“Ten Conversations”: How to be Content
How to be Content:
You must not have any other god but Me
You must not make for yourself an idol
You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God
Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
Honor your father and mother
You must not murder
You must not commit adultery
You must not steal
You must not lie
You must not covet
Exodus 20:17 (NLT) You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servants, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.
Covet — “to desire something that belongs to someone else.”
If it belongs to someone else, it’s sacred.
1. A lack of contentment can cause weariness
Ecclesiastes 1:7-8 (NLT) Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. 8 Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.
Proverbs 23:4 (NLT) Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.
2. A lack of contentment can cause disappointment
1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NASB) But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
3. A lack of contentment can pull us towards greed
Luke 12:15, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Proverbs 21:26 (NLT) Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!
4. A lack of contentment can lead to poor decisions
Lucifer rebelled against God[Is. 28, Ez. 28]
Adam & Eve ate the fruit [Gen. 3]
Cain killed his brother [Gen. 4]
Sarah convinced Abraham to sleep w/Hagar [Gen.16]
Lot’s wife looked back[Gen. 19]
Esau sold his birthright [Gen. 25]
Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery [Gen. 37]
Moses killed an Egyptian [Ex. 2]
Aaron made the golden calf [Ex. 32]
Korah challenged Moses[Num. 16]
Achan took what wasn’t his [Jos. 7]
Absalom tried to take the throne [2 Sam. 15]
Solomon compromised with foreign wives [1 Kin. 11]
Herod killed innocent children [Mt. 2]
James & John sought greatness [Mt. 20]
Judas betrayed Jesus[Mt. 26]
Demas loved the world[2 Tim. 4]
”When we lack contentment in our hearts, we tend to make decisions that lead to outcomes we never really wanted.”
1. Be grateful for what we already have
Hebrews 13:5 (NLT) Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
2. Recognize the limitations of wealth
Ecclesiastes 5:10 (ERV) Those who love money will never be satisfied with the money they have. Those who love wealth will not be satisfied [even] when they get more and more.
3. Become a giver
Acts 20:35 (NLT) ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
4. Focus on people, not possessions
Proverbs 15:27 (NLT) Greed brings grief to the whole family.
5. Look beyond the temporary
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV) So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NLT) Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. <—Paul is trying to remind us—life is about more than accumulating stuff.
6. Find our value in Jesus
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.
Psalm 73:25-26 (NIV) Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.