Category: Contentment

“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7).

You have heard of the silly stories about men who asked to be buried with their cash so that they “could take it with them.” Or the practice of kings and nobles, being buried with riches, treasure and servants to serve in the afterlife. It is absurd to think any of this has any validity with what we know of death and eternity.

However, this does not change the fact that people make it their life’s purpose to gain material riches. This often leads to strife, sorrow and foolishness. Consider what Jesus said about the rich man who trusted in his possessions, “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:20-21). Continue reading “Greed and Contentment” →

The prayer is rather famous. It has taken various similar forms from the 1930’s, and was apparently adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous in the 1940’s. It is called the serenity prayer.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

It seems that the prayer has three very important and true sentiments. Let’s consider them in turn.

First, we need serenity – the state of being calm, peaceful and untroubled. Our serenity is tied to the loving provision of our Master. Paul wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). We do not need to be concerned about things beyond our control, because God is in control of all! Even against the most powerful of forces, “The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, ‘Surely as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand…’” (Isaiah 14:24).

Second, we need courage – strength in the face of pain, grief or hardship. There is much we can actually do with God’s help, especially spiritually. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Sometimes hard decisions have to be made –  sacrifices, changes, repentance. Many are unwilling to make those decisions. An example were the rulers of the Jews who believed in Jesus, but because of the Pharisees were unwilling to confess him, “lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43). It is always important to do what is right in the sight of the Lord God, no matter the consequence.

Finally, we need wisdom – the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. In the Bible, this wisdom comes from a knowledge of God’s word, experience, and prayer. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). Here our wisdom allows us to know when to act, and when to leave our troubles with God. As Jesus said, don’t worry, “for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matthew 6:32). We understand that since God knows and cares, He will act to protect us and provide what we need.

It may be that the Serenity Prayer is misused or misunderstood by some.  But it contains truths to embrace!

A discussion of Philippians 4:10-13 applying Paul’s contentment in prison, and his recognition that with God’s help he could not be thwarted in his efforts to please Him, to our own lives.

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The apostle Paul expressed a number of conflicting emotions that were a constant part of his work as an apostle. For example, he wrote about his feelings toward his unbelieving countrymen, saying that, “I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh…” (Romans 9:2-3).

However, in his letter to the Philippians he remarked upon his remembrance of them, “always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now…” (Philippians 1:4-5). Later in the same epistle he talked of his having learned, “in whatever state I am, to be content” (4:11). He also remarked upon the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” that is the blessing of all who give their troubles over to God in prayer (cf. 4:7).

While these emotions seem contradictory, they are the expressions of a child of God who sorrows for the lost, rejoices with the saved, and has learned to trust in his God.

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed — always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).

May we all feel the same emotions as those expressed by Paul’s example.

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Speaker: Jeremiah Cox
The apostle Paul learned how to be content, no matter his life’s circumstances. This is a lesson we greatly need to learn as well.

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I came across a poem of sorts on the internet the other day. It is intended to be an expression of hope for blessings to another. The woman who was overheard reciting the verse introduced it with the following words, “When we said ‘I wish you enough’ we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.” Here is the poem:

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

Author Unknown

A pretty sentiment. It reminds me of Paul’s words to Timothy, “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:8). Of course, the threshold of “just enough” can not be reached unless God is present in one’s life. And if God is there, then any amount we receive suffices! Remember Jesus’ words, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).

The Apostle Paul in dire conditions or in times of abundance, depended upon Jesus Christ, his Savior, for comfort and fulfillment. This is evident from a textual study of Philippians 4, and gives us a wonderful lesson as application.

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The wise man of the book of Ecclesiastes describes the despair of a life lived without God, the best way to be content while living upon the earth, and his final conclusion concerning the best way to live your life, for God (Ecclesiastes 12:9-13).

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“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14, ESV).

The Bible calls us to be content in our lives. Jesus said, “Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’” (Matthew 6:31). The apostle Paul exemplified this attitude, even while imprisoned, in his epistle to the Philippians, “…I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, bot to abound and to suffer need” (4:11-12).

However, as our initial text notes, there is one area where contentment can be detrimental to the Christian, and that is self-satisfaction in the area of his Christian walk. While it would be unfortunate for us to doubt the Lord’s promises of blessings to his followers, we should never be satisfied with where we are in our journey to heaven. It is necessary that we continue to press forward, lest we falter.

The Hebrew writer warned about neglect, and exhorted his readers to “give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (2:1). He noted that some of them had “become dull of hearing” (5:11). For the Christian, diligence is the watchword. Contentment and self-satisfaction are the enemies of faithfulness!

Guest speaker Joshua Cox establishes from scripture that as Christians we are to live lives of contentment. The pursuit and love of money is problematic in the Christian life.

One exception to note: A Christian must not be content with regard to his knowledge of God’s word. He must press on, and strive for perfection.

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AOTS Number 39

The truly wealthy person is the one who is content with what he has. Godliness with contentment is great gain!

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Lesson based on text in 2 Peter 1:3-4. God promises us to forget our sinful past, to help us resist and overcome temptation, to hear our prayerful petitions and to grant us an eternal inheritance through His son Jesus.

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