Finding Contentment in a World Built for Greed
Luke 12:13-15, 20-21
The goal of the Game of Life is to get married, have kids, and try to accumulate as much wealth as possible so that you can become a millionaire. It teaches the lesson that the one with the most toys wins. The Game of Life portrays a truth of our capitalist society which in many respects is built on the idea of greed. But it also teaches us that this life is about you and your happiness and that comes from getting more: more money, more power, more square footage, more clothes, more shoes, more cars. And yet most people have a level of discontent in their lives in such pursuits. There are alot of things that make us discontent: like “For sale” signs in front of homes we can’t quite afford. Want ads for cars that are nicer and newer than what I drive. Going to people’s homes where they have much nicer furniture or really cool surround sound systems. Or seeing your friend in the latest designer fashions and looking like a million bucks. I may not know what it is for you but I guarantee that there’s something that brings on the feelings of discontent for you. Discontent can steal your joy. If we want to be joy-FULL, somehow we’ll have to find contentment in our present situation.
We’ve been looking at the 7 simple truths of life. Today’s truth is God must be our God. Well, who or what is your God? It was Bob Dylan who said, everybody worships something and he was right. Many times, that has led to the drive for more. The more we have, the more we want, and when that doesn’t bring happiness we want all the more. A study was done at the turn of the last century of some of the wealthiest men in the world. Most were unsatisfied and unhappy. When they were asked what they needed for happiness the answer was always the same: just a little bit more. Do you now that almost all of the lottery winners have ended up broke, depressed and unhappy, wishing they had never won the money. And we think, then just give it to me and I’ll be happy. Somewhere along the way we have to own up to the fact that these things don’t bring happiness. 1 Timothy 6 tells us that the pursuit of things at all costs, causes much grief So why do we have this unhealthy drive for more? One reason is advertising. We are constantly bombarded with ads which are aimed at getting us to buy more stuff. In fact, our entire economy is built on you spending more on more stuff you want but don’t need. You turn on the TV and there are commercials. You log on to the Internet and its full of ads. You drive down the highway nothing but billboards. You open the mail and it’s a catalog. You answer the phone and it’s a telemarketer. It’s constant. The average American will be exposed to more than 1,000,000 advertisements in their lifetime that promise happiness and an easier life if you just had that new exercise machine, new sweeper, the right tan or the right makeup or the right clothes or the right car.
Second is the promotion and availability of instant credit. It used to be that you bought something and put it in layaway until you had all the money to pay for it. Now the offer has become instant credit, no payments, no interest a year or more. This is what greed is all about, when we cannot be satisfied with what we have and can afford, we just collect more and more at any cost. And we have to have it now. It affects all of us. The credit card debt for the average family has tripled in the last 12 years. Consumer debt has quadrupled. And the square footage of homes has increased by 50% too. It’s about supersizing everything: your possessions, your home and your debt. This sin of excess is all around us. And it seems that we consume as much as it consumes us.
Third, we can fall into the trap of thinking and believing that this life is about us. We’re told it’s about your happiness and your needs being met, not about others. Guess the product:
You deserve a break today (McDonalds) Be all that you can be (U.S. Army)
Double your pleasure, double your fun (Wrigley’s Doublemint Gum)
A little dab’ll do ya (Brylcreem) Don’t get mad, get glad
Have it your way (McDonalds)
Fourth, we are also susceptible to a lack of contentment because our self esteem is so closely tied to the accumulation of possessions. We determine a person’s worth by what they own. If someone says, “How much is he worth?” we immediately reduce the answer to dollars and cents. Our culture has told us that we are less of a person if we don’t accumulate lots of things. And we buy into it. We have to have this car or these clothes because everybody else does and everybody else must be happy because they have those things. Well guess what, they may have those things, but it doesn’t mean they’re happy and content. And it certainly doesn’t mean they are worth more or of more intrinsic value.
The fact is we all have things that hold us captive but this stuff does not bring us joy and contentment. We buy that new dress or get the latest gadget which was advertised to make you hip, ease your life, bring joy and happiness to you. But before long it loses its shiny new edge and that bump in excitement and joy. Kind of like a child with his or her new Christmas toy which lays in the corner untouched just a few days later. Whatever it is you crave whether it be shoes or clothes or a new sports car, a larger home, a larger salary, a larger office or whatever will not meet the need of the very depths of your soul. And so we go onto the next new gadget or style or fashion or home until that no longer brings us contentment and the cycle starts all over again. This is greed, excessive greed and accumulation in the pursuit of happiness.
I was talking with a woman who was married to a very successful lawyer. She was never in need of anything. Even though she worked, she never drove a car because her husband had a personal driver for her. He bought her diamonds and furs. They went to the most expensive restaurants, traveled around the world and drank $500 bottles of wine. They even would fly to New York just to go eat dinner. It was thrilling and exciting and she had everything she had ever dreamed. But after a few years, there was a growing sense of discontentment with her life. She began to see how empty it really was and how all of those things, while nice, really were shallow and empty. She knew she needed to make a change in her life but her husband just never got it.
Psalm 23:3 says, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. (NRSV) The Psalmist says, “I shall not want because the Lord provides for all my needs.” I shall not want another pair of shoes. I shall not want that new home. I shall not want the new car. I shall not want the latest fashions. Sometimes we need to be reminded that “I shall not want.”
So how do we find contentment? First and foremost, your life is not about you or your possessions. We have to learn over and over again that life is not about me, it’s about others. It’s about ministering to others, serving others and helping others. This is the message and example of Jesus. When the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Matthew 4:8-10 Jesus had temptations in his life to put himself first but he chose to love the Lord your God even more.
Jesus warned us, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed: for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be? So it is with those who store up treasurers for themselves but are not rich toward God.” Luke 12:13-15, 20-21 To be rich toward God means contentment and that comes from him and not your possessions That is what must first be learned. Phil 4 says, “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 everything through him who gives me strength.” Here Paul was sitting in prison yet he found in spite of those circumstances, he could be content in Jesus. But Paul’s contentment was not instantaneous, it was the fruit of many years of faithful fellowship, learning from the experience that he could trust the Lord to provide what he needed.
Second, cultivate an attitude of gratitude. True contentment comes from living life understanding that everything pales in comparison to knowing Christ. Discontent often comes from feeling deprived. We need to develop an attitude of thankfulness for what God has given us. But we also need to cherish our relationship with Jesus even more. When we understand what we deserve and compare it with what we have received in Jesus Christ, we can truly be content! Paul looked to the Lord in every circumstance to help him to be content. He looked to the Lord to strengthen him against the temptation to be self-sufficient and complacent when times were good, and he looked to the Lord for strength when times were rough and he faced the temptation to feel sorry for himself. Through it all and every circumstance, he found the Lord’s strength was sufficient. Contentment is reaching the state of mind that we are at peace with where we are and who we are in Christ.
Third, Refuse to Compare Yourself With Others. Have you ever noticed that when we compare what we have against what others have, we always pick out someone who has more than us. If we are feeling sorry for ourselves and believing that we are deprived, we always pick out the family that has more. We say, “Why do the Jone’s have 2 cars, and they are both Lexus’s and their house is a ½ million dollar mansion.” We fail to consider how many in this world have less than we do. One of the surest ways I know of to make yourself miserable and discontent is to start comparing yourself with others because you can always find someone who has more. You need to stop the comparison game!
Fourth, give to those in need. James 1:27 tell us we are to look for those around us who are in need and be alert in how we can minister to them. It might be your time, your attention or just a good word. John Wesley said, “Make all you can, save all you can, and give all you can.” When we connect to God, you begin to realize that it is more rewarding to give than receive, to serve rather than be served, to give away rather than save. This is when you contentment factor raises 10 fold. Nothing changes our focus from ourselves and keeps us from falling into the trap of discontentment than focusing on the needs of someone else.
Fifth, pursue peace with those around you. Psalm 34:12-14, “Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Nothing can be more unsettling than having tension with the people around us. The command of the NT is to love and love means unity among all of God’s children. If someone has hurt you, go to them and share your feelings. If you have hurt someone, then go and apologize. If you feel you haven’t done anything wrong then apologize for hurting them rather than for what you have done. Either way, the goal is to make amends and repair the relationship. There is great contentment in healthy and whole
Sixth, be still, stop talking and listen for God to speak to you. I want to hear God. I need to hear God. How? Withdraw to a quiet place, then wait and calm your thoughts and emotions. In Habakkuk 2:1 he says, “I will wait.” In other words, I’m going to wait to hear God. Thee NIV says, “I will station myself.” What does this mean? It means I’m going to stay put and be still and not move until I hear from God. “God, I am planting myself right here in this chair, I am stationing myself, I am not going to move. I’m going to be still until I hear from You. I’m going to wait right here.” Why is that important? Because hurry is the death of prayer. The reason why you don’t hear God is because you’re in too much of a hurry.
Seventh, keep your priorities straight. “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Matthew 6:24 You cannot worship both God and wealth. You have to make it clear who is your god.
