Learning To Be Content
Phil 4:4-19, Heb 13:5-6
This morning my subject is on "Learning To Be Content".
Let me begin this morning by sharing a little rhyme with you.......
As a rule, man’s a fool
When it’s hot, he wants it cool.
And when it’s cool, he wants it hot,
Always wanting what is not.
Now I want to tell you that this is one of the most difficult sermons that I’ve had to prepare. For two reasons.......#1 Because being content is a problem for me. # 2 I didn’t seem to be content with this sermon no matter how much or well I prepared.
That leads me to my first point regarding "Learning To Be Content"
I. The Longing For Contentment !
Are you aware that the search for contentment consumes our life ? It really does ! We are always looking for something or someone that will bring us peace of mind, and satisfaction !
Everyday we’re working, looking, shopping for contentment !
Here’s the problem for most people.......we’re looking for contentment in the wrong places, wrong people, and wrong things !
*Remember the story that Christ told in Luke 12
The rich man’s harvest was so great that his barns were overflowing........his solution.........I’ll build greater barns.......I will say to my soul, thous hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
*Remember........the lessons of Solomon from Ecc.
1. Contentment does not come from a position !
Now I admit that some jobs are better than others.......having better benefits.......pay better..........yet, if you are looking for contentment in your position......in your occupation.........at your job ! You want find it !
No matter what job you have you’re going to almost always find someone who appears to have a better job than yours !
Your position want bring you contentment, however, once you learn the secret to contentment, then you will have peace of mind regarding your job or position !
2. Contentment does not come from a paycheck!
Now I like payday as much as anyone else, and we have to work because we have debts, and responsibilities ! Yet......are we ever totally content with the amount of money that we’re making ?
Let me give you an example:
Ten years ago, the U.S. News & World Report did a story on the American Dream. Here’s what the study found !
People whose income was 25 K said they thought they could be happy if their income was 54 K.
Now those in the 50 K range said they would be satisfied if there income was 100 K.
And guess what...........people in the 100 K level said if they only made 200 K........then they would be satisfied !
John Rockefeller was once asked........how much was enough ? His reply........just a little bit more !
Somone later asked the accountant of Rockefeller following his death.......how much did the old man leave ? All of it was the reply !
Illust. Abraham Lincoln was walking down the street one day with his two young sons, both of whom were crying. What’s the matter with your boys ? asked a passerby. The same thing that’s wrong with the rest of the world, Lincoln replied. I have three walnuts, and they each want two.
Enough never seems to be enough !
3. Contentment does not come from a purchase.
You’ve all heard that money can’t buy you happiness........well........it can ! It can bring you temporary happiness ! But, it cannot bring you contentment.
Some of you in here remember the days of black & white t.v..........now for you younger folks......I’m talking black and white as in the pictures, and images on the set !
Well.......our family was quite happy until color t.v. came along......and all our neighbors, and friends started getting color t.v.......and all of a sudden........our black and white set wasn’t quite the same !
When I was growing up......most of my clothes were hand me downs ! I didn’t know much about new clothes..........what I wore was pretty nice to me.........but then..........in the six grade we had a dance........and all of a sudden people started talking about they just had to have a suit to wear......and then I just had to have a suit to wear...........My first suit......purchased by my aunt........pale blue leisure suit.........white leather shoes.........and white socks ! Man was I pretty !
But then.........no one wore those suits anymore.......I still thought mine was pretty cool......but it was no longer in fashion, no longer in style.......something better came along !
You ever watch these Home Makeovers on T.V......these people come in........demolish most of your old home........replace the ugly paneling, or paint with something beautiful, expensive, and extravagant......they add all the latest gadgets, and gizmo’s........and then the family is brought in.....and they do their woooooooooo............and aaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwww.......................
Now........are those people really content..........is there something they wish they could change ? Do they wish they had alittle more ? Do they never go shopping again ?
Are they totally at peace......no fussing.........no complaining behind the walls of that new extremely made over house ! Are you kidding ?
4. Contentment does not come from a person.
Most of us that are married have been so for awhile.........and even if you haven’t, I would imagine that you’ve discovered this already ! If you are looking for that spouse of yours to bring you or deliver to you contentment........then you’re in for a very rude awakening ! You folks that maybe single.........young folks............don’t ever let your happiness or contentment be derived from another person !
Here’s a wee bit more advice..........the person that you married is not perfect.........amen ? They do some things that really get under your skin....don’t they...........don’t say amen to loud now ! A punch in the side could break some ribs !
Some folks tend to swap spouses more often than they do cars............their thinking is faulty ! Their buying a lie..........I’d be so much more happier if I had someone who was more understanding........who spent more time with me........who put the toilet lid down...................who picked up their dirty underwear out of the floor..........who helped with the laundry ! Don’t buy the lie........contentment........real peace of mind in life......real satisfaction cannot be found in a person or a relationship no matter how much it might seem like it’s made in heaven !
5. Contentment does not come from possessions
Luk 12:15 Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Bumper sticker: He who dies with the most toys wins...........Other sticker: He who dies with the most toys still dies !
Marty Seligman a professor of psychology at the Univ. of Penn. conducted a study of depression. In his study, he discovered that there has been a sharp increase in depression since WWII. People born after 1945 are 10 times more likely to suffer from depression than people born earlier.
Isn’t that strange ? Our lives are more comfortable........more convenient...........we have more activities..........more entertainment........more money........and yet........less contentment !
In Seligman’s study he found that depression hardly existed in cultures before they were modernized. Most primitive cultures do not show many cases of depression !
One modern example.......in studying the Amish community of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he discovered that depression occured at 1/5 the rate of those who live in Baltimore, Md.
Hmmmmmmm...think about it ! Is it possible that those who have less or actually more content ?
Now what conclusion does the professor arrive at......people today are caught up in the middle of almost complete self-centerdness !
Self-Centerdness is the enemy of contentment !
Bigger houses.......faster automobiles............more stuff does not deliver contentment !
You know why the good old days were the good old days.............people had less, but they were grateful for what they had !
6. Contentment does not come from pleasure.
One of the characteristics of the last days preceding the return of Christ is that people will become lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God ! 2 Tim 3:4
It’s no secret that we entertainment oriented ! That we are pursuers of pleasure in our society is pretty obvious !
Listen to a few stats.......
Average American Family spends 286.00 per month on entertainment........more than is spent on life/health insurance for average family
The average American spends 4 hours a day watching T.V. Children age 0-6 spend more time watching T.V. than playing.
Children playing video games has become a major health issue with the American Pediatrics Association
Stats show that the average teen-age boy spends 22 hours a week playing video games of some kind. Girls spend about 1/3 of that amount.....but the number is on the rise as more and more games are geared toward them.
And then there are the even greater issues....
According to Gamblers Anonymous, there are 8 million compulsive gamblers in America !
In the year 2000, Americans spent 866 billion dollars on gambling. In Georgia alone, 2.7 billion dollars was spent in 2004 on lottery tickets !
Average American home spends more money on alcohol, and tobacco than on prescriptions, and over the counter drugs combined ! (US Labor Expenditure report) 618.00 per year on alcohol, and tobacco to 370.00 a year on medication.
In the year 2000, Americans spent 64 billion dollars on illegal drugs !
Most every one of us.......every family here has seen the effects of those who pursue contentment through alcohol, and or drug use !
You look into the eyes of an alcoholic..........into those of a drug addict.........and you want find peace of mind !
In spite of our reckless pursuit for pleasure........we are more discontented than ever before ! We have more entertainment.......spend more money...........and yet we lack peace !
So where does contentment come from...........
II. The Learning Of Contentment.
Look closely, and carefully at what Paul says. It supports all of that which I have previously stated. He says.........."I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."
Contentment is learned........it is achieved through understanding ! It cannot be derived from any of the aforementioned things !
Paul had learned, he had discovered contentment.
What had Paul learned ?
He had learned that whether he was low or whether he was overflowing.........whether he was hungry or whether he was full.......he had learned to be content !
*Note-The past experiences of Paul........the difficulties...............where he was as he put these words on paper, and what he faced !
What did Paul know about contentment ?
1. Paul learned contentment through praying to God.
Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Listen........the antidote to anxiety is prayer !
Instead of being anxious, worrying, and being discontented...........Paul says pray !
Someone has said........Be careful for nothing........Prayerful for everything.........Thankful for anything !
I’m glad this morning that we can approach the throne of grace about everything. There is nothing so small that we can’t talk to the Lord about it........nothing to big that he can’t handle !
We can bring it all to the altar !
Now get this.........what shall be the results of our prayers
2. Paul learned contentment through the peace of God. V7, 9
Also Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
How can we have the peace of God ?
We cannot experience the peace of God until we have made peace with God !
Christ has made peace for us !
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of the cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
We receive it by faith !
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have the peace of God in our hearts once we have rec’d Christ by faith !
April 9th, 1945 Dietrich Bonhoeffer was hours from his death in a Nazi Concentration camp for his role in the underground church and involvement in a plot to assassinate Hitler. On that fateful day, this impressive theologian would write his last words. What do you think they were? Would they be words that denounce the Nazi regime? Words calling all believers everywhere to rise up and overcome this Nazi war machine? On the contrary, this is what he wrote: "What is happiness and unhappiness? It depends so little on circumstances; it really depends on what happens inside a person."
If we have made peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, then we can have the peace of God dwelling in our hearts !
*Notice.........the connection that Paul makes between praying, and the peace of God
Through prayer, the peace of God shall keep our hearts, and minds !
3. Paul learned contentment through the power of God V13.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Do we believe that this morning ?
Paul’s trust was in the omnipotent God !
Whatever it is that we face........we can get through it by the power of God
Whatever our mountain........we can climb it or God can cast it into the sea through his power !
Whatever it is that we need to do.........we can do it through the power of God !
Don’t sell God short ! Don’t settle for less !
We can do all things through Christ !
4. Paul learned contentment through the provision of God. V19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Paul experienced contentment........he was able to be quiet........to wait........to be at peace because he was trusting in God for all his needs !
God knows what you need this morning ! And he is able !
5. Paul learned contentment through the presence of God. Heb 13:5-6
be content with such things as ye have:........why ?
for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee !
How could Paul be at peace ? Because he knew that the God of peace........the Prince of peace was with him........and in him !
Conclusion: God wants us to be content ! He wants us to have peace ! He has given us all that we need.
This morning........are you discontented ?
Perhaps, you’re searching for contentment in the wrong places, and wrong things.
We will never have contentment in our life until we have first of all made peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We must then pray to maintain the peace of God.
Remember the power of God that can enable us all things...........the provision of God that will supply all that we need.........and God’s presence that will never abandon us !
