C. BOSTIAN CONTENMENT
PT. 2 6/18/03
Philip. 4:10-14
(KJV)
But I rejoiced in
the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again;
wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. [11] Not that I speak
in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to
be content. [12] I know both how to be abased, and I know how to
abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be
hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. [13] I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me. [14] Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye
did communicate with my affliction.
WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING ABOUT CONTENTMENT IN THIS
PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE IN PHIL.4:10-14 OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. WE’VE LEARNED A NUMBER OF THINGS ABOUT THIS
ELUSIVE THING WE CALL SATISFACTION OR CONTENTMENT. SO LET’S TAKE A QUICK REVIEW AS AN INTRODUCTION THIS MORNING.
1.
true,
lasting contentment is never another “happy meal” that you can purchase.
2.
the
only problem with the happy meal syndrome is our toys get bigger and cost more
but they can never bring us lasting happiness or contentment.
3.
having
enough money to pay your bills will never bring you lasting contenment.
4.
contentment
does not mean the absence of all your problems cause that will never happen
until you get to heaven.
5.
We
live in an utterly discontent culture. We are discontent with wherewe live, we
are discontent with what we look like. We are discontent with who we are married
to. We are discontent with our job. We are basically discontent with the
circumstances and the difficulties that come our way.
6.
if
content ment cannot be purchased then how do we experience contentment?
contentment is a learned behavior…paul said, i have learned to be content in
whatever situation i am in.
7. HEB.13:5-6 Let your lifestyle be without
covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I
will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. [6] So that we may boldly say, The
Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
8.
learning
to be content will help us to trust in god providential care when we pass
through difficult times.
9.
learning
to be content will help us to overcome the temptations that we encounter in prosperous
times. when there is more than enough
money we are tempted to purchase things we really don’t need and we begin to
trust in ourselves instead of god.
10.WEBSTER
DEFINES CONTENTMENT: HAPPY ENOUGH
WITH WHAT ONE HAS OR IS, NOT DESIRING SOMEHTHING MORE OR DIFFERENT; SOMEONE WHO
IS SATISFIED; TO BE PLEASED WITH WHAT ONE HAS OR IS. THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF CONTENTMENT IS Freedom from anxiety or worry. The idea of contentment comes from a
Greek word that means "independence" or "self-sufficiency."
But the apostle Paul used the word in a Christian sense to show that real
satisfaction or sufficiency comes from God: "I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me" Phil.
4:13
11.contentment is not being driven by wanting more.
12.MY LIFE IS NOT ON HOLD UNTIL I PURCHASE SOMETHING I’VE WANTED FOR A
LONG TIME OR THE PROMOTION I AM SEEKING AT WORK.
13.CONTENTMENT HELPS ME TO LIVE A FOCCUSSED LIFE RIGHT NOW. I’M NOT LIVING FOR TOMORROW, I’M LIVING FOR
TODAY.
14.Contentment begins with confidence in God's providence, It begins
with a settled confidence in God's sovereign control of all of the events of
life that ultimately are going to reach us for our good.
15.Satisfaction is not related to what you have. Satisfaction is not
related to what you don't have. Satisfaction is related to living above that
level and understanding the providence of God, the promises of God and being
satisfied with little in this life, anticipating much more in the life to come.
Philip. 4:10-14
(MsgB)
I'm glad in God,
far happier than you would ever guess-happy that you're again showing such
strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me.
You just had no chance to show it. [11] Actually, I don't have a sense of
needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever
my circumstances. [12] I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as
with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry,
hands full or hands empty. [13] Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it
through anything in the One who makes me who I am. [14] I don't mean that your
help didn't mean a lot to me-it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came
alongside me in my troubles.
A famous researcher once
asked 2,264 Americans this question: "What do you most want out of
life?" The response was nearly unanimous--everyone wanted to be
"happy." THE BOOK OF PHILLIPIANS HAS BEEN CALLED BY SOME PEOPLE AS A
LITTLE HANDBOOK TO HAPPINESS AND JOY.
PAUL TELLS US TO REJOICE IN THE LORD AWAYS AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE. WHAT HE IS REALLY SAYING TO US IS TO BE
HAPPY OR JOYOUS ALL THE TIME INSPITE OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES OR SITUATIONS. A SIMPLE DEFINITION OF CONTENTMENT IS TO BE
SATISFIED OR HAPPY. IN THE SCRIPTURE
Joy is a deep, abiding sense of satisfaction and fulfillment that flows from
our relationship with Jesus Christ. It is the birthright of every Christian,
something purchased for us by Christ, something we all desire and which God
desires for us. And yet joy is something which we don’t always experience. Too
often, instead of joy, we feel restless, unhappy, vaguely dissatisfied. Why?
What’s the problem? If it’s true that we are to "rejoice in the Lord
always," as Paul writes in Philippians chapter 4, what’s getting in the
way? The answer is joy-killers. Joy-killers are attitudes that prevent us from
experiencing the full, abundant, joy-filled life in Christ that God intended.
SINCE
SATSIFACTION OR CONTENTMENT IS A LEARNED BEHAVIOR I MUST ADJUST MY THINKING TO
accommodate FOR BEING CONTENT. YOU SEE,
THE THOUGHTS I MEDITATE ON WILL CONDITION THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT MY LIFE AND
ULTIMATELY DEVELOP ATTITUDES THAT ARE EITHER BUILDING ME UP OR TEARING ME
DOWN. THERE ARE THREE ATTITUDES WE MUST
LEARN IF WE ARE EVER GOING TO FIND CONTENTMENT.
Phil. 4:18-20
Yes, and I will
continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that
through your
prayers and the help given by the Spirit of
Jesus Christ, what
has happened to me will turn out for
my
deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect
and hope that I will in no
way be ashamed, but
will have sufficient courage so that
now as always
Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life
or by death. 21 For
to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
1. in order to find contentment we must have
ruthlessly realistic expectations. you see, we
tend to approach life with hidden expectations, we guess what the payoff’s
gonna be. so in our mind we say things like, if i could just have that or if i
could just get a raise or if i could just loose some weight i’d be content. so we make up in our mind what the payoof’s
gonna be and when we get it the payoff is aLWAYS A lot less than what we
expected. when our expectations are unrealistic we set ourselves up for
dissappointment and discontentment.
LET
ME GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
IF MY MARRIAGE IS IN TROUBLE because OF YEARS OF ABUSE A ONE WEEKEND
SEMINAR ISN’T GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY FIX MY MARRIAGE, BUT IT IS A START IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION. IF I EXPECT THE
SEMINAR TO HEAL MY MARRIAGE OVERNIGHT I AM SETTING MYSELF UP FOR
DISSAPPOINTMENT.
IF
A PERMED HAIR EVANGELIST COMES IN FROM TULSA AND PROPHECIES OVER YOU GOD’S 100
FOLD BLESSING YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME POSITIVE MOTIVATION TO BEGIN TITHING.
HOWEVER, IF YOU THINK THAT ONE TITHE IS GOING TO RESTORE YEARS OF STEALING FROM
GOD YOU WILL BE DISSAPPONTED BECAUSE IT MAY TAKES YEARS. WE MUST HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF RUTHLESSLY
REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS IF WE ARE GOING TO FIND LASTING CONTENTMENT IN LIFE.
if
i’m a student in school and have a “d” in algebra and i decide to cram the
night before the final exam, i’m setting myself up for some major
discontentment. but if i find a tutor
half way through the semester and study real hard i will be content with the
results. you see, we have to be
ruthlessly realistic about our expectations or we’re gonna set ourselves up for
a DISATISFACTION, DISCONTENTMENT AND DEPRESSION.
serenity
prayer:
Philip. 4:4-8 (KJV)
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. [5] Let your
moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. [6] Be careful for
nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth
all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. [8]
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if
there be any praise, think on these things.
2.
now the second thing we cAn do to learn how to be content in life is to learn
to develop and attitude of gratitude. learn to be
thankful for the blessings of god in your life. when you are thankful your focus will be on the positive things
that are happenning in your life instead of the negative things. listen, we all have negative things that
happen to us in life but we don’t have to let them control our behavior and
response.
1. Illust. A Russian woman
lived with her husband & two children in a very small hut. Her husband's
parents lost their home & she had to take them in. Unbearable. In
desperation, she went to the village wise man, whom she knew had solved many,
many problems. "What should I do?" she begged. "Do you have a
COW?" asked the wise man. "Yes," she replied. Then bring her
into the hut too. And come back and see me in a week," said the wise man.
A week later she was back. "This is utterly unbearable" she said.
"Do you have any CHICKENS?" asked wise man. "Yes," she replied.
"What about them?" Bring them into the hut too, and come back and see
me in another week." "Now you're utterly out of your mind," she
said. Nevertheless, still awed by his reputation, she did as he asked. A week
later she returned. "This is absolutely impossible," she said.
"Our home is a mess." "All right," said the wise man,
"take out the chickens." The next week she reported that without the
chickens it was definitely better, but still a miserable situation. "All
right," said the wise man, "now take out the cow. That will settle
your problem." And it did. Without the chickens & cow, the woman, her
husband, the children, and his two parents got along quite peacefully.
Everything is relative! Sometimes we don't know how well
off we really are!
Eph
5:19-21
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving
thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
2 Cor 9:10-15
10 Now may He who
supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed
you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are
enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us
to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs
of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13
while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience
of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your
liberal sharing
with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer
for you, who long
for you because of the exceeding grace of
God in you. 15
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
1 Thess 5:14-22
14 Now we exhort
you, brethren, warn those who are unruly,
comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be
patient with all.
15 See that no one
renders evil for evil to anyone, but always
pursue what is good
both for yourselves and for all. 16 Rejoice
always, 17 pray
without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks;
for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench
the Spirit. 20 Do
not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things;
hold fast what is
good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
If you are waiting for the perfect gift, the perfect job or the
perfect relationship before you give thanks it will never happen. we’re not living in a perfect world. everything is transient and temporary. you might not live in a mansion with a
swimming pool and jacuzi but its better than the guy who lives in a cardboard
box under the overpass. learn to be
thankful for what you got. wise people,
solomon said, learn to cultivate gratitude.
contented people have a large capacity for gratitude and you have to
learn that. that’s why parents
teach their children, now what do you say….oh yea, thank you.
Col 1:11-12
12 giving thanks to
the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the
saints in the light.
1 Tim 2:1-3
2:1 Therefore I
exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of
thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we
may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
WE HAVE A LOT TO BE
THANKFUL FOR AND GOD LOVES IT WHEN WE EXPRESS THAT THANKSGIVING TO HIM AND TO
OTHERS. I LIVE BETTER THAN I DESERVE
AND SO DO YOU. NONE OF US DESERVE WHAT
WE HAVE. WE ALL COULD BE LIVING IN
AFGANASTAN IN A TENT AND A CAMEL BUT THANK GOD WE LIVE WITH REASONABLE SECURITY
AND AFFLUENCE. WE DON’T DESERVE ANY OF
IT SO LET’S BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT WE GOT.
2 Cor. 12:9 (MsgB)
and then he told me,My
grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your
weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on
the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's
strength moving in on my weakness.
3. PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE CONTENTMENT HAVE
DEVELOPED AN ATTITUDE THAT RISES ABOVE BEING A VICTIM TO ADVERSITIES AND A
BELIEF THAT THEY CAN DO ALL THINGS THORUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS THEM. And so,
confidently says the Apostle, "I have the strength to do anything through
His strength." This word, "to be Strong," the word that is
translated, "I can do," is the word that is translated in Acts 19:16,
"overpowered." It is translated in Acts 19:20, "prevailed."
It is translated in James 5:16 "effective," or "powerful prayer
of a righteous man." It's a word of strength, it's a word of power. And
Paul is saying, "I have the power to go through all things." By the
way, in the Greek the "all things" is in the emphatic first position.
When the Greeks want to lay the emphasis, they put that word first. All things
I have the power to endure. And what is he talking about? What do you mean all
things? Well, you have to go back in the context, all things is pretty generic
if left by itself. And you just go back to VERSES 11 and 12 you know what he's
talking ABOUT CIR- cumstances, he's talking about being filled or going hungry,
having abundance of material things, or suffering material need. That's what
he's talking about. He's saying, "Look, I have the strength to go through
all things, all deprivations, all difficulties in the material world, all times
of prosperity," he's talking about the material world. "I have the ability
to deal with any kind of material circumstance because of my spiritual
strength." That's what he's saying. I can go without food, for a while,
obviously, I can go without clothes, I can go without comfort, I can go without
warmth, I can go without freedom, I can go without care, I can endure pain, I
can endure danger, I can endure persecution, I can endure suffering, I can
endure threat, I can endure all of that on the outside because I am so
strengthened BY CHRIST on the inside. See, when you get to the point where you
are at the end of your resources and you're dependent on the Lord and you see
the movement of His power, you find contentment.
2
Cor. 4:7-9 (MsgB)
If
you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious
Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to
prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. [8] As it is, there's not much chance of
that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded
and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to
do, [9] but we know that God knows what
to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've
been thrown down, but we haven't broken.
SOMEONE
ONCE SAID THAT contentment is ACTUALLY a byproduct of distress. Contentment comes when
you experience the sustaining power of Christ in those times when you have no
human strength. To him who has no might, God increases strength. If you've
never been there, maybe you've never experienced it. Paul says, "I'm
content, I've seen the power of God." We should be praying for enough
distress in our life, for enough difficulty in our life to cast us on Christ
that we might see His power explode On our behalf and therein to be
content.
YOU
SEE, When WE ARE at the end of OUR human resources AND the power of God
STRENGTH COMES INTO MY LIFE IT tells me that He's involved in my life and
therein lies my contentment. I would worry and fret and experience anxiety
and a lack of peace and a certain amount of fear about my RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
if I hadn't seen the power of God manifest IN MY LIFE DURING THOSE DIFFICULT
TIMES. WHEN I SEE THAT I AM NOT A
VICTIM OF MY CIRCUMSTANCES AND I EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF GOD IN MY LIFE I FIND
TRUE CON-TENTMENT.
Matthew 6:19-21
(MsgB)
"Don't hoard
treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust
or—worse!—stolen by burglars. [20] Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's
safe from moth and rust and burglars. [21] It's obvious, isn't it? The place
where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up
being.
4. HERE’S THE FOURTH ATTITUDE THAT CONTENTED
PEOPLE LEARN: WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE GONNA INVEST YOUR LIFE IN,
ALWAYS STAKE YOUR LIFE ON WHAT CAN SATISFY YOUR SOUL. DON’T BLOW
YOU WHOLE LIFE CHACING A HAPPY MEAL THAT WILL NEVER BRING YOU LASTING
CONTENMENT.
Matthew 6:30-34 (MsgB)
"If God gives such attention to the appearance of
wildflowers—most
of which are never even
seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for
you? [31] What I'm trying to do
here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so
you can respond to God's giving. [32] People who don't know God
and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both
God and how he works. [33] Steep your life in God-reality,
God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll
find all your everyday human concerns will be met. [34] "Give your entire
attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what
may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard
things come up when the time comes.
EVERYTHING ELSE WILL FALL
INTO PLACE WHEN YOU PUT THE LORD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE. SO THE FIRST THING I WANT TO INVEST MYSELF INTO IS SEEKING THE
KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS KNOWING THAT I HAVE A PROMISE FROM GOD
THAT ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO ME. TRUE CONTENTMENT IS A BY-PRODUCT OF A CHRIST CENTERED LIFE. THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRULY CONTENT IN LIFE
ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING MORE THAN JUST THEIR OWN PERSONAL CONTENTMENT. THE GOAL IN THEIR LIFE IS MORE THAN
FINANCIAL STATUS OR ECONOMIC SECURITY.
PAUL PUT IT THIS WAY IN:
Philip. 3:13-15 (KJV)
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I
do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those
things which are before, [14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high
calling of God in Christ Jesus. [15] Let us therefore, as many as be perfect,
be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal
even this unto you.
Philip. 3:13-15 (MsgB)
Friends, don't get me
wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my
eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. [14] I'm off and
running, and I'm not turning back. [15] So let's keep focused on that goal,
those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something
else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred
vision—you'll see it yet!
TRULY
CONTENT PEOPLE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE ONE THING THAT CAN SATISFY THE HUMAN
SOUL IS SOMETHING ETERNAL. SO THAT
WHETHER HE’S GOT A LOT OR A LITTLE, WHETHER HE’S IN CIRCUMSTANCES HARD OR EASY,
WHETHER HE’S IN A FIVE STAR HOTEL OR IN MOTEL 6, HE’S FOUND SOMETHING BETTER
AND MORE NOBLER. SO HIS LIFE IS NOT
ABOUT WHAT HE DOES OR DOESN’T HAVE, WHAT HE DOES OR DOESN’T ACHIEVE, HIS
ATTENTION IS FOCUSSED ON LIVING A LIFE PLEASING TO GOD KNOWING THAT WILL BRING
LASTING PEACE AND CONTENTMENT.
PAUL
HAS LEARNED THAT WHAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY CRAVING FOR CAN NEVER BE FOUND ON THIS
EARTH. WHAT PEOPLE ARE CRAVING AND
LONGING FOR IS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. WE ARE ALL BROUGHT INTO THIS WORLD WITH A
GOD SHAPED VACCUUM. SO PEOPLE ARE CRAVING FOR THE ETERNAL BECAUSE GOD DESIGNED
US AND CREATED US TO BE ETERNAL CREATURES.
WHEN YOU HAVE SECURED THE PLACE YOU SPEND ETERNITY YOU CAN GET ON WITH
LIVING A LIFE THAT WILL GLORIFY GOD AND BE SATISFIED WITH SUCH THINGS AS YOU
HAVE.
Isaiah 55:1-3 (MsgB)
"Hey there! All who
are thirsty, come to the water! Are you
penniless? Come anyway—buy and eat! Come, buy
your drinks,
buy wine and milk. Buy
without money—everything's free!
[2] Why do you spend your
money on junk food, your hard-earned cash on cotton candy? Listen to me, listen
well: Eat only the best, fill yourself with only the finest. [3] Pay attention,
come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words. I'm
making a lasting covenant commitment with you, the same that I made with David:
sure, solid, enduring love.
HERE ISAIAH IS TRYING TO
EXPLAIN CONTENTMENT TO HIS PEOPLE.
DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON HAPPY MEALS THAT CAN’T MAKE YOU HAPPY. THEN HE GOES ON TO SAY IN THIS CHAPTER TO
SEEK THE LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND.
STAKE YOU LIFE ON WHAT ALONE CAN SATISFY THE HUMAN SOUL. DR. C.S. LEWIS WRITES, IF WE CONSIDER THE UNBLUSING
PROMISES OF REWARD AND THE STAGGERING NATURE OF THE REWARDS PROMISED IN
SCRITPTURE, REWARDS LIKE THIS ONE. IT WOULD SEEM THAT OUR LORD FINDS OUR DESIRE
NOT TOO STRONG BUT TOO WEAK. WE ARE
HALF HEARTED PEOPLE FOOLING ABOUT WITH DRINK, SEX AND AMBITION, WHEN INFINITE
JOY IS BEING OFFERED TO US LIKE AN IGNORANT CHILD WHO WANTS TO GO MAKE MUD PIES
IN A SLUM BECAUSE HE CAN’T IMAGINE WHAT IS MEANT BY A HOLIDAY OFFERED BY THE
SEA. WE ARE FAR TO EASILY PLEASED. NO THOSE ARE THE WORDS FOR A TOMBSTONE OF A
WORLD CHASING HAPPY MEALS. NOT A WORLD
THAT DESIRES TOO MUCH BUT A WORLD THAT SETTLES FOR TOO LITTLE. SO I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU THIS MORNING TO
STAKE YOUR LIFE ON THE PURSUIT OF GOD AND TAKE THE NEES TEA PLUNG INTO THE ARMS
OF A LOVING GOD AND FIND CONTENTMENT FOR YOUR SOUL.
IN ORDER TO LEARN
CONTENMENT WE MUST DEVELOP POSITIVE ATTITUDES IN OUR LIFE. WE MUST:
