BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY MAY 4, 2020.

SUBJECT: BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE! 

Memory verse: "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

 (Hebrew

s 13 vs 5.)

READ: Philippians 4 vs 11 - 13:

4:11: Not that I speak in regard of need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.

4:12: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full, and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

INTIMATION:

To be content primarily signifies to be sufficient, to be satisfied, to be enough for a thing. Contentment is the direct opposite of covetousness—greed, dissatisfaction, lustful, envious. Contentment ought to be a prevailing factor in the life of every believer. This is because it underscores the knowledge and understanding of God; the Owner of the world, and in Him all things consist. He created all things for His purposes, and according to His plans. He knows all our individual needs to serve His purpose, and promises to provide such needs (Matthew 6 vs 32). Therefore, no one is in contention with any other, and we should be content with what He has given us respectively.

We become content when we realize God's sufficiency for our needs. Believers who become materialistic are saying by their actions that God can't take care of them, or at least, that He won't take care of them the way they want. Insecurity can lead to the love of things of this world, which then breeds enmity with God (James 4 vs 4). The only antidote is to put God first in your life, and trust God to meet all your needs (Matthew 6 vs 33). See God’s love expressed in what He has provided, and remember the futility of earthly desires; that the world and all that is in it will one day pass away (First John 2 vs 17).

How can you learn to be content? Most importantly See life from God’s point of view; strive to live with less rather than desiring more; give away out of your abundance rather than accumulating more; relish what you have rather than resent what you're missing. See God's love expressed in what He has provided, and put Him first in everything. The apostle Paul was content because he could see life from God’s point of view. He focused on what he was supposed to do, not what he felt he should have. Paul has his priorities straight, and he was grateful for everything God had given him. Paul had detached himself from the nonessentials so that he could concentrate on the eternal.

The apostle Paul was an epitome of contentment. He was content both in plenty and in need. The secret was his drawing on Christ’s power for strength, hence his acknowledgement of being able to do all things by the strength of God. Do you have great needs, or are discontented because you don’t have what you want? Learn to rely on God’s promises and Christ’s power to help you be content. If you always want more, ask God to remove the desire and teach you contentment in every circumstance. He will supply all your needs, but in a way that He knows is best for you.

Paul said in First Timothy 6 vs 6 - 7, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” 

This statement is the key to spiritual growth and personal fulfillment. We should honor God and center our desires on Him (Matthew 6 vs 33), and we should be content with what God is doing in our lives. Those who desire to have more, or be rich have always fallen into temptations and snares, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which had drawn them into destruction and perdition. In so doing, they strayed from the faith in their greediness, and are pierced with many sorrows (First Timothy 6 vs 9 - 10).

Now, the question is, “Are you able to be content (get along happily) in any circumstances you face?” Often the desire for more or better possessions is really a longing to fill an empty place in a person’s life. To what are you drawn when you feel empty inside? How can you find true contentment? The answer lies in your perspective, your priorities, and your source of power. And remember, the contented is never poor, but the discontented is never rich.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are our great Provider. A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from You. My needs are already known to You. Endue me with the spirit of contentment, obedience, and absolute trust in You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!