CONTENTMENT
– FOUND WITHIN NOT WITHOUT
BREAD
10 I
rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.
Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I
am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in
need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being
content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living
in plenty or in want. 13 I can
do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:10-13 (NIV)
23 The
fear of the Lord leads to life:
Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
Proverbs 19:23 (NIV)
10 Whoever
loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied
with his income. This too is meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NIV)
7 “Two
things I ask of you, O Lord; do
not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither
poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much
and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” Proverbs 30:7-9 (NIV)
7 To
keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great
revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to
torment me. 8 Three
times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made
perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly
about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's
sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in
difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)
9 For
this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for
you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all
spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life
worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good
work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his
glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father,
who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom
of light. Colossians 1:9-12 (NIV)
4 Rejoice
in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident
to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)
6 But
godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take
nothing out of it. 8 But if
we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich
fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that
plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced
themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy
6:6-10 (NIV)
BUTTER
“The
Christian disgraces his profession far more often in prosperity than in
adversity. It is a dangerous thing to be
prosperous. The crucible of adversity is
a less severe trial to the Christian than the refining experience of prosperity…It
needs more than human skill to carry the brimming cup of mortal joy with a steady
hand. ” Charles H. Spurgeon
“Contentment is not
having what I want, but wanting what I have.” Emalyn
Spencer
“What were we made
for? To know God. What aim should we set
ourselves in life? To know God. What is
the eternal life that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God. What is the best thing in life, bringing more
joy, delight, and contentment, than anything else? Knowledge of God. What, of all the states God ever sees man in,
gives Him most pleasure? Knowledge of Himself.” J.I.
Packer
“The itch for
perfection, the lust for something else is a virus draining our souls of
contentment.” Chuck Swindoll
“Contentment is a learned secret that sadly many fail in their endeavors to obtain. It is never found in more, better, bigger, new, marriages, children or whatever that whatever may be. Oh, it may appear briefly with these faux gods we seek to enthrone but vanishes quickly after obtaining. A contentment and peace which prevails is found only in Christ. He wants to fill our wants – just ask Him. He wants to be the desire of our hearts – seek Him. Because He knows it will make us whole so that we are no longer needy or just plain annoying to be around. God fills completely when we allow Him. He wants to fill us in order to spill us (which, btw, brings much joy to the soul) so that we leave the aroma of Christ in our spheres rather than the smell of death. This is the abundance He came to give us – life to the fullest measure. This is contentment.” BHY
“Our satisfaction and contentment in life does not come from
riches but from righteousness.” Robert
J. Morgan
“His
love is unfailing, His Word unchangeable, His power ever the same; therefore
the heart that trusts Him is kept in ‘perfect peace’…I know He tries me only to
increase my faith, and that it is all in love.
Well, if He is glorified, I am content.” Hudson Taylor
“Contentment isn’t a state of
organization, a weight on the scale, a state of better: better kids, better
marriage, better health, better house. Contentment
is never a matter of circumstances; contentment is always a state of communion
— a daily embracing of God. A thankfulness for all the gifts – and moments and life, just as He gives it. Trying harder may only bring harder trials
and contentment, it won’t be found in the
resolutions, but in the revolutions – in the
turning round to God.” Ann Voskamp
“The Hebrew word shalom is often translated ‘peace,’ but its full meaning
has a deeper richness to it. Shalom is a sense of completeness and soundness
and living well. It implies safety, good health, prosperity, tranquility, and
contentment. Shalom means favor, fulfillment, restoration, harmony, and
reconciliation. God is Jehovah Shalom, the God of peace. Shalom meets the human
heart's deepest longings and is the greatest measure of contentment. True
shalom cannot exist in a heart that is void of Jesus Christ. Shalom cannot
exist in a heart that is divided between a love of God and a love of the world.
There is no room for peace in a heart that is harboring anxiety, distrust,
greed, anger, or bitterness. The Messiah is referred to as the Prince of Peace
in Isaiah 9:6. Although the text translates to ‘prince,’ the original meaning
of the word embodies the power of the king. The prince here has the full
authority, delegation, and dignity of the king. Only when the Prince of Peace
rules in our hearts and minds can we have peace. Until we submit to His
authority and power, our peace will be incomplete.” Michael
Youssef
“We are full and
we forget God: satisfied with earth, we
are content to do without heaven. Rest assured
it is harder to know how to have plenty than it is to know how to be in need –
so desperate is the tendency of human nature to pride and forgetfulness of God. Take care that you ask in your prayers that God
would teach you ‘what it is to have plenty.’”
Charles H. Spurgeon
HEART SAVOR
- · Contentment in all circumstances is learned. It is founded in trust – that God loves me and has my best interest at heart. It is learning to embrace what He allows with fullness of joy which is only found In His presence. 11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalms 16:11 (NIV)
- · Contentment is not found in things or in people or in whatever. Humans are wired by the Creator for contentment in Him – everything else will eventually be proved wanting.
- · It is easy to be so satisfied with earth that we forget God.
