Contentment Physical and Spiritual Are you happy ? Are you content? Do you know the difference? Or,...

Contentment

Physical and Spiritual

Are you happy?Are you content?

Do you know the difference?

Or, Can you be one without the other? Generally,• “Happiness” is usually a temporary

condition based on external circumstances; and,

• True “contentment” is a perpetual state based internal decision and commitment.

Contentment- Phil.4:10-13; 1Tim.6:6-9

More specifically, what is it, or what isn’t it? It isn’t laziness, or being a slacker, 1Cor.4:12.

It isn’t being under-motivated, or an under-achiever, Phil.4:13.

It is a decision to be satisfied with what you have, Heb.13:5.

In a spiritual context, contentment is trusting God to provide what is needed and best, and being happy with however much or little it may be, 2Cor.12:7-10.

Contentment- Phil.4:10-13; 1Tim.6:6-9

What is the source of contentment- and what isn’t?

It isn’t abundance, Phil.4:12b- rich people can be just as greedy and discontent as poor people, 1Tim.6:17-19.

It isn’t the ability or willingness to do without, Phil.4:12a- poor people can be just as envious and covetous as rich people, 1Tim.6:9-11.

Contentment, it seems to me, has two primary sources:

1. Humility of mind; and,

2. Trust in the heart. Let me illustrate this way…

Contentment- Phil.4:10-13; 1Tim.6:6-9

Consider discontentment in our physical lives (anything from jobs, cars, homes, schools, to the sexual relationship between husbands and wives):

I should have more (competiveness based on comparisons).

I deserve more (covetousness based on arrogance).

I need more (doubt, rather than trust, based on dissatisfaction).

I want more (desire based on greed).

What is the common denominator?

Lack of humility in the thought processes, Rom.12:3.

Contentment- Phil.4:10-13; 1Tim.6:6-9

Consider contentment in our spiritual lives (anything from our relationships and roles within the kingdom to everything physical previously considered):

I should have more becomes “God will give me what I need,” Matt.6:25-33; Luke 16:10; Matt.25:14-30.

I deserve more becomes “I deserve only death,” Rom.3:23; 6:23.

I need more becomes “I have all I need,” 1Tim.6:8.

I want more becomes “I want only to please God- ‘Thy will, not mine, be done,’” 1Thess.4:10b-12.

What is the common denominator?

Trust in the heart, 2Cor.1:8-12.

Contentment- Conclusions:

Some say, “Contentment is not ‘having what you want,’ but, ‘wanting what you have.’”

Maybe- but more precisely, and from a more spiritual perspective,

“Contentment is recognizing that everything you have came from God rather from yourself

(1Tim.6:7, humility of mind),

and trusting in God that it is sufficient and best (Matt.6:30, trust in the heart),

enough to be truly appreciative for and satisfied with however much or little it may be,”

(Phil.4:11).

Contentment- Conclusions:

Now, do You have the:

Humility of mind and trust in heart necessary to be truly

appreciative (thankful) and satisfied (content) with what God provides?

If so, you will live a wonderfully content and happy life, 1Tim.6:6!

If not, a lifetime of discontent and misery awaits you, 1Tim.6:9.

The choice is yours!