WEBVTT 00:00:00.170 --> 00:00:03.529 Last time we discussed that contentment is a 00:00:03.529 --> 00:00:08.710 spiritual state. Contentment is pleasing to God 00:00:08.710 --> 00:00:12.169 and keeps us in right relationship with God. 00:00:13.009 --> 00:00:16.850 We are aiming toward making wise decision from 00:00:16.850 --> 00:00:20.969 a foundation of contentment. How do we build 00:00:20.969 --> 00:00:24.510 and maintain contentment in our lives? Now I'm 00:00:24.510 --> 00:00:28.210 not claiming to have this down. But contentment 00:00:28.210 --> 00:00:31.730 is being satisfied within what God has provided. 00:00:32.469 --> 00:00:35.570 For the record, contentment is not laziness, 00:00:35.890 --> 00:00:40.829 apathy, indifference, or despondence. We have 00:00:40.829 --> 00:00:44.810 lots of direct scriptures asking us to cry out 00:00:44.810 --> 00:00:47.810 when we are in trouble and many examples of God 00:00:47.810 --> 00:00:50.570 coming to the rescue of those in need. It is 00:00:50.570 --> 00:00:53.390 clear we are to make our requests known to God 00:00:53.390 --> 00:00:58.619 and He is happy to respond to us. Contentment 00:00:58.619 --> 00:01:01.380 is being satisfied that all my needs are met 00:01:01.380 --> 00:01:04.599 and now I can go and do the things that God has 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:10.219 put into me to do. Discontent is a misallocation 00:01:10.219 --> 00:01:14.340 of effort and desire. Even as I'm saying it, 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:20.180 it's so striking. Discontent is a misallocation 00:01:20.180 --> 00:01:25.060 of effort and desire. Contentment and discontent 00:01:25.060 --> 00:01:29.120 are a heart issue. that affect our efforts and 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:32.859 desires. When we are discontent, we are focused 00:01:32.859 --> 00:01:36.420 on something other than what God is trying to 00:01:36.420 --> 00:01:40.420 do in us and through us. Probably one of the 00:01:40.420 --> 00:01:42.980 most glaring examples in the Bible are the children 00:01:42.980 --> 00:01:47.780 of Israel after they leave Egypt. They are so 00:01:47.780 --> 00:01:51.219 discontent that Moses and God take turns wanting 00:01:51.219 --> 00:01:54.439 to kill them in the desert. At one point, Moses 00:01:54.439 --> 00:01:57.019 says, I didn't give birth to these people, this 00:01:57.019 --> 00:02:00.159 is all your fault. At another point, God doesn't 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:02.659 want to claim them and says your people who you 00:02:02.659 --> 00:02:06.219 brought up from Egypt. The Israelites in their 00:02:06.219 --> 00:02:10.960 discontent made bad choices. These choices alienated 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:14.120 them from God. Their words alienated them from 00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:18.379 God. The actions and words of the Israelites 00:02:18.379 --> 00:02:21.780 stopped God from being able to execute the plan 00:02:21.780 --> 00:02:26.800 he had for them. Now wisdom is built systematically 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:29.659 and if you are struggling with something in your 00:02:29.659 --> 00:02:32.659 character you cannot move forward in your growth 00:02:32.659 --> 00:02:35.599 journey. You're going to keep hitting it every 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:39.539 which way you turn. You can change jobs, houses, 00:02:40.199 --> 00:02:44.740 churches, spouses, but you are going to keep 00:02:44.740 --> 00:02:48.900 hitting it at the same thing that is stymieing 00:02:48.900 --> 00:02:53.219 your growth. Wherever we go, we are going to 00:02:53.219 --> 00:02:57.159 bring ourselves. We know it's our response to 00:02:57.159 --> 00:03:00.500 the circumstances that shows a heart of contentment. 00:03:00.650 --> 00:03:03.370 I'm reading Cory Ten Boom's The Hiding Place 00:03:03.370 --> 00:03:05.810 with one of my daughters right now. It is such 00:03:05.810 --> 00:03:09.909 a lesson in contentment. The story is ostensibly 00:03:09.909 --> 00:03:12.490 about her and her family giving refuge to Jews 00:03:12.490 --> 00:03:15.669 in World War II. They build a secret room in 00:03:15.669 --> 00:03:18.030 which to hide the Jews when the enemy comes. 00:03:18.569 --> 00:03:22.710 But the title, The Hiding Place, is really referring 00:03:22.710 --> 00:03:25.729 to where her family gets the ability to do what 00:03:25.729 --> 00:03:28.689 is right in times when it costs them everything. 00:03:29.419 --> 00:03:32.080 They have a relationship with God which gives 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:35.199 them a place of refuge. It doesn't matter if 00:03:35.199 --> 00:03:37.539 they are sitting at the dinner table, working 00:03:37.539 --> 00:03:40.439 in their business, in the Gestapo's office, in 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:43.759 a cattle car, or in the concentration camp. They 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:46.860 have a place where they can take refuge and be 00:03:46.860 --> 00:03:50.259 content where God was leading them. It's such 00:03:50.259 --> 00:03:53.740 a beautiful story of courage and hope and yes, 00:03:54.020 --> 00:03:57.020 contentment. Cory is very transparent about her 00:03:57.020 --> 00:03:59.300 struggle with fear and contentment in the Lord's 00:03:59.300 --> 00:04:02.759 will. I read this book as a young person and 00:04:02.759 --> 00:04:05.280 one of the antidotes has been with me my whole 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:08.419 life. Cory and her sister Betsy are in a barrack 00:04:08.419 --> 00:04:11.900 in the concentration camp and there are lice 00:04:11.900 --> 00:04:15.780 everywhere. So much so that the women shave their 00:04:15.780 --> 00:04:19.420 heads as they arrive. As it is their custom, 00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:22.519 they pray together and give thanks to the Lord 00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:27.160 every day. Betsy begins to thank God for the 00:04:27.160 --> 00:04:30.360 lice and Cory stops her and they have a small 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:33.939 tip over it. In the barracks, they are able to 00:04:33.939 --> 00:04:36.420 have a Christmas service and a Bible study because 00:04:36.420 --> 00:04:39.319 the guards never come into the building. They 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:41.800 have some reprieve from the abuse and find a 00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:46.079 bit of freedom. Cory finds out The reason the 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:48.660 guards don't come into the building is because 00:04:48.660 --> 00:04:53.259 of the lice. She is amazed at her sister's contentment 00:04:53.259 --> 00:04:56.939 and how right her sister was to give thanks and 00:04:56.939 --> 00:05:00.180 everything. I cannot say that I've always lived 00:05:00.180 --> 00:05:03.660 up to this ideal. I have often been discontented. 00:05:03.870 --> 00:05:07.889 But I find that it leads me to a place of stubbornness 00:05:07.889 --> 00:05:10.709 and rebellion. Like the children of Israel, when 00:05:10.709 --> 00:05:13.990 my focus is on my preference, my comfort, my, 00:05:14.129 --> 00:05:19.430 my, my, I am unable to quietly and humbly pursue 00:05:19.430 --> 00:05:23.170 the path God has chosen for me. I miss the thing 00:05:23.170 --> 00:05:26.189 He is leading me to do. When we are pursuing 00:05:26.189 --> 00:05:29.290 our comfort, our ideal, we can't help but lose 00:05:29.290 --> 00:05:32.800 focus on God's plan and purpose for a day. In 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:36.000 the case of the children of Israel, he was purposely 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:39.779 depriving them of all comfort and physical provision 00:05:39.779 --> 00:05:44.500 so that they had no resources. To teach them 00:05:44.500 --> 00:05:47.759 they needed nothing but him. He wanted to show 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:50.740 his power and ability, but they were unwilling 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:53.519 to get uncomfortable enough to see his power. 00:05:54.100 --> 00:05:57.240 It is a beautiful testimony to quietly wait for 00:05:57.240 --> 00:06:01.040 God and then see his miracle. I'm ashamed to 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:04.199 admit how many times I have not quietly waited. 00:06:05.420 --> 00:06:09.879 Paul, an amazing example of one who has contentment, 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:12.660 writes to the church in Philippi from prison. 00:06:13.230 --> 00:06:17.990 In Philippians 2 .1, it starts, if there be therefore 00:06:17.990 --> 00:06:21.649 any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of 00:06:21.649 --> 00:06:24.509 love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any 00:06:24.509 --> 00:06:28.050 bowels and mercies, that bowels and mercies means 00:06:28.050 --> 00:06:30.730 affection and compassion. So he's saying, if 00:06:30.730 --> 00:06:33.250 there's any consolation in Christ, if there's 00:06:33.250 --> 00:06:36.470 any reward in Christ, if there's any comfort 00:06:36.470 --> 00:06:39.600 of love, If we have fellowship with the Spirit, 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:43.160 if we have affection and compassion, fulfill 00:06:43.160 --> 00:06:47.220 ye my joy that you be like -minded, having the 00:06:47.220 --> 00:06:50.920 same love being of one accord of one mind. Bring 00:06:50.920 --> 00:06:55.019 me joy, be unified in love and spirit and purpose. 00:06:55.899 --> 00:06:58.399 Verse 3. Let nothing be done through strife or 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:02.120 vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each 00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:07.120 esteem other better than themselves. Let every 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:10.920 action and plan be done in humility, with the 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:13.740 thought and comfort of others in mind, ignoring 00:07:13.740 --> 00:07:21.660 the frustration, the strife, the problems, empty 00:07:21.660 --> 00:07:26.980 glory, pride, ignoring that. Look not every man 00:07:26.980 --> 00:07:30.639 on his own things, but every man also on the 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:33.259 things of others. Don't focus on what you need, 00:07:33.300 --> 00:07:36.920 what's best for you, but what others need. This 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:40.839 is the core of contentment. This is the place 00:07:40.839 --> 00:07:45.439 that we can make good decisions from if we are 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:50.279 looking at the best need and the best thing for 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:54.100 others. Verse 5 says, Let this mind be in you, 00:07:54.139 --> 00:07:57.100 which was also in Christ Jesus. Think and act 00:07:57.100 --> 00:08:00.319 like Jesus did, who being in the form of God, 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:03.060 thought it not robbery to be equal with God, 00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:06.240 but made himself of no reputation and took upon 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:08.600 him the form of a servant and was made in the 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:12.339 likeness of men. Jesus was God, and yet came 00:08:12.339 --> 00:08:16.319 to earth as a servant, looking like any ordinary 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:24.329 man. He was poor. He was unknown and yet he never 00:08:24.329 --> 00:08:28.209 tried to take credit for anything. He did these 00:08:28.209 --> 00:08:29.750 miracles and he would tell people, you know, 00:08:29.750 --> 00:08:33.350 just don't say anything. He would touch people's 00:08:33.350 --> 00:08:35.230 lives and change people's lives and he would 00:08:35.230 --> 00:08:38.070 say, you know what? You don't have to tell anybody. 00:08:38.250 --> 00:08:44.710 What an example. Here was the most powerful man 00:08:44.710 --> 00:08:48.169 on earth and he never brought attention to it 00:08:48.169 --> 00:08:54.090 by his words. vain glory of looking for credit 00:08:54.090 --> 00:08:59.950 he only got attention by his actions and being 00:08:59.950 --> 00:09:03.730 found in fashion as a man he was built like a 00:09:03.730 --> 00:09:07.830 man he humbled himself and became obedient unto 00:09:07.830 --> 00:09:12.190 death even the death of the cross in every action 00:09:12.190 --> 00:09:16.110 he obeyed God even to the point of death He was 00:09:16.110 --> 00:09:19.769 content in the role of service and sacrifice. 00:09:20.090 --> 00:09:22.909 It didn't mean it was easy. It didn't mean it 00:09:22.909 --> 00:09:26.529 came without pain and suffering, but he was content 00:09:26.529 --> 00:09:30.070 in the role of service and sacrifice. wherefore 00:09:30.070 --> 00:09:33.110 God has highly exalted him and given him a name 00:09:33.110 --> 00:09:36.049 which is above every name that at the name of 00:09:36.049 --> 00:09:38.690 Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven 00:09:38.690 --> 00:09:41.509 and things in earth and things under the earth 00:09:41.509 --> 00:09:44.129 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus 00:09:44.129 --> 00:09:46.789 Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father 00:09:46.789 --> 00:09:50.389 he was content in the role given him and now 00:09:50.389 --> 00:09:54.710 he has the glory now he has the honor now he's 00:09:54.710 --> 00:09:58.559 been exalted Wherefore, my beloved, as you have 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:01.700 always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but 00:10:01.700 --> 00:10:04.700 now much more in my absence, work out your own 00:10:04.700 --> 00:10:08.139 salvation with fear and trembling. Because of 00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:11.080 his example, my beloved, you have done well and 00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:14.539 always obeyed, continue to do so even after my 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:17.919 death, working out your own salvation with fear 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:20.240 and trembling. I'm not going to be here forever. 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:25.049 You have to be content. in what God has called 00:10:25.049 --> 00:10:28.909 you to do and you need to do it with the respect 00:10:28.909 --> 00:10:35.149 and awe of the Lord knowing the end. For it is 00:10:35.149 --> 00:10:38.950 God which worketh in you both to will and to 00:10:38.950 --> 00:10:41.909 do of his good pleasure. God is the one who gives 00:10:41.909 --> 00:10:44.070 you the ability to do his will and good pleasure 00:10:44.070 --> 00:10:49.610 just like God was the force that allowed the 00:10:49.610 --> 00:10:55.169 man Christ Jesus to be crucified. Why? Verse 00:10:55.169 --> 00:11:03.110 14. Do all things without murmuring and disputings. 00:11:03.690 --> 00:11:06.169 Do all things without complaining and arguing. 00:11:07.549 --> 00:11:10.289 Those things are complaining and arguing stems 00:11:10.289 --> 00:11:16.210 from discontentment. That you may be blameless 00:11:16.210 --> 00:11:19.600 and harmless. the sons of God without rebuke 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:22.019 in the midst of a crooked and a perverse nation 00:11:22.019 --> 00:11:24.720 among whom you shine as lights in the world. 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:28.919 Contentment really comes down to glorifying God. 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:32.059 Contentment really comes from a place of submitting 00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:36.039 to the will of God. This will cause you to be 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:39.679 without fault and innocent identified with Christ 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:42.860 not needing correction in the middle of a twisted 00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:48.580 and perverted world which will make you shine 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:53.059 a light, the light of Jesus. Verse 16, holding 00:11:53.059 --> 00:11:56.039 forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in 00:11:56.039 --> 00:11:59.419 the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:02.080 neither labored in vain, holding fast to the 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:04.340 word of life, that I may rejoice in the last 00:12:04.340 --> 00:12:07.379 days as I present you to Christ, as my preaching 00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:11.500 and teaching and pastoring was not in vain. This 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:14.559 is the cycle of contentment. us submitting to 00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:17.500 the will and the purpose of God in every situation, 00:12:19.220 --> 00:12:22.440 seeking the well -being and eternal life of others 00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:26.240 as we serve them, looking at every day as a job 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:29.179 from the Lord, and doing our work without complaining 00:12:29.179 --> 00:12:34.460 and arguing, words and actions, so that God is 00:12:34.460 --> 00:12:35.220 glorified.