This Sunday I was asked to sub in our ABF class (aka Sunday School) at church. We have been studying characteristics of Christ and just started, so I had quite a list to choose from. I ended up doing a lesson on contentment. Turns out we talked about this in the sermon too, so we got a double dose! Below is the lesson.
What is your definition of contentment?
- Satisfaction in all things and in all circumstances
- must ultimately come through being imitators of Christ (Eph 5:1)
- and depending upon His strength (Phil 4:13).
- must ultimately come through being imitators of Christ (Eph 5:1)
What it is NOT:
- Simple Gratification
- Gratification is the positive emotional response to a fulfillment of a desire.
- How many times are your desires filled, but you still aren't content?
- Philippians 4:11-13
- You may or may not have your desires fulfilled.
- Paul spoke to living in both fulfilled and unfulfilled desires – neither brought him contentment, but it was a learned way of life.
- Circumstances don't bring fulfillment/contentment. It is through the strength of Christ.
- You may or may not have your desires fulfilled.
- Gratification is the positive emotional response to a fulfillment of a desire.
- Lack of Ambition
- There is nothing wrong with to succeed, do better, or improve.
- Proverbs 10:4, Ecclesiastes 2:24, Ephesians 4:28
- Proverbs 10:4, Ecclesiastes 2:24, Ephesians 4:28
- God instructs us to work hard and be diligent.
- Our problem is when we begin to have a covetous spirit and insatiable desire for more.
- Proverbs 1:19
- Proverbs 1:19
- Lack of Desires
- The Lord instills in us a sense of desire – for him and for the things in which he created you for.
- Psalm 37:4
- Psalm 37:4
- Our sinful nature gets too caught up in worldly desires.
- Romans 13:14
- Romans 13:14
- Indifference/Inaction
- Contentment is not becoming lazy and neglecting our work/desires – calling it contentment as if there are no desires.
- Laziness and neglect are also sins.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10
- Contentment is not becoming lazy and neglecting our work/desires – calling it contentment as if there are no desires.
So what IS contentment?
- Submission
- Submit to God's will for your life – James 4:7-10
- Be realistic about what the Lord has given you. – characteristics of self, personality
- Some things you can't change. – enjoy them.
- Ecclesiastes 1:15, Psalm 139:13-14
- Ecclesiastes 1:15, Psalm 139:13-14
- Submit to God's will for your life – James 4:7-10
- Pleasure
- Enjoy the things you have rather than focusing on the things you don't have.
- The wrong perspective/motives leads to envy and jealousy.
- Hebrews 13:5, Ecclesiastes 4:4
- Hebrews 13:5, Ecclesiastes 4:4
- Enjoy the things you have rather than focusing on the things you don't have.
- Satisfaction
- Recognizing when enough is enough. (German writer Goethe) -- 1 Timothy 6:6-10
- Health enough to make work a pleasure.
- Wealth enough to support your needs.
- Strength enough to battle with difficulties and overcome them.
- Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them.
- Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished.
- Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor.
- Love enough to move you to be useful to others.
- Faith enough to make real the things of God.
- Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.
VIDEO – Average Joe (http://sermonspice.com/product/16465/am-i-content-3f)
- If we were honest, we could probably all relate to "Joe" at some point in our lives.
- Because of our human sin nature, we all have worldly desires that get away from us.
Are you really content?
How do I become content? Learn it! (Joe said, "It's the journey, not the destination")
- Philippians 4:11 – Paul said he learned it. So can we.
- We learn it through the faithful, diligent practice of seeking to be more like Christ.
- Christ didn't possess much (Matthew 8:20)
- Christ understood life isn't really measured by money (Luke 12:15; Matthew 6:19-21,24)
- Christ trusted in the providence of God (Matt 6:33, 1 Timothy 6:17)
- Christ was a giver, not a taker (Acts 20:35)
- Christ had his priorities set: God first, others second. (Matt 22:37-40)
- Christ didn't possess much (Matthew 8:20)
- Learn it through persevering in suffering
- Trials build character which is of greater worth than things (1 Peter 1:5-7)
- It also builds faith and inner strength (Romans 5:3-5)
- Trials build character which is of greater worth than things (1 Peter 1:5-7)
- So let all life experiences teach you to be content with what God has given you, is bringing you through, or has done for you.
- We have freedom in Christ (Romans 8:1)
- We have the spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12)
- We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16)
- We have access to God (Ephesians 2:18)
- We have fullness in Christ (Colossians 2:10)
- We have eternal life (John 5:24)
- We have EVERYTHING WE NEED.
- We have freedom in Christ (Romans 8:1)
VIDEO – Anything But Jesus (http://sermonspice.com/product/15387/anything-but-jesus)
- Satan's chief end is to distract us from the Cross.
- He will throw anything in our face to temp our desires so that we turn our attention from Jesus to other means of fulfillment.
- Make sure that you put on the armor of God to guard against such attacks. Be alert.
- It come fast and furious and can get overwhelming.
- But know that as you imitate God (Eph 5:1) and rely on the strength of Christ (Phil. 4:13).
- You can find contentment in life through Christ.
What is your commitment today to return your focus from worldly desires back to Christ?
Make a commitmen:
- What worldly desires distract me from being content?
- How will I refocus on Christ?
- Who can keep me accountable?
- Who can keep me accountable?

