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ATTENTION

During the 2007-2008 NFL regular season, New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady set the record for most touchdown passes in a regular season, paving the way for his winning the MVP award. At the age of 30, he has already won three Super Bowls—an accomplishment that sets him apart as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.

In 2005, Tom Brady was interviewed by 60 Minutes journalist Steve Kroft. Despite the fame and career accomplishments he had achieved already, Brady told Kroft that it felt like something was still lacking in his life:

Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there's something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, 'Hey man, this is what [it's all about].' I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me? I think, 'It's got to be more than this.' I mean this isn't—this can't be—all it's cracked up to be."

Kroft pressed Brady as to what the right answer was, and Brady added:

What's the answer? I wish I knew… I love playing football, and I love being quarterback for this team. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of other parts about me that I'm trying to find.

Do you ever feel that way? Yes, I do know who I’m talking to this morning. I know that most of you would claim to be born again. I know that many of you would say, and really believe that you are attempting at least to obey God’s will for your life. But I would also say that there are many of us that haven’t found that holy “sweet spot” yet. We either don’t know the will of God for our lives or we do know it, and we’re even living it, but we’re not very satisfied with it. We look at our lives and maybe even our calling and say, “Is this it? . . . I mean this isn’t—this can’t be—all its cracked up to be!”

You see, its one thing to do the will of God and its quite another to like it. It’s one thing to answer the call of God on your life and quite another to be contented with it. So let me ask you, this morning: Are you content with where God has you? Are you content with His calling on your life?

NEED

If you are discontent, this morning, I can tell you some actions you’re probably taking. People reveal their discontent by choosing relief over responsibility. They grow unhappy with the place God calls them to serve, so they bail out on the nursery; they run from the youth ministry; or they drop out of the Choir. Instead of really dealing with the issue and overcoming their contentment challenge, they just walk away. They choose relief over responsibility.

Others pursue change without strategy. They look at their lives and judge themselves to have a need in this area or that area. For instance, a woman looks at her marriage to her husband and aches for the emotional intimacy that ought to be in a marriage, and, instead of waiting on God, pursues a divorce never realizing that her presence in the middle of that cold marriage may have been part of God’s plan for her life at that very minute. You see, in her pain she pursues a plan without a strategy, or at least without a godly strategy

You may find yourself right there this morning. You know that many of the actions that you are taking really aren’t coming from the right place. You know you are reacting to life. You might be bitter over some hurt and its putting a wedge between you and others; You might be trying to escape some unbearable pain in your life through drugs or alcohol; You might be running from a job that, through boredom, or difficulty is an absolute misery to you. If that’s true here’s what you need to see this morning. When it comes to the calling of God in your life, you can be content right where you are!

You say, “Sounds real good, Rusty, but you got some selling to do if you want me to buy it.” Ok. Let me give you some principles that can bring contentment into your life.

BACKGROUND:

Paul, writing to the Corinthians about various questions they had about the Christian life deals with some very crucial issues. In the middle of his discussion, we find this paragraph we look at today. It’s found in 1 Cor. 7 beginning in v 17

But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

Here we can find three principles that govern your contentment with God’s calling on your life. In the first place, you can be content with God’s call when you make

DIV 1: PURPOSE PARAMOUNT

EXPLANATION

In chapter 7 of 1 Cor., Paul tells this divided church that they must not try to escape from the circumstances in which they find themselves. He says, “Hey, if you got saved when you were married, stay married; if you came to Christ as a circumcised Jew, stay a circumcised Jew; if you came to Christ even as a slave, don’t be so caught up in gaining your freedom that you let that rule your life. No matter what your circumstances, understand this: God’s purpose for you overrides the circumstances you find yourself in. You can serve God right where you are!” One commentator writes:

What do uncircumcision and circumcision, slavery and freedom, have to do with marriage, divorce, and celibacy? They illustrate the divine principle that no earthly status, such as one’s racial heritage or social standing, is incompatible with the Christian’s calling by God (Dawes 1990: 697). Those who were circumcised when God called them do not advance their spiritual condition by undergoing an operation to restore their foreskin, nor do those who were uncircumcised when God called them enhance their standing with God by undergoing circumcision. Slaves are no less accepted by God than are free persons. Both belong to Christ, and their social status has no spiritual significance. Whether a Christian is circumcised or uncircumcised, slave or free, married or single is inconsequential to God. One condition is not bad and the other good, nor is one condition less good and the other better. No condition presents an obstacle to living the Christian life, since a Christian is now defined by God’s call (1:9) and nothing else.

God’s purpose overrides your circumstances. Your lot in life can’t stop Him from using you and being used by God is more important than having your circumstances altered.

But something is implied in this passage that goes even further. You see, not only does God’s purpose override my circumstances, His purpose actually involves my circumstances. That’s right! God doesn’t save us and call us then realize that we’re single, or divorced, or in poor health, or without wealth. No, God calls us in the middle of our circumstances so that He can use our circumstances for His glory. If you are a believer, He saved you right where you are and He wants to use you right where you are. If you’re a teacher, He wants to use that; if you’re a janitor, He wants to use that; if you sell cars, He wants to use that; if you’re a doctor, He wants to use that; even if you’re a lawyer, He wants to use that. God’s purpose involves your circumstances, SO . . . if you are discontented because of your circumstances, you can learn to be content when you realize that the very circumstances you find yourself in are a part of God’s call on your life and His purpose for you!

ARGUMENT

“Now just a minute, preacher,” you might be saying. How can God possibly use my circumstances? The circumstances of my life are just too painful. I have been hurt so badly I could never heal, or forgive. You don’t know the pain I’ve been through. How could this pain possibly be a part of God’s call on my life?

There is an interesting Psalm that speaks to that question. Its Psalm 131. It says:

Lord, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,

Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever.

The picture here is baby who used to breast-feed, and whenever it’s mother held it, it was always wanting to be fed. But now this baby has been weaned and it no longer goes to mother to get fed. Now when mother holds it, it just rests easy.

The Psalmist compares himself to that child. He says, “I used to come to God with all my proud questions. I was trying to figure out all the “whys” of life, but I discovered that all those why questions were way beyond my pay grade. They were too profound for me. Now, when I come to God, I do not pepper Him with questions, I simply enjoy being near to Him and resting in His arms.”

APPLICATION

You see, that’s how we become content with our calling: We stop trying to decipher our circumstances and accept them as part of God’s plan. You see, the question is not “why” but “what.” When I am going through circumstances that I do not like nor understand, I realize that God’s purpose is being realized in my life and I don’t ask, “Lord, why am I going through this,” I ask, “God, how do you want to use this.”

The question is not why, but what. And the answer is not control but surrender. As long as I am fretting about circumstances, I am getting know where, but as I progressively learn to let go of the frustration of a blocked agenda, and accept what God is doing in my life, I begin to find the joy of fulfilling His purpose in my life.

ILLUSTRATION:

Because Vance is an African American living in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood, he stands out. But what really sets Vance apart is that he is a servant-hearted father who cares not only for his own kids, but also for the many other kids who play in the streets by his building.

One night at 9 p.m., there was a knock at Vance's door. The 16-year-old boy who lives a few doors down needed help tying his tie. He had a big presentation at school the next day, and he had no father to help him get ready. After Vance had finished tying the tie, the boy sheepishly asked, "Do you have a pair of black dress shoes I could borrow?"

Immediately, the Spirit brought to Vance's mind the $60 pair of shoes in his closet that he hadn't even taken out of the box yet. He was certain God was telling him to give the boy those shoes.

Vance cringed inside. He told the boy to wait at the door as he headed into the apartment to look for any pair of shoes but the expensive pair. Before he went to the closet, though, he told his wife what he sensed the Spirit was saying to him. She agreed that it sounded like God had given him a great idea. So Vance got out his new shoes and brought them to the boy. His last hope was that they wouldn't fit. After all, how many 16-year-olds have size-12 feet?

They fit perfectly.

Just a few weeks after Vance gave away his new shoes, he and his wife sensed God telling them to start a Bible study for the kids in their building. After much prayer, they decided to invite the kids to their apartment for a Sunday evening study. They ordered four Bibles in case any kids came. That Sunday, seven kids showed up at Vance's apartment—led by the 16-year-old owner of a new pair of shoes. The following week they ordered more Bibles, and 14 kids showed up!

Here’s the point: Vance could have balked at giving away his shoes. When the Lord laid that on his heart he could have gotten all caught up in excuses and why questions. But instead of asking why, he asked what, and look how God used him.

TRANS:

God has a purpose for your circumstances! He knows why he has you where he has you and he his call involves where you are! You will never be content with your calling till you realize his purpose and then, to be content you must also focus on

DIV 2: CHANGE STRATEGIC

EXPLANATION

Now this passage of Scripture has often led to a bit of controversy for various reasons. At one time it may have even been used to justify slavery because it tells Christian slaves of that day not to seek their freedom. Now, I do not think that this passage of scripture forbids you from seeking to be free if you are enslaved. What it does, however, is tell us that the changes we seek in our situation must be strategic. Look at what Paul says in vv 21:

Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it

He says, “If you were saved while in slavery, don’t worry about your circumstance. Now if you can gain your freedom, do it, but use even your freedom for God’s glory. He goes on in v 22 to say: “For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave.” In other words, He says, whether you have your physical freedom or not, you are a servant of Christ. Don’t seek to change your circumstances just to have freedom for freedom’s sake. Be strategic. When it comes to your circumstances, do everything you do with one purpose to achieve God’s purpose in your life. Time is too short to waste it bettering our circumstances unless bettering ourselves allows us to be more effective in achieving the mission that God has given us. Changing our circumstances, then, becomes strategic

ILLUSTRATION:

In his book Good To Great, Jim Collins illustrates the need for strategy by telling about a high school track team who made the transition from good to great. Over a five year period, the school went from a top twenty state team to one which contended for state championships on both the boys’ and girls’ teams. When asked how they were able to be so consistently great the coach replied, "I don't get it," said one of the coaches. "Why are we so successful? We don't work any harder than other teams. And what we do is just so simple. Why does it work?"

He was referring to their simple strategy. They have drilled into their teams’ heads this phrase: “We run best at the end.” They build that strategy into everything: They emphasize running best at the end of workouts, at the end of races, and even at the end of the season when it counts the most. Everything is geared to this simple idea. That idea is even genetic to their coaching.

For example, they place a coach at the 2-mile mark of a 3.1 mile race to collect data as the runners go by, then they calculate, not how fast the runners go, but how many competitors they pass at the end of the race, from mile two to the finish. The kids learn how to pace themselves and race with confidence. “We run best at the end,” they think at the end of a hard race, “so if I’m hurting bad, then my competitors must hurt a whole lot worse!”

They win consistently because they are so intentional about following a winning strategy.

APPLICATION:

That’s the secret to developing a contented heart in the middle of God’s will. Don’t seek to change your circumstances just to satisfy yourself. No, you’ve got to be more strategic than that. Just like that track team you’ve got to intentionally focus in on a winning strategy. What’s that strategy: It is saying, “Whatever my circumstances happen to be, I’m not going to try to escape them, or even overcome them, I’m going to use them for God’s glory.”

See, here’s the truth: We’ve only got so much time to be on this earth. If we waste that time waiting for our circumstances to change so that God can use us, we will waste our lives. If we are to be effective in our service and contented in our hearts, we must be strategic in our living. We must focus on turning everything that we make happen and that happen’s to us into a strategic opportunity to glorify God and disciple the world. Contentment flows from that strategy.

You can be content when you realize God’s purpose for your life and when you accept God’s strategy for change, but you can also be content when you make:

DIV 3: OWNERSHIP AUTHENTIC

ILLUSTRATION

I am usually pretty wimpy when it comes to imposing on other people, so I really can’t believe I did this, but I must confess, I did. As many of you know, I lived for several years over on Millbrook drive on the southside of town. From ‘93 until 2001 that’s where my family made its home. We practically raised our daughter there and really enjoyed the neighborhood, except for the falling pine trees during Hurricane Fran and the flood during Hurricane Floyd.

A few years ago, now, Kathy and I were riding on that side of town and just decided to ride by the old house. I couldn’t believe it. The guy who bought that old house had really fixed it up. He had cut all the pine trees down and fixed up the yard. Well, here’s where the wimpy part comes in:

When we rode by, I think Kathy said, “Let’s stop and see who lives there and see if they’ll let us walk through our old house.” Now, folks, I tell you, that’s not me. I’m a social coward and I cringe at the thought of doing something like that, but on this occasion, my curiosity and my wife’s desire overrode my fear. So we stopped.

The people turned out to be very nice and they immediately invited us in and showed us what they had done with the place. I don’t think, however, they would have been so cordial if I had started questioning the changes they had made. I mean, if I would have began by saying, “Hey, who told you you could cut down all those pine trees,” or “Why did you turn our beautiful daughters bedroom into an office?” I don’t think they’d have been so nice. Well, at first they might have been gracious enough to offer some explanation, but if I’d have kept doing that, what would they have said? That’s right! They’d have said, “Hey, dude last time we checked, our names were on this title and we’re paying the mortgage. We’ll do whatever we please with our property.”

EXPLANATION

Now that’s pretty easy to understand when it comes to homes, but it’s a little harder to grasp when it comes to our lives. There is an interesting phrase in v 23 that says, “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” In other words, Paul says, “Hey, you dare not obligate yourselves in slavery to another human being because you don’t belong to yourself, you belong to God. That, my friend, is the OBLIGATION of purchase. Because we are owned by God; Because He created us; Because Jesus paid for us on the cross, we do not belong to ourselves, we belong to Him and nobody, not even we ourselves, get to tell God what to do with His property.

O, but don’t miss this! Not only does ownership imply an obligation, it also implies a blessing! Because we are puchased by Christ, our life has been transformed in meaning. V 22 is interesting. It says: “For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave.” That would have had a special significance to people who were living at Corinth during Paul’s day. One commentator wrote:

The readers would have been conscious of the social significance of being the freedman of a great patron. Freedmen took pride in their patrons and identified themselves on their tombstones by adding that they were the “apeleutheros of [patron’s name]” (D. Martin 1990: 64). Paul consigns honor and status to Christian slaves by designating them as the “freedmen of Christ.” The slave no longer is simply the slave of so-and-so but a freedman belonging to the Lord. As D. Martin (1990: 65) explains it, “The slave’s real status is determined by his or her placement in a different household entirely: the household of Christ. The slave is a freedperson of the Lord and shares in the benefits, status, and obligations that relationship brings.”

To say that you and I are the “freedman” of Christ says that we belong to the creator of the Universe and that our lives here on this earth dare not be wasted on the little plans and dreams that you and I have. On the contrary, Christ’s ownership of us means that we have been set free to participate in the blessing that comes from being a servant of Christ.

APPLICATION

And that is what makes us content. We are participating in the ultimate of life. We have all that we will ever need in Christ so we can say, “It is enough. I am content!” When we really understand that, we are transformed. We no longer have to just get through the day, we have a real purpose for living. Our lives matter and our choices have eternal consequences.

So, let me sort of draw all this together with three simple principles to bring these truths home. First, Changing your life doesn’t mean changing your circumstances, it means changing your heart. What I mean is, if you want to find joy and meaning in life, you’ll never do that by controlling your circumstances. For one thing, you can’t control them anyway! Every once and a while, you might have something go like you want it to, but those instances are usually few and far between. If you wait to get your circumstances to your liking, you’ll never be content. What must change is not your marriage, or your job, or your salary, or your car. What must change is your heart. Contentment is not outside in, its inside out!

Second, Changing your circumstances is incidental to following God’s purpose. Quite simply, following God’s purpose for your life is the only purpose you can guarantee for yourself anyway. If you will focus on simply doing that, these circumstances have a way of taking care of themselves. Isn’t that what Jesus said? He said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and what? That’s right all these things will be added unto you.”

Third, In any argument about whether to change my circumstances, God’s ownership trumps my desires. See, God owns me, so before I ditch that marriage that I have no grounds to ditch, I need to see what He says about it; before I pursue that promotion that seems so obvious, I need to know what He wants; before I make that purchase that sends me into debt, I need to know His will. Many believers are discontented because they are reaping the fruit of some disobedience in their lives, and all of it could have been avoided if they would have simply submitted to God’s ownership.

So where are you? Are you content with where God has you? Are you making his purpose paramount? Are you making your changes according to His strategy? Are you making His ownership the determining factor in all your decisions?

VISUALIZATION

Against better judgment and much advice, I occasionally show up to play basketball early in the mornings. Several guys play here at 5:30 a.m. Of course we sleep walk for the first 15 minutes, then play for another 45. It has been my unhappy privilege on some occasions to guard Carl Bradshaw. Now he’s a lot younger than me, but that’s not the reason he can score on me at will. Ok, that does have something to do with it, but it’s more than that.

I don’t know how to describe it to you, but he’s in a different “basketball universe” than I am. In fact, he’s in a different world from several of us. He sees things that I don’t see. He’s jogging down the court while me and others are sprinting. He’s passing when everyone else shoots. He seems almost disinterested, until . . . until he sees a strategic opening in the defense, then I turn around and he’s gone. He makes this really great play and I’m left looking inept. I don’t know how to figure it out! It’s like Coach Krscevski is in side his head telling him what to do. He’s not wasting energy. He’s not whining about not getting the ball, but when the opportunity comes, let me tell you what he’s all about: He’s about SCORING!

That’s the way it ought to be with us as believers. We don’t get all caught up in the details of life because we’re strategic. We don’t let the annoyances of living rob our joy because our focus is on one thing: SCORING. Through the energy and power of the Holy Spirit, we are all about reproducing the image of Christ in just as many people as we can, and we’ll do that if we push a mop bucket, or sit in the CEO’s chair. We are all about making God’s purpose paramount, our change strategic, and God’s ownership authentic in our lives.