A. This is the fourth installment of our ongoing series entitled “Graceful Waiting.” We’ve been talking about how the unfolding will and blessing of God doesn’t happen instantaneously; it takes place through a process of time and therefore, we must learn to wait on the Lord. In this installment, we will study the fourth key on how to wait scripturally, which is contentment.
B. Look at Philippians 4:11; Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Paul experienced great hardship yet he said in whatever state he was in, he learned to be content! People who are able to wait are those that have learned to be content in their present condition. At first glance, this seems to contradict our teaching on faith and prosperity.
C. Let’s look at other verses about contentment that seem to contradict prosperity.
1. First Timothy 6:8 says, And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. Again, this seems to contradict the message of prosperity and our covenant of increase.
2. Let’s look at Hebrew 13:5: Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have. Again, this sounds as though I’m supposed to be content with only what I have. How do I resolve this concept with the doctrine of increase and prosperity?
D. At first glance, these verses seem to say contentment is required, but increase is not available. Yet it can’t possibly mean that because Paul exhorted us to “press toward the mark for the prize” (Philippians 3:14). If you’re supposed to be content with the meal before you and the clothes on your back, then why tell us to “press toward the mark for the prize?” Obviously, there is something more to this than meets the eye.
E. The confusion is cleared up when we understand the definition of certain words. The vernacular of our day makes it sound as though the word content means to “accept the status quo.” W.E. Vines Expository Dictionary, however, says the Greek word translated as content means “without covetousness.” The Amplified Bible translates the word content as being “inward sufficiency.” So the word “content” has nothing to do with accepting the status quo.
F. We see that confirmed in Hebrews 13:5, 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. The word conversation here means “manner of life.” So it could read like this: “Let your manner of life be without covetousness; and be content.” In other words, to be content means to be without covetousness and to be inwardly sufficient.
G. The phrase “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” means that regardless of your present condition, you can be content or inwardly sufficient knowing that God never leaves you or forsakes you.
H. There is another aspect of the definition of “without covetousness.” If you’re coveting something, that’s saying you can’t be happy unless you have what you desire. God isn’t going to give you something that you have decided you can’t be happy without. He is your source of happiness and contentment.
I. First Timothy 6:6 says, But godliness with contentment is great gain. The Amplified Bible says: “a source of immense profit.” That is increase. He’s not saying we can’t increase beyond merely food and raiment because here we see these two principles work together—living a godly lifestyle and not being covetous. Contentment together with a godly lifestyle is a source of immense profit and great gain.
J. Yet most people still fail to understand contentment. They wonder how they can be content when their marriage is failing or when their business isn’t growing. But contentment, remember, doesn’t mean “accept the status quo.” It means to be inwardly sufficient in the knowledge that God never leaves you and never forsakes you. If you continue to wait patiently on Him, you’ll have a good ending.
K. Secondly, it means you can’t hang your hopes for happiness on having what you want. Contentment without covetousness means you’re grounded in your relationship with the Lord, and therefore, the joy and the peace that only He can bring are the things that constrain your experience of life.
L. You’re not dependent on having that house or that car or that person to be happy. Your happiness isn’t found in them. Therefore, you’re without covetousness. A godly lifestyle with that kind of attitude is a source of immense profit or great gain, and you will see your waiting period for the promise is shortened.
M. When you understand that contentment does not mean “accept the status quo,” seemingly contradictory verses become clear. God wants you to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling, but you do it without covetousness.
N. If you allow Him to be your source of happiness, then that sense of inward sufficiency will carry you through the toughest times because you know it’s temporary. To be content or inwardly sufficient is something you deal with on a daily basis. This is the essence of the fight of faith.
O. First Timothy 6:9 says 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. This verse is talking about covetousness. The Amplified Bible says it this way: “They that crave to be rich….” Many Christians have heard the prosperity message and they crave to be rich. But that puts them on a deadly path because verse 10 says, 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. It’s the “love” of money that is the root of all evil. Money in itself is not evil and God is not against you having money, but the love of money, craving money, coveting what money can buy is the root of all evil.
P. Verse 12 goes on to say, Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life…. Eternal life here is Zoë life—the “God kind of life”—which means a life without sickness or disease or insufficiency. You don’t have to wait until you die and go to heaven; you can have that quality of life now if you fight the good fight of faith. Fighting the good fight, however, is going to involve being content in whatsoever state you’re in and not coveting the increase.
Q. The content person waits on the Lord. How can you wait on the Lord with a decent attitude until you have learned as Paul learned to be content in whatsoever state you’re in? The key to being content is comfort. It’s easy to be content while you wait when you’re comfortable but if you’re uncomfortable, it’s hard to wait gracefully.
1. Example: Waiting gracefully in traffic can be hard. But if you had a new car with soft seats, air conditioning when it’s 95 degrees outside, and a great sound system, it’s easier to be content waiting when you’re comfortable. On the other hand, if you had an old clunker with no air conditioning and you have the windows rolled down because it’s 95 degrees outside and you’re sweating and you’re smelling the fumes from the other cars and you’re getting a headache and the mosquitoes are biting, it’s tough to wait gracefully because you’re uncomfortable. Comfort helps you to be content while you wait.
R. There is a way to be comfortable in any condition you’re in. Let’s look at this truth in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. We’ve been given the Comforter. If you want the Comforter to operate in your life during your hard places, then get your eyes off yourself and find someone you can comfort and you’ll find the Comforter operating in your life.
S. You must learn how to be comfortable in whatsoever state you’re in. When you do, you will experience a supernatural peace in the midst of the storm by being inwardly sufficient, knowing that He never leaves you or forsakes you.
