contentment physical and spiritual are you happy ? are you content? do you know the difference? or,...
Post on 13-Dec-2015
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Contentment
Physical and Spiritual
Are you happy?Are you content?
Do you know the difference?
Or, Can you be one without the other? Generally,• “Happiness” is usually a temporary
condition based on external circumstances; and,
• True “contentment” is a perpetual state based internal decision and commitment.
Contentment- Phil.4:10-13; 1Tim.6:6-9
More specifically, what is it, or what isn’t it? It isn’t laziness, or being a slacker, 1Cor.4:12.
It isn’t being under-motivated, or an under-achiever, Phil.4:13.
It is a decision to be satisfied with what you have, Heb.13:5.
In a spiritual context, contentment is trusting God to provide what is needed and best, and being happy with however much or little it may be, 2Cor.12:7-10.
Contentment- Phil.4:10-13; 1Tim.6:6-9
What is the source of contentment- and what isn’t?
It isn’t abundance, Phil.4:12b- rich people can be just as greedy and discontent as poor people, 1Tim.6:17-19.
It isn’t the ability or willingness to do without, Phil.4:12a- poor people can be just as envious and covetous as rich people, 1Tim.6:9-11.
Contentment, it seems to me, has two primary sources:
1. Humility of mind; and,
2. Trust in the heart. Let me illustrate this way…
Contentment- Phil.4:10-13; 1Tim.6:6-9
Consider discontentment in our physical lives (anything from jobs, cars, homes, schools, to the sexual relationship between husbands and wives):
I should have more (competiveness based on comparisons).
I deserve more (covetousness based on arrogance).
I need more (doubt, rather than trust, based on dissatisfaction).
I want more (desire based on greed).
What is the common denominator?
Lack of humility in the thought processes, Rom.12:3.
Contentment- Phil.4:10-13; 1Tim.6:6-9
Consider contentment in our spiritual lives (anything from our relationships and roles within the kingdom to everything physical previously considered):
I should have more becomes “God will give me what I need,” Matt.6:25-33; Luke 16:10; Matt.25:14-30.
I deserve more becomes “I deserve only death,” Rom.3:23; 6:23.
I need more becomes “I have all I need,” 1Tim.6:8.
I want more becomes “I want only to please God- ‘Thy will, not mine, be done,’” 1Thess.4:10b-12.
What is the common denominator?
Trust in the heart, 2Cor.1:8-12.
Contentment- Conclusions:
Some say, “Contentment is not ‘having what you want,’ but, ‘wanting what you have.’”
Maybe- but more precisely, and from a more spiritual perspective,
“Contentment is recognizing that everything you have came from God rather from yourself
(1Tim.6:7, humility of mind),
and trusting in God that it is sufficient and best (Matt.6:30, trust in the heart),
enough to be truly appreciative for and satisfied with however much or little it may be,”
(Phil.4:11).
Contentment- Conclusions:
Now, do You have the:
Humility of mind and trust in heart necessary to be truly
appreciative (thankful) and satisfied (content) with what God provides?
If so, you will live a wonderfully content and happy life, 1Tim.6:6!
If not, a lifetime of discontent and misery awaits you, 1Tim.6:9.
The choice is yours!
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