CONTENTMENT--HEBREWS 13:5

CONTENTMENT

HEBREWS 13:5

Introduction:

CONTENTMENT is a state of mind in which one’s desires are confined to his lot in life whatever it may be; It is a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed. He has sufficiency of the necessities of life and a mind content with what he has.

The word “CONTENT” means -- sufficient for one’s self, strong enough or processing enough to need no aid or support; independent of external circumstances; contented with one’s lot, with one’s means, though they may be the very least.

I. GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT

1 Timothy 6:6, But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

A. As opposed to envy, James 3:16, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.''

1. Envy [rivalry] indicates that their wisdom is not from above, James 1:17,“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

a. There is strife, Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

b. There is confusion, 1 Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

c. There is every evil work, Ecclesiastes 8:11, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”

2. There is no envy in the wisdom that comes from above, James 3:17, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

B. As opposed to avarice, Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

1. Be content with what you have, Luke 12:15, “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

2. We brought nothing into this world, 1 Timothy 6:7-8, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8- And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

3. God will never forsake us, Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

B. As opposed to ambition, Proverbs 13:10, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.”

C. As opposed to anxiety, Matthew 6:25, 34, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

D. As opposed to repining, 1 Corinthians 10:10, “Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer,”

1. “You have killed the people of God,” Numbers 16:41, “But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.”

2. Moses intervened for the people to save them, Numbers 16:47-48, “And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.”

II. CONTENT WITH OUR SITUATION

Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

A. Being content with the simple things of life, 1 Timothy 6:8, “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

B. Being content with what God has given us. Quaker’s Test?

We’ve heard of an old Quaker who advertised that he would give 40 acres of rich farmland to anyone who was perfectly satisfied with that which he had. One seeker came to see the Quaker.

“Are thee perfectly satisfied with what thee hast?”

“Yes,” answered the hopeful guest.

“Then why dost thee want this land?” was the old Quaker’s significant reply.

1. Many want more recognition.

2. Many want more control or power over other people.

III. GOD’S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

2 Corinthians 12:9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

A. Our sufficiency is not in ourselves, 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;”

B. God is able to make us content, 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

1. Happy is he whose hope is the Lord, Psalm 146:5, “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:”

2. Happy is the man to whom God has given a family, Psalm 127:4-5, “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5- Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.”

CONCLUSION

1 Timothy 6:6, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” That is some of the best news I have ever heard. I can be happy under many different circumstances if my life is right with the LORD.

How is your life today? Are you content? Do you know Christ as you Savior?