Learn Contentment

Those of us who live in prosperous nations are easily and frequently swayed or ‘taken in’ by the availability and advertising of products that would either make our lives ‘easier’ or be something we ‘can’t live without!’ Certain items are seen as status symbols and we are led to believe our owning them proves we are successful! I believe many adults, young adults, and even teens have been influenced to believe having ‘high end, brand named’ merchandise is a necessity. Many have to wear the latest fashions, own the newest cell phones, and wear the ‘best’ shoes available for their sport. I have seen ‘glam photos’ on the internet of a man and a woman tumbling out of their high priced car with all kinds of high end products scattered around them, so people can take note of how prosperous they are.

What this discontentment and lack of satisfaction from not having the ‘best of everything’ has led to, in those who can afford it and even in some who cannot afford it, is the increase of materialism and self- centeredness.

This discontent and lack of satisfaction doesn’t only come upon those who want ‘the best’, but also those who simply want ‘more'. Most people establish their ‘standard of living’ based on their means. They look at their income and determine what their bills will be and figure out the total of their monthly expenses. Then, they determine how much they can spend on rent, a house payment, or car payment and add that to the list. The enemy is subtle, cunning, and crafty. Over time, when expenses increase, there is a need for a bit more. When they get that little bit more, often, rather than being content, they raise their standard of living (with a new car, larger house, etc.) So, they fall into a pattern of need more, spend more, need more, spend more - until their top priority becomes making more money to support their current lifestyle or standard of living. Often the standard of living is a ‘little more’ than they can comfortably meet with their means and so, it becomes a vicious cycle. Often times the people with this mindset have, without being aware of it, placed a priority of getting rich and possessing worldly goods above all else.

The Scripture has a lot to say concerning contentment and the ‘things of the world’.

We will begin by looking at 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” Kosmos, the Greek word for ‘world means: worldly affairs, the aggregate of things earthly, the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments, riches, advantages, pleasures, etc., which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ. In addition, the word kosmos as used in verse 15 adds this definition to ‘world’ - the incentives to sin proceeding from the world. Do you see it? Everything the ‘world’ has to offer tries to pull you away from your relationship with God!

1 Peter 2:11 reveals that worldly desires “wage war against the soul.” As long as we are on the planet, this war will continue and we must choose which side we are willing to fighting for - worldly desires or the soul.

The Apostle Paul stated in Philippians 3:8 that he counts the ‘things of this world’ as ‘rubbish’. Until we come to this same conclusion, there will be a strong pull on us from the world.

1 Timothy 6:9, “But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.” The word ‘long’ in the Greek means: willing as an affection, or to desire. They are those who set their heart on getting rich.

A great Biblical description of the times in which we live is seen in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, “You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” Take note of the end of verse 4 - people will “love pleasure rather than God.” For many, striving for those things which give them pleasure, is their main goal in life. We also see they are not satisfied until they achieve that goal.

There is nothing wrong with having nice possessions, the Word of God tells us it is God’s desire to prosper us. The problems arise when the possessions or gaining them become the number one focus and priority of our life.

Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-13, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Paul had been rich and poor, had plenty or little and yet he learned that the secret of being content in every situation was knowing that he could do everything through Christ who strengthened him. That truth is as legitimate for us today as it was for Paul! Content in verse 11 means: not to fret, murmur, or chafe in the face of any circumstances, happy enough with what one has and to have enough.

1 Timothy 6:10 reveals, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” There is a lot of misunderstanding of this verse so, realize money is not the root of evil. It says, the “love of money” is the root of all kinds of evil.

Matthew 6:33 speaks plainly to what God’s desire is for us, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” When it comes to pleasing God and operating in line with His kingdom principles, our heart motivation does matter. Rather than being preoccupied with material things, our ambition should be to seek Him above all else. When we do that, He has pledged Himself with covenant faithfulness to respond.

A.W. Tozer said, “ The evil habit of seeking God - AND…..” effectively prevents us from finding God in full revelation. In the ‘and’ lies our great woe. If we omit the ‘and’ we shall soon find God and in Him we shall find that, for which we have all our lives been secretly longing.”

We don’t need God AND something else. God is all we need. We have to stop trying to find fulfillment apart from Christ.

Throughout the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon repeatedly uses the phrase, “Vanity of Vanities.” According to the New Spirit Filled Life Bible commentary , “the literal meaning of vanity of vanities, is ‘breath of breaths, meaning “a most useless thing.” The metaphor “breath” points to what is transitory and impermanent.” Solomon further explains that that there is no gain, no profit, and no abiding value to man from his labor in this life.” Solomon gives his conclusion to his search in Ecclesiastes 12:13b, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.”

Reverence and obedience to God are man’s all. The ‘things of this world’ were all found to be vanity and will pass away, but one’s relationship with God will stand when He judges the earth.

We’ve looked quite a bit at the ‘things of the world’, however, at this juncture, I need to ask you, “How high on your “desire” list is contentment? First, I think we need to define ‘contentment.’ The Greek word we will use to define it is ’autarkeia’ and is used in 1 Timothy 6:6. Autarkeia means: a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed, sufficiency of the necessities of life, a mind contented with its lot, and contentment. Synonyms for the word contentment are: satisfaction, contentedness, peace, fulfillment, and serenity. How does that sound to you? Instead of striving and never being satisfied, I would love to have an ever present sense of satisfaction, peace, and fulfillment.

Looking at 1 Timothy 6:6-8, “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” In verse 6, eusebeia is the Greek for ‘godliness'. It means: reverence, respect, and piety towards God. One thing we always want to keep in mind concerning ‘worldly things’ is what we read in verse 7, “we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

Hebrews 13:5 (NASB20), “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER ABANDON YOU,"

Philippians 4:19 (NKJV), “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Here is what we need to understand, “what” we need to be content, is actually more accurately “who” we need, to be content. That “who” is Christ.

He is our joy, peace, Shepherd, hope, comfort, rest, Redeemer, friend, physician, truth, defense, fortress, rock, mediator, strength, provider, wisdom, refuge….

What more can I say?

He is my everything!

Colossians 3:11b, (NKJV), “ Christ is my “all” and in all.”

Learn contentment - you will be blessed!

NASB20 - New American Standard Bible 2020

NKJV - New King James Version

The rest of the Scriptures are NLT - New Living Translation