Can We Be Thankful Without Contentment?

Having a Happy Thanksgiving, contentment.

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

TEXT:

1 Tim. 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Phillipians 2:14 DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT COMPLAINING, MURMURING, AND ARGUING!

Psalms 23 on contentment, ... The Lord is my shepherd --- I SHALL NOT WANT,

Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with contentment and the fear of God, than great treasure and trouble

Philipians 4:11 Not that I speak of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

1 Tim. 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

How can we have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING?

Only Turkey’s are not thankful at Thanksgiving?

I know where a family has been fussing, they want Thanksgiving together, they just don’t want to work and do the cooking, but they want to get together and eat?

1. Today, let’s ponder what is CONTENTMENT?

Are you content? Why or why not?

We look beyond the dictionary for words to help us understand what definition does contentment mean? ... Contentment is a mental and spiritual state, not just satisfaction with possessions and status. Pleased, willing, happy, cheerful, merry, glad, secure, sufficient.

2. Why must I walk on stony paths?

I must rest assured, that if God the Almighty would send me down a stony, hard path ... God will surely provide me with good, strong shoes and strong ankles. For God will never send me down any hard path for which He has not prepared me, He also has equipped me well for this journey. For there is a purpose, a plan...The journey a head, is mine, but if God be WITH ME...and I WITH HIM, I can make it. It is not just the destination, for along the journey of stony paths, there are lessons and opportunities for me, Lord! Show me!

3. There is a difference in instinct and learned behavior!

Somethings in life you need no schooling, you just know how ... there are no class rooms in the nursery of a hospital to teach a baby how to suck, this is an instinct. But, know a successful trip on the journey of life, must go far beyond instinct, we must apply our mind and hearts and LEARN. There is more to life that lustful eyes.Contentment is a learned behavior!

Philipians 4:11 Not that I speak of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Good Paul, how do we learn this same lesson? I think, Paul would say it has much to do with our daily menial choices! Is contentment taught at school, at church, and on TV?

4. We tend to blame others if we are not happy!

Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with contentment and the fear of God, than great treasure and trouble.

What would it take to make you thankful?

Why are you not happy?

Who do you blame for your troubles? Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the enemy, did not their choices of who to listen to, and the choice of looking at that pretty fruit come into play? If you have a good Thanksgiving, could well depend on you. We must quit blaming others!

5. Pleasure as a goal aims one toward emptiness.

Prov. 21:16 He that loves pleasure shall be poor.

1 Tim. 5:6 But she that lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.

There is nothing wrong with pleasure and feeling good, but that is a terrible goal. This is much like chasing rainbows for a pot of gold.

6. Contentment is birthed in appreciation.

(Thank you Bonnie Mackenzie, and thank God for friends!)

Thankful because???

I AM THANKFUL FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS NOT DOING DISHES BUT IS WATCHING TV,

BECAUSE THAT MEANS HE IS AT HOME AND NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES THAT I PAY,

BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY,

BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG,

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK,

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE.

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING,

BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT,

BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT,

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND THAT I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL,

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

Author unknown

We are pondering having a Happy Thanksgiving?

Can food, togetherness, or gifts bring happiness?

We must survey contentment, for contentment can be a matter of choice and vision! What brings contentment? What kills contentment?