Christian Contentment

1. Christian Contentment is not conceit.

1) There are some who have the idea that contentment is conceit.

a. They may look at their beauty, brains, or brawn and pronounce themselves “better” than others.

b. These see themselves as “above” those around them.

c. And with that they are immensely satisfied.

d. They have a “contentment,” but it is not a Christian contentment.

2) The Christian knows that contentment can never be conceit because…

a. God made all equal. Acts 10:34

b. We are not to think of ourselves higher than others. Romans 12:3

c. Jesus died for all men regardless of beauty, brains, or brawn. (1 John 4:14).

d. There is no glory before God in men’s (and women’s) imaginations (1 Cor. 1:26-29).

2. Christian Contentment is not laziness.

1) Some think that contentment is being lazy.

a. Some fail to work and provide for their families.

b. Some fail to work and use what they earn to give to the poor.

c. Some are never motivated to work for the Lord.

d. These have a poverty, but it is of the mind, soul, and spirit.

2) The Christian knows that contentment can never be laziness because…

a. God wants us to work to provide for our own (2 Thess. 3:10, 12; 1 Timothy 5:8).

b. God wants us to work to provide for the poor (Eph. 4:28).

c. God wants us to work within his vineyard/kingdom (Matt. 9:37, 38; 1 Cor. 3:9).

3. Christian Contentment is not being self-satisfied.

1) Some think that contentment is being satisfied with one’s personal salvation.

a. Some decide that getting their “ticket punched” is all that is necessary to be saved.

b. Some decide that they have done enough for the church and simply quit participating in the work and activities of the church.

c. Some decide that they are saved regardless of how much or how little they work for the Lord.

2) The Christian knows that contentment can never be self-satisfaction because…

a. God expects us to assemble with the saints regularly (Heb. 10:25).

b. We can never do enough in this life to earn our own salvation (Ephesians 2:8).

c. We must constantly examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5).

1. Contentment is living within one’s means.

1) Many today do not live within their means.

a. This is specially a problem in the United States.

b. The desire to have more things and better things is great.

c. We must “keep up with the Jones.”

d. As a result we max out multiple credit cards.

e. Obtain great amounts of debt which we cannot pay back.

f. I don’t think there is any one of us that is not guilty of this to some degree.

g. Some even must file for bankruptcy because they do not have the means to pay it all back.

2) In contrast, the Christian knows that contentment means living within one’s means.

a. This is what Paul spoke of to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:6-12.

b. It is what Jesus spoke of in Matthew 6:19-34

c. We need to be free from the love of money (Hebrews 13:5, 6).

d. This attitude is perhaps best expressed in Jesus words, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11)

2. Contentment is being happy regardless of one’s situation.

1) There are those who are never happy regardless of their situation.

a. There are those who are millionaires, even billionaires who are not content.

b. I heard on the news the other day that Donald Trump filed for bankruptcy protection. Why?

c. Those in the middle class seem to be constantly climbing the corporate ladder. I know.

d. Some are poor and miserable.

e. Others are poor and happy.

f. What is the difference?

g. Learning contentment.

2) Christians know that one can be content regardless of one’s personal situation.

a. In Philippians 4:11, 12 Paul discussed this. Read.

b. After being beaten and cast into prison, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God (Acts 16:25). How could they do that? They knew contentment.

c. In 1 Cor. 4:11, 12 Paul described the pitiful estate of many preachers of the gospel, yet they bless and rejoice. How can they do that? They know contentment.

3. Contentment is the peaceful self-assurance of salvation.

1) There are those who simply cannot comprehend basing contentment upon a spiritual premise.

a. The physical has us so trapped that we believe that if we don’t have stuff then we can’t be content.

b. In our society material possessions are the cause of much strife and envy.

a) Personal Lawsuits

b) Divorce

c) Inheritance disputes.

d) Custody battles are often fought due to the money.

c. All of these things are due to an improper focus upon the value of physical things.

2) The Christian knows that it is not in the physical that we find contentment, but the spiritual.

a. Jesus gave up riches and became poor so that we might be rich (2 Cor. 8:9).

b. Jesus taught us to value the spiritual, not physical (Matthew 6:19-24).

c. It is godliness that brings contentment, not physical wealth (1 Timothy 6:6).

d. Trust in God brings contentment, not trust in self or possessions (1 Timothy 6:17-19).