be content with what you have.

Proverbs 30:8–9 (KJV 1900)

‎‎8 Remove far from me vanity and lies:

‎‎ Give me neither poverty nor riches;

‎‎ Feed me with food convenient for me:

‎‎ 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee,

‎‎ And say, Who is the Lord?

‎‎ Or lest I be poor, and steal,

‎‎ And take the name of my God in vain.

‎‎

Some Spiritual laws to live by…

* A spiritual law- The more you have, the less you appreciate the simple blessings of life. Illustration of how we enjoyed life when we didn't expect anything better.

* Something I live by. "Enjoy things the way they are now, because chances are, this is the best you will ever have it.”

* Another spiritual law- To be content we must live in the now.

Those who are living in the past can never be satisfied and content.

- "Say not the good old days" former days

Those who live in the future can never be satisfied and content because the future is not real.

* You don't have to have money to enjoy life. * Sometimes you have to be poor to really enjoy life! * Re-learning the simple pleasures in life...

- Eating your supper outside on the porch

- lying in a soft warm bed while listening to the rain pour down

- Sitting by the warmth of a fire when it is cold and miserable outside.

- Walking in the fields or woods, exploring a lake or creek.

- Reading in the warmth of the sun coming in the window

- Enjoying friends and family- taking the grandkids, or you wife for a walk.

- Enjoying being alone with your thoughts. * What's the secret of enjoying life? Living in the now!

* Don't ruin holidays with discontentment. Be contend and celebrate what you have right now.

* Another spiritual law- wealth that is given by God brings joy. Wealth that we gain through desiring and coveting will only hurt is us. Wealth God gives does not bring sorrow.

Proverbs 10:22 (KJV 1900)

22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich,

And he addeth no sorrow with it.

Wealth gotten by courteousness, or the love of money, brings sorrow.

Luke 12:15–21 (KJV 1900)

‎‎15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Ecclesiastes 5:13–6:2 (KJV 1900)

‎13 There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. 14 But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind? 17 All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

‎18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. 19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. 20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

‎6 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2 A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

Ecclesiastes 6:7–9 (KJV 1900)

‎7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8 For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

1 Timothy 6:6–10 (KJV 1900)

‎ ‎

Those who would be rich fall into temptations- illustration of Ed's discontentment:

* Not being content with your life will cause you to do things you thought you would never do.

Luke 12:15–21 (KJV 1900)

Philippians 4:11 (KJV 1900)

‎‎11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Be content being single

1 Corinthians 7:25–35 (KJV 1900)

‎25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. 27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. 29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. 32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. 34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

Be content with the wife or husband you have.

Hebrews 13:4–5 (KJV 1900)

4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness;

Be content with your social status

1 Corinthians 7:17–24 (KJV 1900)

17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. 18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. 21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

Be content with your economic status

Luke 3:10–14 (KJV 1900)

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

Hebrews 13:4–5 (KJV 1900)

4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Luke 12:13–15 (KJV 1900)

13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

IV. Be content with others.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (KJV 1900)

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Being content may save your marriage

* How we treat others as christens should start at home.

* We should strive to be content with each other in the marriage bed.

Proverbs 5:18–19 (KJV 1900)

18 Let thy fountain be blessed: And rejoice with the wife of thy youth. 19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; And be thou ravished always with her love.

* We should strive to be content with each other’s personalities.

* Young people should take this into consideration before marrying someone.

- Are they controlling?- Are they bossy?- Are they lazy?- Are they slobs?- Are they selfish?- Are they saved?- Are they dedicated to God?

*The Bible commands us to teach our children not to marry unsaved people. * There is no peace in a home where the husband and wife are not content with each other.

Proverbs 21:8–9 (KJV 1900)

9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

Proverbs 25:23–24 (KJV 1900)

24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

Proverbs 27:15–16 (NKJV)

15 A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike; 16 Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.

* A prudent wife will restrain from nagging.

Proverbs 19:13–14 (NKJV)

13 A foolish son is the ruin of his father, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping. 14 Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

* A contented wife will reverence her husband.

Ephesians 5:32–33 (KJV 1900)

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

* A contented husband will not neglect to show his love and appreciation for his wife.

Malachi 2:14–16 (KJV 1900)

14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, Against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: Yet is she thy companion, and the Wife of thy covenant. 15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16 For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: For one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: Therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

Ephesians 5:24–29 (KJV 1900)

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

Be content with your children.

* Parents who are content with their children will be careful what they say to their children.

Ephesians 6:1–4 (KJV 1900)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

* Be content with your employers and employees.

* Be content with those you minister to.

* Be content with those in the church.

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