1. Contentment
Phil 4:11
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I
have learned, in whatsoever state I am,
therewith to be content.
KJV
2. Paul learned contentment…
Contentment is not something we are born with,
it needs to be learned…
Contentment unrelated to circumstances…
Contentment unrelated to possessions...
Paul was in a difficult situation…
Contentment not what I have, but WHO has me
3. Society and Advertising designed to make
us discontent.
To make us unhappy, not satisfied…
To want more, or the newest, fastest,
coolest, etc.
All in the name of the Dollar..
4. Ps 36:7-8
7 How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of
men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.
8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and
Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures.
Ps 63:3-5
3 Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee.
4 Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth
shall praise Thee with joyful lips:
Ps 65:4
4 Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto
Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the
goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple.
5. Ps 107:9
9 For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with
goodness.
Ps 23:1
23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
Matt 6:25
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall
eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is
not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
CONTENTMENT I have enough, I am satisfied
6. There are 2 types of contentment
talked about in the scriptures….
Godly which is commanded
Evil or less than Gods best
Gen.37:27 Josephs brothers
Judges 17 Did what they wanted
Mark 15:15 Pilot satisfied people
7. Discontentment very serious sin
Discontentment is sin because it denies the right of God to do
with us as He will
Ignores the promise of 1 Cor. 10:13
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to
man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted
above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a
way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Heb 13:5
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content
with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave
you; never will I forsake you.“
Sin because it fails to believe GODS best for us…
8. Philippians were no strangers to trouble….
28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries:
which is to them an evident token of perdition,
but to you of salvation, and that of God.
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ,
not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer
for His sake;
30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me,
and now hear to be in me.
14 Do all things without murmurings and
disputings:
9. If Contentment is so important….
1 Contentment comes from..
Loving others
Being other oriented
Discontentment is primarily a result of being
“self preoccupied”
Phil.4:1-3 Paul basis Contentment on
relationships not circumstances
10. 2 Contentment comes from rejoicing
Rejoicing 70 times in NT not an option
V 4 Attitude of rejoicing
Acts 5:41 Flogged yet rejoiced
Primary source of Joy is obedience
11. John 15:10-11
10 If ye keep My commandments, ye shall
abide in My love; even as I have kept My
Father's commandments, and abide in His
love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that
My joy might remain in you, and that your
joy might be full.
12. 3 Learning to accept less than we are due
V 5a Let your moderation be known unto all
men… Sweet reasonableness … Generosity
Humble willingness to be disgraced or offended…
Not demanding
2 Cor. 10:1
10 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and
gentleness of Christ
Not given what we deserve…What is that?
13. 4 Confident faith in the Lord
Phil 4:5b-6a
5 … The Lord is at hand. Do not fret or have
any anxiety about anything,
Lord is closer than a brother
Lord lives in my very body
Lord loves me fervently
Nothing touches me that He has not
experienced and allowed
The Lord is my true security
14. 5 Reacting to problems with thankful prayer
Phil 4:6b but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests
be made known unto God.
Answer to prayer is not the issue TALK to GOD
Phil 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
15. 6 Think on Godly things…
Phil 4:8
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think
on these things.
To be discontent rehearse what is bad,
keep harping on it, dwell on it constantly,
tell everybody we know…