Simple Contentment
I Timothy 6:6-10
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
I Timothy 6:6-10 NKJV
When you pray, what do you ask the Lord for?
Prayer is the One of the most powerful tools the Lord has gifted us.
It always has amazed me that the Apostles never asked Jesus how to heal, but how to pray!
Prayer is powerful!
It is a gateway to the Father’s ear when we pray in the name of His Son Jesus.
We pray for the obvious.
Our families, our spouse, children. Sick and suffering friends.
We pray for the Salvation of the lost souls to find Salvation in Jesus.
We ask for forgiveness of our sins. We pray to be made whole, washed, cleansed.
We pray in all things for all things!
When was the last time you prayed to the Lord to just be content with what He has Blessed you with?
When the Apostle Paul writes the great quote,
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 NKJV
For some reason many skip through the reason Paul can do all things through Christ.
Not that I speak in regard to need, for 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, both to abound and to suffer need.
Philippians 4:11-12 NKJV
Paul is content no matter what situation he is in.
The definition of content is to be satisfied, to be in a peaceful state no matter the circumstances.
He knows how to be humble in all situations.
He knows when to stand.
Then he says he learned to be full and hungry.
Contentment does not come from our circumstances.
It doesn’t come in the form of riches, money or anything the world has to offer.
Paul tells Timothy;
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content
There is a Doctrine of demons that has swept through the Church.
There’s a thought that has grown that God wants all to have in abundance.
It’s all about health and wealth. The people of God are falling victim to it.
There are many influential people in pulpits that speak as if Jesus is our genie and we can ask Him for the most outlandish material things. People are expecting to come out of poverty into riches.
The saddest thing is they have forgotten they have been bought with a price, and have all the riches one could ever imagine!
All the wealth and riches of this world could never come close to the riches to be found in the Glory of God in Heaven!
The use of His Holy Word gets twisted to manipulate people to fall into the trap.
Lord have mercy.
So what is an abundant life?
Abundant means plentiful, ample, bountiful.
Yes! This is what we want.
But there is another meaning.
Sufficient. It means enough.
I totally understand the hardships that we have and go through. The inability to pay bills, have food on the table. Clothes for our children. The threat of losing a home.
Out of desperation these prayers go up.
Sometimes they don’t get answered.
For some an unanswered prayer brings hopelessness and a faithless heart.
This is an area where the Church has failed. we havefailedd to show that Christ is enough. That hardships of this life are inevitable, but the hope and glory that awaits us is unexplainable!
There is an abundant life waiting for us, but it’s not in abundance as the world sees.
The abundant life He promises is a life in Him and Him alone. It’s in the Salvation of our souls to be reunited to the Father for Eternity!
It’s the cleansing of our sins and iniquities.
The freedom from shame and guilt!
These are the things to boost about!
The Power and authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth has over our lives!
Why can’t we just be content with the Glorious Blood He shed, the curse that was lifted from us!
Our fulfillment is in His Sacrifice and Resurrection.
The greatest gift Jesus has given to all of humanity is the miracle for the forgiveness of sin!
But for some reason we need more than that!
Ask yourself today is the Blood of Jesus enough.
No Really. If that’s all you had to show would you be satisfied with just that?
If like Job, all was taken from us, could we still come to the altar of God and say
Though you slay me, I will still Worship You!
Job found his contentment in the Father and nothing else. Even when his friends and wife tried to influence him, Job would not budge!
His content was in the Lord.
Somewhere along the line we have forgotten that. We want to prosper as the world see prosperity.
There is no contentment.
If there is no contentment there can be no godliness. No godliness, no satisfaction in Jesus!
Because those that pursue the riches of the world will eventually fall away from the altar of God!
There are consequences for not being wholly content in the Lord. We will start to chase after the lust of the world and flesh.
Paul tells Timothy it is a snare! A trap. It’s foolish. It’s harmful.
Paul tells the Philippian Christians that he knew what it was like to have and not have. To be free and imprisoned.
Paul’s whole existence was not determined on what he had but what Christ did.
Contentment does not come naturally to us. It’s in our nature to look around us and see the riches of the world. To see the fruit it offers. To covet thy neighbor’s goods.
Oh, how many strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
You may have little. You may have plenty. We may be broken in spirit. Physically ailing with hurt and pain. Discouragement may have sank to the depths of our souls. We may be on top of the world with nothing to worry about;
Today don’t allow your circumstances to dictate the contentment we have in Jesus.
But seek and find satisfaction, to be in a peaceful state no matter the circumstances, in the Precious Wounds of Christ!
That’s when you know that in all things, through all things. No matter the circumstances you are in, you can do all things through Christ!
Because He is your strength and not your circumstance!
Be content.
Pastor Ed
