CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 04, 2021.

SUBJECT : CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN!

Memory verse: "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. ” (Hebrews 13 vs 5.)

READ: First Timothy 6 vs 6 vs 10:

6:6: Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

6:7: For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

6:8: And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

6:9: But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

6:10: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

INTIMATION:

Contentment is being satisfied or pleased with what you have. It primarily signifies to be sufficient or satisfied. It’s not being obsessed with getting more material things, and being relaxed with what you have. The Scripture recognizes that there is great gain in being content with what we have. This signifies your trust and reliance on God which greatly helps us in spiritual growth and personal fulfillment. Contentment helps us to honor God and center our desires on Him, and be content with what He is doing in our lives.

God recognizes the attributes of man. In plenty man is likely to deny Him, and in lack man will do anything to survive, including stealing, which will eventually profane God's name. Hence the reason God wants to daily provide for us. King Solomon, in recognition of the dangers inherent in discontentment, says to God, "Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches - Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You. And say, "Who is the Lord?" Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God." (Proverbs 30 vs 8 - 9.) 

Having too much money can be dangerous; but so can having little. Being poor can, in fact, be hazardous to spiritual as well as physical health. It is for this reason that God prefers to provide for us, but on a day-by-day basis. There is every likelihood that our possessions can take away our concentration and dependence on God because we are not in need of anything hence will remember less of God.

Christian should learn how to live whether we have plenty, or whether we have need. We should take a cue from the apostle Paul who said, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content; 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 suffer need." (Philippians 4 vs 11 - 12.) 

As a Christian, are you able to be content (get along happily) in any circumstances you face? Like the apostle Paul, we should see life from God’s point of view, relying on God’s promises to provide all our needs. We should focus on what we are supposed to do, not what we feel we should have. Christians should have their priorities straight, and be grateful for everything God had given us, detaching ourselves from the nonessentials so that we could concentrate on the eternal. 

How can we learn to be content with what we have? It’s by striving to live with with less rather than desiring more; giving away out of our abundance rather than accumulating more; relishing what we have rather than resenting what we are missing. We become satisfied when we realize God’s sufficiency for our needs. 

Christians who become materialistic are saying by their actions that God can’t take care of them, or at least, He won’t take care of them the way they want. Insecurity can lead to the love of money, whether we are rich or poor. The only antidote is to trust God to meet our needs. See God’s love expressed in what He has provided, and remember that money and possessions will all pass away. Knowing that this evil world will end can give you the courage to deny yourself temporary pleasures in this world in order to enjoy what God has promised for eternity.

Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, most people still believe that money brings happiness. Rich people craving greater riches can be caught in an endless cycle that only ends in ruin and destruction. How can you keep away from the love of money? Apostle Paul gives some guidelines: (1) Realize that one day riches will be gone; (2) be content with what you have; (3) monitor what you are willing to do to get more money; (4) love people more than money; (5) love God’s work more than money; (6) freely share what you have with others.

There is a difference between what we need and what we want. We may have all that we need (that is, we have enough), but we let ourselves become anxious and discontent over what we merely want. Like the apostle Paul, we can choose to be content without having all that we want. The only alternative to getting our wants is to “fall into temptation and a snare” that will ultimately lead only to “destruction and perdition.”

Prayer: Abba Father, teach me contentment in every circumstance, knowing that You have promised to supply all your needs, and in a way that You know is best for me. May I never desire  nor have what You cannot give me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!