The Ballestero Blog

Contentment

Eld. Dennis Morris

Phil. 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

God says need! We say needs! Our problem living for God often begins when having our need supplied by God isn’t enough. We convince ourselves, or the devil convinces us, that what we want is what we need. So, we become discontent, not just with what we have but also with God.

Are We Ever Content With What We Have?

Heb. 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.

Ouch! Content with what we have? Is that possible? The American way is to throw away and get the newest! Even if it’s not worn out or defective, it’s gotta be the latest! We constantly talk about and even covet what others have! Do we ever stop and think, God Almighty said: “I will never leave you”! The psalmist put it this way, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”! Bro. James Morar said, ”I have the Lord, I don’t need anything else“! We need to stop grumbling and start praising!

Being Content Must Be A Learning Process!

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

Paul seems to be saying that learning to be content is a process! Hearing, repeating, practicing, hearing, repeating, practicing! All for the purpose of modifying behavior. Also, exposure to those who have experienced the learned change can be very beneficial in our quest! If we hang around the greedy, we will likely be greedy; but, if we fellowship contentment, we can learn by their example!

Saints and even pastors who are discontent with their church can have a negative effect on our spirit. Oh, don’t take me wrong, by all means work to see your church grow but never despise your “little“ church! After all it’s that kind of church where God saved most of us!

Being Godly And Being Content Is Progress! (Gain: furnishing, finishing)

1 Tim 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Instead of always trying to get ahead in the world, why don’t we focus on moving higher in God! The GAIN talked about is not material or monetary it’s Spiritual! That’s worth shouting about!

We used to sing songs like, “I’m Going Higher Yes Higher Some Day“, “A Higher Plain Than I Have Found”!

Moving up in God was always on our minds. What has happened to Pentecost? Have we become so materialistic that we are always discontented and disconnected?

When Was The Last Time We Were Thankful For Just Our Food And Clothing?

1 Tim. 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

I understand the need to replace worn out and outgrown clothes etc. Cars wear out, houses get old, time alone destroys the strongest structures. Replacing or renewing is part of life but too often we’re not even happy with the new for very long. Someone else has a better one so our lip drops into a pout because we feel like we’re inferior till we get the latest! Ho hum… Almighty God wake me up to how very blessed I am before I greedy my way into perdition!