BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 03, 2023.

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 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. It’s not being obsessed with getting more material things, but rather being relaxed with what you have. The Scripture recognizes that there is great gain in being content. This signifies your trust and reliance on God which greatly helps 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.

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 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. When we focus our lives on behaving after the directions of the word of God, we become content with life, realizing that the purpose of life is not to consume the things of this world upon our own lusts. Rather we should focus on spiritual things that will result in eternal life.

Christians 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 discontentment. However, God ordained that the things of this world are to sustain our brief stay here in preparation for that which is to come. The only antidote to discontentment is to trust God to meet our needs. See God’s love expressed in what He has provided.

King Solomon, in recognition of the need for contentment, 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.) 

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. For instance, 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 possessions can take away our concentration and dependence on God because we will not be in need of anything hence will remember less of God.

Prayer: Abba Father, teach me contentment in every circumstances, for I know You will supply all your needs 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!