Today I am teaching while Pastor Nathan is in
the South Sudan, and yes, he's finally there.
That's a lot of travel, so whoop, he's there.
But today I have an interesting topic that I
think is really needed nowadays and is good for
us to remember and to what I like to say is how
to be content in Christ. Anyone else would notice
that times right now are tough and even scary.
We have the cost of living going up. I don't
know about you guys. Living in California is
so dumb. It is so expensive, especially here
in LA. But also, anyone else notice that people
are more hostile? Just the general public is...
more on edge. I noticed ever since COVID, right
when the break of COVID's whole lockdown was
up, so many people were getting knocked out.
People were getting punched because it's like
we spent, what, two and a half years behind screens
and not dealing with people, and then people
think they can be rude to others, and then others
think the way to respond to that is with more
rudeness, and we just see the sinful side of
human beings. We see people hurting each other
because they disagree. You've even got, unfortunately,
if you didn't know, known terrorist groups right
now are calling for their followers to go around
and hunt down other religious groups. And we've
seen it. We've seen some connections. We've seen
others where it's just political, people have
political bents, where they're attacking churches.
We have recently, this past month, three separate
different schools and or churches of different
faiths that were attacked, and people are dying.
Because of disagreements. It's crazy. We've even
got the assassination of Charlie Kirk, his martyrdom.
And if you don't think it's martyrdom, I disagree
kindly. We can disagree and still be friends
and brothers and sisters in Christ. But his whole
point for starting Turning Point USA was literally
because he believed in Jesus. His faith was so
important to him. And God was so important that
he's like, Lord, you've... given me these ideas
and you've called me to go and make disciples.
And that's how he went and did it. And someone
disagreed with him and did not like those views
and killed him. He therefore died for his faith.
So all of these situations can make us worrisome.
All of these situations can cause anxiety, cause
us to fear. Some people would even say it makes
us discontent. We don't have enough money to
afford groceries, to afford bills. We don't have
enough safety. People are dying. I'm afraid to
talk to people. I don't know what they're going
to do. But today, I want to address those situations
because I believe God has addressed what it means
to be content in him. I think we need to trust
him more, and specifically, we're going to learn
today what it means to be content in Jesus. So
with that, I'd like to pray, and then we'll get
into worship. Lord, thank you. I pray that you
bless this time, Lord, as we've gathered here
in your name, that you would hear our worship,
and it would be a sweet -smelling aroma to you,
Lord, that we would lay down any weights that
are causing us to not fully engage with you and
worship you, Lord, and that we would truly bless
you with our worship, and that your word would
be blessed for us today, that we would take it
and live it out, Lord. In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen. As we started in the intro, we're talking
about how to be content in Christ today and what
that means and what that looks like. So we have
to start out by asking the question, what is
contentment? What does it mean to be content?
And the dictionary, modern dictionary, says the
state of being mentally or emotionally satisfied
with things as they are. And as we talked about
in the intro, it's easy to see why nowadays Not
so many people are content. But everyone wants
to be content, right? We all want to be satisfied
with the things that are around us, with the
status of what's going on. We want that just
nice peace, that contentment of just, yes, I'm
okay with this. But as I said, more and more
it seems like people are lining up with discontentment.
And even some Christians are lining up with discontentment.
People aren't satisfied with the state of things
right now. There's uproars, there's riots, there's
literally in other parts of the world, there's
constant revolts against government. There's
a lot going on. People aren't satisfied. Some,
even for us here, right? We might not be satisfied
with how expensive things are. We don't have
enough money or people are being just aggressive
and maybe people are scared. Bless you. People
are scared and they're afraid and they want more
safety. They want to feel safer. But again, these
things, these issues, can lead us to worry and
anxiety. And unfortunately, the younger generations,
as I deal with youth, are extremely anxious.
I actually had a youth the other day in one of
the Friday night hangouts. I always give time
for them to ask questions. And they were talking
about how they're scared because they're almost
an adult. the craziness of politics and people
being aggressive. And it's like, yeah, it can
be scary and it can be worrisome. But today,
I'm going to look at how we don't have to be
discontent in this. We don't have to worry and
have anxiety. Now, I do want to address, there
are more than one way of being discontent, right?
There is more than one way. It's not just, oh,
worry and anxiety is the only way of being discontent.
There are other ways. You have such as someone
who, not because they lack money, but they love
money. This is someone I'd call is greedy. They
have a love for money. Think of Rockefeller,
right? When he's asked, when will enough be enough?
And he's like, one more dollar. He just always
wants more, always wants more. I believe that's
Rockefeller. But, right, that idea of just always
wanting more. But then there's also covetousness.
Ah, my friend has the thing that I really want.
It's like, oh, he's got the better car, the better
motorcycle, the better you name it. I want that.
And unfortunately, these are all forms of discontentment,
right? Worry, covetousness, greed, or love of
money. It's all a form of discontentment. The
beautiful thing about today is what we're looking
at is we're going to be looking at the answer
for all forms of discontentment. Today's answer
shows us how to be content in Christ in all situations.
Now, to get into that, I first want to look at
a person who learned the secret of being content.
That would be the Apostle Paul. And I love the
Apostle Paul, and if anyone should be discontent,
it's him. Let's be honest. He went through some...
crazy opposition for Jesus. Even in 2 Corinthians,
in chapter 11, Paul records some of the stuff
he's been through, specifically verses 23 through
28. Paul says this, Are they servants of Christ?
I'm talking like a madman. I'm a better one.
With far more labors, many more imprisonments,
far worse beatings, many times near death. Five
times I received 40 lashes minus one from the
Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once
I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked.
I've spent a night and a day in the open sea.
On frequent journeys, I faced danger from rivers,
dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people,
dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers
in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers
among false brothers. toil and hardship, many
sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without
food, cold and without clothing, not to mention
other things. There is the daily pressure on
me, my concern for all the churches. That's a
list. I don't know about you guys. I haven't
been beaten for Jesus. I haven't been stoned
for Jesus. Paul has. How many of us are like,
yeah, I've had it just as bad as Paul? No, I
doubt it, right? It's, wow, he went through some
crazy stuff for Jesus. So then the question should
be is how is he content in Christ? I mean, he
faced one of my worst fears. And don't get me
wrong, I'm not a fearful person. I think I have
healthy fears. Being stuck in the ocean for a
day and a night with things that are three times
to ten times your size and swim not only twice,
but sometimes ten times faster than you? I don't
want to be stuck in the ocean. My wife and I
had an anniversary at a beach once, and there
was this baby whale. And I remember, I'm like,
I want to go swim with it. And the lifeguard's
like, don't do it. I'm like, why not? And they're
like, their form of playing is pinning you under
until you die. They think they're playing. You
can't lift the 300 -pound animal off you while
you're under the water, right? Scary, but Paul
somehow through all of this was content. Here's
the thing. It's crazy to think how he's content,
but he specifically learned a secret about it,
and we'll see that in Philippians chapter 4,
verse 11 through 13. Paul writes, I don't say
this out of need, for I have learned to be content
in whatever circumstance I find myself. I know
how to make do with little, and I know how to
make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances,
I have learned the secret of being content, whether
well -fed or hungry, whether in abundance or
in need, I am able to do all things through him
who strengthens me. Paul says that he has learned
the secret of being content, and there's something
about this phrase that really makes me happy,
because to give context of what's going on here,
why he writes this, Paul just received a gift
of money from the Philippian church, and he writes
back to them saying, thank you, right? They sent
him money to help him in his ministry, and he's
saying, thank you, and then proceeds to say,
you didn't have to, but thank you for partnering
with me, but I know how to be content whether
I have money or don't. And what I like here is
he specifically says that he has learned how
to be content in all situations. And the word
learned in the original language literally means
to gain knowledge or skills to learn. So it's
not like Paul just magically woke up one day
and was content. He's not like, I can be okay
in anything now, right? Now, I do believe God
can help us. learn contentment quicker and could,
if he wanted to, choose to make us learn contentment
like that. But that's not so for all of us. A
lot of us, if you're like me, you kind of got
to go through discontentment to learn contentment.
Now, here's the thing. Paul said he learned the
secret. That is a blessing to me, and I hope
it's a blessing to you, because if Paul learned
it, it means we can learn it. It doesn't mean
that Paul magically attained something we can't
have. It means we can learn it as well. Now,
what is the key to Paul's contentment then? If
he learned it, what's this secret, this key?
He says that he can be fed or hungry in abundance
or need. I don't know about you, when I'm hungry,
I get grumpy. I'm not content. Hey, man, hangry
is a word for a reason. Either way, Paul says
he can be content in all things. Why? Because
of Jesus who strengthens him. And yes, that verse
is in context of living for him, not in like,
I can't open this peanut butter jar. I can do
all things through Christ who strengthens me,
right? It's not that. What he's saying is he
can be content in all situations of life because
of Jesus, because he knows who he is. This is
the key. Jesus is the source. of Paul's contentment.
And he should be our source as well. Jesus is
the one that Paul is focused on, on knowing him,
of understanding him. Paul's not focused on his
situation. He's focused on Jesus. And the reason
I use the word focus is because, yes, Paul's
not like in the middle of the ocean going, okay,
I'm not going to swim. I'm just going to drown
now because Jesus will take care of me. No, he
sees a situation. He knows he's got to paddle
or hold on to something. But he's not focused
on it and freaking out. I love when we read about
Paul in the prison, right, when he's in prison,
and he's not going, oh, guys, prison's so hard,
I don't want to be here. He's like, guys, this
is for God's greater good. The gospel's going
out to so many people here in prison. So you
can see, even in prison, Paul is focused on Jesus.
And that's how he was content in prison. So if
Jesus is Paul's key to contentment, We should
probably look at what Jesus says, right? I agree.
I think so. And if worry is one of these big
forms, especially nowadays, of discontentment,
let's look at what Jesus has to say about worry
and about being content. In Matthew chapter 6,
verse 25 through 34, Jesus says this. Therefore,
I tell you, don't worry about your life. What
you will eat, or what you will drink, or about
your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more
than food and the body more than clothing? Consider
the birds of the sky. They don't sow or reap
or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father
feeds them. Aren't you worth more than they?
Can any of you add one moment to his lifespan
by worrying? I'm glad the CSB words it that way
because Kirk likes to joke with me and say, you
know, who can add a cubit to his stature because
I'm short. Love you, Kirk. So I'm glad they worded
it that way. Either way, back to what Jesus says.
And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how
the wildflowers of the field grow. They don't
labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even
Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like
one of these. If that's how God clothes the grass
of the field, which is here today and thrown
into the furnace tomorrow, won't he do much more
for you? You of little faith. So don't worry
saying, what will we eat or what will we drink
or what will we wear? For the Gentiles eagerly
seek all these things and your heavenly father
knows that you need them. But seek first the
kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all
these things will be provided for you. Therefore,
don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow
will worry about itself. Each day has enough
trouble of its own. Jesus literally said, don't
worry about your life, what you will eat, drink,
or wear. He says, don't worry. He then compares
the value of us to that of birds and flowers
of the field and our worth to God. Compared to
these birds that don't collect food and store
them in storehouses and make sure they have enough
in case a disaster happens. No, they trust God.
God provides for them daily. The flowers, which
are adorned more beautiful than Solomon himself,
who was part of the golden era of Israel where
they had no issues, they had so much money it's
not even funny, and they still don't look as
good as the wildflowers. And I don't know about
you guys. I love going out and hiking and camping.
Wildflowers are so pretty. I like them more often
than not than people's own personal gardens.
Not in a weird way. There's something about the
natural beauty of seeing them. I don't know if
you've ever driven on the freeway. more on the
91 further east, and you get to see just after
it rains all the rolling fields with all the
beautiful flowers and the purples and yellows.
So beautiful. And yet God loves us more. We are
of so much more worth to God than birds and flowers,
yet he takes care of them. Who did God die for?
The flowers and the birds? No, for us. That's
the worth he sees in us, even when we were still
enemies. He loves us that much. And that's why
Jesus says, aren't we of more worth than birds
and flowers in God's eyes? Then why do we worry?
Now, I want us to look at something here. Notice
what Jesus said. He says, the Gentiles eagerly
seek after these things. Now remember, at this
time, Jesus' ministry is focused towards the
Jews, towards the Israelites. And so if we take
what he's saying here and move it into our modern
vernacular, our modern words, Jesus is saying
the Gentiles, the world, the people who don't
live for God, not God's people, they eagerly
seek after these things. The people who don't
love God, Seek after worldly things. And it just
makes me think of people who go into crippling
debt for things I call status symbols. Such as
the nice car, the big house, social media followers.
Do so much to where, hey, I've spent so much
money to get this car, but I can't feed my family
because I'm in crippling debt. And it's like,
ah! But you see that their heart is chasing after
these material things. They're trying to fill
a void of discontentment that will never get
filled. Their mind is fixated on worldly things.
But Jesus says to his people what they should
be doing is seeking first the kingdom of God
and his righteousness. Jesus is saying before
anything else in life, Chase after God's kingdom
and his righteousness. Yes, I'm not saying don't
have a job. I'm not saying go into the wilderness
and don't work. We'll talk about that in a little
bit. But I believe the secret of contentedness
that Paul learned is Jesus. And that might sound
easy, right? How many of you remember being in
Bible, in Sunday school, and it's like every
answer to every question was always Jesus, right?
It feels easy. But that's what this answer is.
The answer really is Jesus. This is the secret
to contentment. Why? Because I believe Paul grew
in his knowledge of Jesus, grew in the knowledge
of God's kingdom and his place in the kingdom,
grew in his knowledge of God's righteousness.
He learned the character of God. He found that
God was trustworthy, faithful, good, loving,
and even a loving father who disciplines him
when he messes up. Not for discipline's sake,
but for redemption's sake to pull him back. to
make him more Christ -like. He learned God. He
learned Jesus. And this is something I think
we need to be doing daily. Not just learning,
but also remembering. Because how often do we
come to a church service and Pastor Nathan teaches
something, we're like, oh, I remember learning
that, but I really needed that today. I don't
know why I forgot it. Same, right? That's...
That's how it is. We're forgetful as humans.
Look at the nation of Israel walking through
the wilderness for 40 years, constantly forgetting
God, when God was literally a cloud above them
by day and a pillar of fire by night, and yet
they're still walking into rebellion and walking
into idolatry. Humans are sinful and forgetful.
We need to constantly be focusing on who God
is. I mean, even think about it. Think about
Peter walking on water. I love Peter, right?
I relate to him because both him and I tend to
put our foot in our mouth. We're really good
at that. But he might be the one that everyone
says, oh, he's the one that Jesus said, get behind
me, Satan and adversary and all that. But you
know, he's also the only disciple that walked
on water. None of the other ones could say that.
Now, what happened when Jesus took his focus,
or when Paul took his focuses, or Peter took
his focus off Jesus? He sank. When he stopped
focusing on Jesus and instead worried about the
situation and his surroundings is when he sank.
He was content in the moment while looking at
Jesus. But the moment he took his eyes off and
looked around and started focusing and worrying
and getting anxiety over all the waves, that's
when he sank. Our main goal as believers is to
know our God, to know his kingdom, our place
in it, and to know the works that he has prepared
for us, to do them, to be faithful servants,
keeping our eyes focused on him. Worry, greed,
covetousness, and discontentment, that's what
you get when you stop focusing on God. When you
don't look at Jesus and look to the future hope
that we have in him, of course, It's like looking
around and seeing what everyone else has and
everything that's going on. We're like, ah, and
freaking out or wanting more. When we focus ourselves
on our situation, we are like Peter and we sink.
When we focus on the material and the temporal,
the things that don't last, think about that.
They don't last. We think, I need the perfect
life with the big car and the big house and all
these things. And it's like, guys, I used to
be a furniture deliverer, one of the many jobs
I had. I delivered to rich people's mansions.
They're overrated. The rooms are literally, I
got 30 rooms. Yeah, but you can't even fit a
twin -size bed in it, so it's not worth it. Just
saying. Either way. Instead of focusing on those
things, we should focus on the spiritual and
eternal, the things that last, God and his kingdom.
Look at 1 Timothy 6 -8. It says, But godliness
with contentment is great gain. For we brought
nothing into this world, and we can take nothing
out. If we have food and clothing, we will be
content with these. We can gain all the fame,
have all the entertainment, all the material
wealth that this world can give us, and the truth
is, we don't get to leave with any of it. It
doesn't matter. It's not like, you know, the
Egyptians believed, oh, we can stockpile our
tombs with all our stuff, and the pharaohs had
all these extravagant, that's a waste of stuff.
Imagine how many people could have been fed with
all of the money that was buried with the pharaohs.
It's like, this is dumb, because they don't get
to take it with them. We don't get to take our
stuff. It's not like, cool, I got to take my
computer to heaven with me, right? No, it's staying
here. This is the truth. Our contentment, our
godliness, being like Christ, with contentment,
being okay with food and clothing, the basic
necessities, that is what we should be content
with. Thank you, God. Don't get me wrong. I'm
right there with you guys. Sometimes we focus
on the worldly things. We're like, Lord, I want
that really cool thing. I want that cool new
gadget or tool. And then you get it and you're
like, oh, that was a waste of money. I've been
there with you, right? We should focus on Jesus.
Our lives should be lived for him, learning about
him, remembering what he's done for us and what
he is doing for us. Learning how to serve him
each and every day, asking him, Lord, what do
you want me to do today? Is there anyone? Open
my eyes to see the work that you have prepared
for me today. Because without Jesus, we are and
have nothing. We are just horrible sinners that
shouldn't even exist. But God loved us so much
that he not only let us exist, but he died for
us. Now, you might be thinking, but Pastor Rick,
hold on, hold on, hold on. You're saying some
fancy words, and you can be content, but people
are trying to kill people nowadays. Like, this
is a little extreme. And I would say to you,
so what? Suck it up, buttercup. Martyrdom ain't
new. It's new to America, right? Well, not exactly.
It's new for our generation. But let's be honest.
Martyrdom isn't new. Welcome to the club. Pastor
Nathan is in the South Sudan. You guys know if
you look at open, I think it's open glass or
opendoor .org, they track the deadliest and most
dangerous places to be as a Christian. Yeah,
South Sudan or the Sudan, fifth, fifth most dangerous.
Now, don't worry. He's safe, right? As he said
in the video, he's safe. He's in a compound.
There's generals in the army there. I'm kind
of jealous because he gets to be with 50 cows.
I want to go shoot one. Either way, he's safe
there. But if any of us was just randomly in
the sedan walking around and proclaiming Jesus,
I would say there is a 99 .99 % chance you are
going to get captured, tortured, and killed.
In America, Worst thing we got was people being
mean on the internet. Maybe people sue your bakery
and you run out of business. Now people are dying.
But so what? And I know that sounds like, wow,
Rick, you're kind of, Pastor Rick's kind of crazy
here. He's just saying so what? Well, look what
Jesus said in Matthew 10, verse 28. Don't fear
those who kill the body but are not able to kill
the soul. Fear him who is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell. Here's my question to
all of us. Are you more afraid of just a random
person or are you more afraid of God? I hope
and pray we're all more afraid of God because
he is the only one who can send us to hell. No
one else can. And I want to do what God has called
us to do. I want us to be living for him. Sure.
Hey, think about this, guys. If you're a Christian,
death is no longer death. One of my favorite
apologists, Frank Turek, I don't know why I couldn't
remember his name, he says something that I love.
Death is no longer scary for a Christian. It
is simply our moving date. Because Paul says
our bodies are simply tents. This is not our
home. We are a part and citizens of the kingdom
of heaven. So while we're here, this is like
a work trip. We are his ambassadors, his servants,
sharing his word and his truth, knowing him more
and more. And hey, if you send me home, cool,
I got to go be with Jesus. Right? Now, don't
get me wrong. When Charlie Kirk died, a lot of
people mourned, and that's okay. I'm not saying
don't mourn death, but you know what I think
happened when he got to heaven? God was like,
well done, my good and faithful servant. There
was angels rejoicing. I don't see this as like,
oh no, it's like, okay, he's home now. He did
what God called him to do, and now he's with
his Lord and Savior. Like, yes, that's awesome.
So be like Paul, saying to live is Christ and
to die is gain. Now, I'm not saying don't have
a plan. I'm not saying, you know, you see like
a six -foot -five dude that's like 250 with a
giant axe and has a mask on. Don't go up to him
and go, hey, do you know about Jesus, right?
Like, be wise. Don't just like, if I was walking
down the street and my friend Eric here had a
giant axe, I would run the other way. Love you,
Eric. But be wise. If it's, you know, if God
calls you to go talk to that person, do it. But
don't be dumb. The Bible talks so much about
wisdom and how important wisdom is. It even says
that wisdom comes from God. So for us to be Christ
-like, we should be wise. There's literally an
entire book in our Bible dedicated to wisdom,
Proverbs. I recommend reading at least one chapter
a day because there's 31 chapters, and if you
land on a month that has 31 days, there you go.
You have wisdom for each day. That is the importance,
right? Have this plan. Now, what I like is Paul
says he knows how to make do with a little or
a lot. That even gives us the example that it's
not like Paul's just like, well, I guess God
will have to do everything for me. No, he focuses
on God, and he knows how to handle what he has.
So whether you're in a situation where you don't
have a lot of money, or you feel like you're
not safe at home, or all these, have a plan.
Think about it. But then don't fixate on the
problem and the plan. Give that plan to God.
Be like, all right, Lord, this is my plan. If
you want to change it, change it, and I'm just
going to live for you today. So have an emergency
fund. Have a retirement plan. Have life insurance.
Be wise. But don't fear other people more than
fearing God. Remember, in Matthew chapter 6,
33 through 34, Jesus himself said, but seek first
the kingdom of God. and his righteousness, and
all these things will be provided for you. Therefore,
don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow
will worry about itself. Each day has enough
trouble of its own. Seeking God, seeking his
kingdom, learning more about him and knowing
him intimately is priority number one as a Christian.
We so often are focused on the material because
We live in a material world, right? Material,
no, okay. We live in a material world. So we
always focus on that and we neglect to think,
but Lord, you've given me new life. You've brought
my spirit to life. I am alive in you. I should
focus on your truth, your kingdom, which I'm
a part of now. Now, Colossians chapter three,
verses one through four says this. So if you've
been raised with Christ, seek the things above
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of
God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly
things, for you died and your life is hidden
with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your
life, appears, then you also will appear with
him in glory. This should be one of the verses
we remember every day, or set of verses, because
I think this verse is telling us, have a heavenly
mindset. Focus on Jesus. Remember that, guess
what? When Jesus comes back, yes, he's seated
in heaven right now, and we are seated with him.
But when he comes back and appears again, we
will appear with him as well in his glory. The
glory that he's given us, that should be the
focus of our life, which allows us to be content,
whether we have or have not. Here's the truth.
The troubles of today do not come close to the
glory that we have received and will be in with
God. They don't. If you focus on them, sure,
you'll get scared. But compared to God, not even
close. We should be focusing on our new eternal
life in Christ, where we get to spend the rest
of eternity on the new heaven and new earth with
God in bodies that can actually see the presence
of God without being destroyed, where we can
literally be in a place where there's no more
sin or sorrow, but instead fullness of joy. I
can't even comprehend fullness of joy. Yes, we
say fullness of joy, but I can't, like, my brain
just blows up and I'm like, Literally no lack
of joy. It's just, it's perfect. So yeah, I can
bear not having things here on earth. I can bear
people not liking me. And hey, cool, you kill
me now? Great, I get to go up to heaven and I'll
have a new body soon. I don't care what you do
to this body. This is just a tent. This is how
we should be focused on God every day. As I said,
we should be heavenly minded. Not focusing on
earthly things, but instead giving everything
to God. And the beautiful part is, in Matthew
chapter 6, after Jesus says the Gentiles eagerly
seek it, he says, and God knows you need them.
It's not like God stumped going, oh, I didn't
know you needed that money for that thing. He's
like, no, I've got the plan. Trust me. Focus
on me. Well, focus on God and God will take care
of it. Please don't focus on me. But this is
the truth. I think one of the problems with those
that are discontent and even the hard one, complaining.
You know what comes from discontent? Complaining.
Someone's complaining a lot in their life, encourage
them to focus on Jesus. And get, hey. I'm right
there with you. I'm like the number one complainer
in my life. But focus and seek first the kingdom
of God and his righteousness. Do that in your
own lives and you too will learn the secret of
contentment. You will learn how to be content
no matter what's going on because your eyes are
focused on him who has the future for us set
up perfectly. Glorious. It's so amazing. Like,
yes, thank you, God. When I think about it, that's
all I can say because I'm just like, it's too
much. Thank you, God. Now, if you don't know
Jesus or your eyes have been stuck on the world,
you haven't been looking at him, you haven't
been learning about him, yeah, you're going to
be discontent. And if you don't know Jesus, You'll
never be content. The world can't give you contentment.
As we went over, all the stuff you're acquiring,
you ain't going to leave here with it. It's staying.
You can accumulate all the power, fame, entertainment,
and money all you want. Doesn't matter. It's
staying. What matters when you leave this life
is if you have Jesus or not. That's the only
thing that matters. One of my favorite examples
for this, and I say that in a weird way because
I don't like what happened, is look at Robin
Williams. For those that don't know, Robin Williams,
massive comedian and actor, had all the money,
all the fame, everything. His life from the outside
looked perfect. Yet he was a massive alcoholic
who became depressed all the time and then ended
up killing himself. Why? Because none of this
world's material things can bring contentment.
Only Jesus can. And he didn't have Jesus. So
please, if you don't believe in Jesus, give your
life to him. Because you're just going to go
around this world chasing things and then end
up in hell for eternity. And I don't want that
for you. No Christian wants that for you. And
God doesn't want that for you. He wants you to
believe in him, to trust him, to love him so
he can give you the fullness of his love and
glory. So if everyone can, please just close
your eyes and bow your heads. If there's anyone
here today that doesn't know Jesus and you want
to give your life to him, please just raise your
hand. I just want to give an opportunity. If
you're here today and you don't know Jesus, but
you want to and you want contentment, please
raise your hand. Now, the other thing I want
to do, if you're here today and you're a Christian
that's been worrying, you feel like your focus
hasn't been on Jesus, please raise your hand.
Okay, I see you. I would like to pray for everyone
here, especially those who raised their hand.
Lord, I just want to say thank you, especially
for my brothers and sisters here that we get
to worship you, Lord. And thank you for dying
for us to give us eternal life, taking our punishment,
Lord. And those that are here that we've had
our eyes on this world. focused on the material,
focused on the temporal, Lord. All of those who
raised their hands, Lord, I pray that you help
them refocus on you, Lord, that your Holy Spirit
would tug on their hearts daily to remind them
to read the Bible and that they would be good
and faithful servants choosing you, choosing
to seek after your kingdom first, Lord. I pray
that for all of us, even those in this room that
didn't raise their hand, that we would continue
to seek you first, Lord, because you are good,
amazing, and worth it, Lord. We thank you so
much. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.