Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world,
just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.
If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.
1 Tim 6:6-8
For we brought nothing into the world,
just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.
If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.
1 Tim 6:6-8
What Should We Be Content With?
The Bible talks a lot about being content. We are instructed to be content:
That is a pretty comprehensive list, covering about every possible condition or situation we might find ourselves in!
What Is The Natural Human Condition?
The Bible also makes it clear that being content is not the natural human condition:
All human toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is never satisfied. (Eccl 6:7)
Again I saw this vanity under the sun: those all alone with no companion, with neither child nor sibling—with no end to all their toil, and no satisfaction from riches. For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good things? This also is vanity and a bad business. (Eccl 4:7-8)
The covetous are never satisfied with money, nor lovers of wealth with their gain; so this too is vanity. (Eccl 5:9)
It often seems that the more someone has, the less content he or she is with his life. A person living in poverty will be happy with some food and clean water, while a person with plenty gets very upset because he can’t get cell phone reception in his current location. A child living in the African bush is happy with a few sticks to play with, while many children in modern society are bored if they are faced with an hour without television or the internet.
The Source Of Temptation
Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (James 4:1-3)
Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains. (1 Tim 6:9-10)
Ultimately it is a lack of contentment that leads us to sin. Probably the best example of this is King David. He was likely the wealthiest man in the world. He had everything he could want—eight beautiful wives, many children, a stunning palace, a strong army. He literally lacked nothing. But one year he stayed home rather than going out to lead his army. He became bored and took his eyes off God and instead focused on the wife of another man. Soon the king who had everything committed adultery and murder, just because he was not content with what he had.
What Should Be The Source Of Our Contentment?
The Bible also makes it clear that the source of our contentment is to be God:
Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain. (1 Tim 6:6)
Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.” Thus we may say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper, [and] I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” (Heb 13:5-6)
I recognized that there is nothing better than to rejoice and to do well during life. Moreover, that all can eat and drink and enjoy the good of all their toil—this is a gift of God. (Eccl 3:12-13)
Those to whom God gives riches and property, and grants power to partake of them, so that they receive their lot and find joy in the fruits of their toil: This is a gift from God. For they will hardly dwell on the shortness of life, because God lets them busy themselves with the joy of their heart. (Eccl 5:18-19)
I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. (Phil 4:12-13)
Eyes On God!
Once again we are reminded that we are to keep our eyes on God, and trust that He is guiding us where we need to go and equipping us with everything we need when we need it through His Word, His Church and His Holy Spirit. Jesus gives us a good example in John 21:21-22 of how we should respond when our eyes start to wander, and we begin to desire what we don’t have or question why our life is the way it is:
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.”
God doesn’t want us to be focused on other people’s lives and what they have. He wants us to keep our eyes on Him, fully surrender to Him, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in following Jesus. The next time you find your mind wondering why someone else has more than you or less than you, or why someone died or was killed, picture Jesus saying, “What is that to you?” Then thank and praise God for every detail in your life: “Praise you Father; Thank you Jesus; Guide us Holy Spirit!”
Consider/Discuss
1. How did discontent lead Eve and others to sin?
2. What is causing discontent in your life?
3. How does the world try to make us discontented?
4. Have you tried praising and thanking God for everything in your life--the good and the bad?
Scripture Memory Verse
I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. (Phil 4:12-13)
Let's Pray! - The Delicate Balance
The Bible talks a lot about being content. We are instructed to be content:
- In all circumstances (Phil 4:11)
- In any and every situation (Phil 4:12)
- Whether fed or hungry (Phil 4:12)
- Whether living in plenty or in want (Phil 4:12)
- As long as we have food and clothing (1 Tim 6:7)
- With what we have (Heb 13:5)
- With our pay (Luke 3:14)
That is a pretty comprehensive list, covering about every possible condition or situation we might find ourselves in!
What Is The Natural Human Condition?
The Bible also makes it clear that being content is not the natural human condition:
All human toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is never satisfied. (Eccl 6:7)
Again I saw this vanity under the sun: those all alone with no companion, with neither child nor sibling—with no end to all their toil, and no satisfaction from riches. For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good things? This also is vanity and a bad business. (Eccl 4:7-8)
The covetous are never satisfied with money, nor lovers of wealth with their gain; so this too is vanity. (Eccl 5:9)
It often seems that the more someone has, the less content he or she is with his life. A person living in poverty will be happy with some food and clean water, while a person with plenty gets very upset because he can’t get cell phone reception in his current location. A child living in the African bush is happy with a few sticks to play with, while many children in modern society are bored if they are faced with an hour without television or the internet.
The Source Of Temptation
Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (James 4:1-3)
Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains. (1 Tim 6:9-10)
Ultimately it is a lack of contentment that leads us to sin. Probably the best example of this is King David. He was likely the wealthiest man in the world. He had everything he could want—eight beautiful wives, many children, a stunning palace, a strong army. He literally lacked nothing. But one year he stayed home rather than going out to lead his army. He became bored and took his eyes off God and instead focused on the wife of another man. Soon the king who had everything committed adultery and murder, just because he was not content with what he had.
What Should Be The Source Of Our Contentment?
The Bible also makes it clear that the source of our contentment is to be God:
Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain. (1 Tim 6:6)
Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never forsake you or abandon you.” Thus we may say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper, [and] I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” (Heb 13:5-6)
I recognized that there is nothing better than to rejoice and to do well during life. Moreover, that all can eat and drink and enjoy the good of all their toil—this is a gift of God. (Eccl 3:12-13)
Those to whom God gives riches and property, and grants power to partake of them, so that they receive their lot and find joy in the fruits of their toil: This is a gift from God. For they will hardly dwell on the shortness of life, because God lets them busy themselves with the joy of their heart. (Eccl 5:18-19)
I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. (Phil 4:12-13)
Eyes On God!
Once again we are reminded that we are to keep our eyes on God, and trust that He is guiding us where we need to go and equipping us with everything we need when we need it through His Word, His Church and His Holy Spirit. Jesus gives us a good example in John 21:21-22 of how we should respond when our eyes start to wander, and we begin to desire what we don’t have or question why our life is the way it is:
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.”
God doesn’t want us to be focused on other people’s lives and what they have. He wants us to keep our eyes on Him, fully surrender to Him, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in following Jesus. The next time you find your mind wondering why someone else has more than you or less than you, or why someone died or was killed, picture Jesus saying, “What is that to you?” Then thank and praise God for every detail in your life: “Praise you Father; Thank you Jesus; Guide us Holy Spirit!”
Consider/Discuss
1. How did discontent lead Eve and others to sin?
2. What is causing discontent in your life?
3. How does the world try to make us discontented?
4. Have you tried praising and thanking God for everything in your life--the good and the bad?
Scripture Memory Verse
I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. (Phil 4:12-13)
Let's Pray! - The Delicate Balance