The Power of Contentment- Part 2

Philippians 4:10-14 [NLT], How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again.  I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content [satisfied, fulfilled, at peace] with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost anything or with everything.  I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.  

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 [TLB], They say they serve Christ? …I have worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again and again. 24 Five different times the Jews gave me their terrible thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods.  Once I was stoned.  Three times I was shipwrecked.  Once I was in the open sea all night and the whole next day. 26 I have traveled many weary miles and have been often in great danger from flooded rivers and from robbers and from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the hands of the Gentiles.  I have faced grave dangers from mobs in the cities and from death in the deserts [wilderness] and in the stormy seas and from men who claim to be brothers in Christ but are not. 27 I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights.  Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food; often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 28 Then, besides all of this, I have the constant worry of how the churches are getting along…  

Three Reasons Why Living an “If Only” Life is so Unhealthy: 

1.  Tendency to blame

Psalm 34:10 Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

2.  Tendency to make poor decisions

-Lucifer wanted to be the “Most High” [Is. 28, Ez. 28] 

-Adam & Eve wanted to be like God [Gen. 3]

-Cain killed his brother Abel [Gen. 4]

-Sarah convinced Abraham to sleep w/Hagar [Gen.16]

-Lot’s wife turned into a “pillar of salt” [Gen. 19]

-Esau sold his birthright to Jacob [Gen. 25]

-Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery [Gen. 37] 

-Moses killed the Egyptian [Ex. 2]

-Aaron fashioned a “golden calf” [Ex. 32]

-Korah wanted to be Moses’ equal [Num. 16]

-Achan hid stolen goods under his tent [Jos. 7]

-Samson told Delilah his secret [Jdg. 16]

-David committed adultery w/Bathsheba [2 Sam. 11]

-Amnon raped his half-sister [2 Sam. 13]

-Absalom tried to take his dad’s throne [2 Sam. 15]

-Solomon married many foreign women [1 Kin. 11]

-Herod murdered children [Mt. 2]

-Rich Young Ruler walked away from Jesus [Mt. 19]

-John & James wanted to be greater [Mt. 20]

-Judas betrayed Jesus for “30 pieces of silver” [Mt. 26]

-Peter cut an ear off [Jn. 18] 

-John Mark left the mission field [Acts 13]

-Demas loved the world [2 Tim. 4]

“When we lack contentment we typically make poor decisions that carry undesirable results.”

A.  Relationally

B.  Romantically

C.  Professionally

D.  Financially

E.  Spiritually

1 Corinthians 15:33 [NIV], Do not be misled:  “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Isaiah 54:5 [NIV], For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is His name.

Psalm 127:1 [NIV], Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.

Hebrews 13:5 [NIV], 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.”

Romans 9:20 [TPT], But who do you think you are to second-guess God?  How could a human being molded out of clay say to the one who molded him, “Why in the world did you make me this way?”

3.  Tendency to stall out spiritually

Discontentment…

-is a lack of trust in God

-amounts to complaining against God’s plan

-exhibits a desire to be in control

-wants something God has not given

-suggests God has made a mistake

-exalts our wisdom above God’s wisdom

“There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to

 whom God says, ‘All right, then, have it your way.’”  —C.S. Lewis