## Choose Contentment Over Comparison

## Philippians 4:10-13

For several weeks we have looked at some of the choices we make as believers. Much of our life is defined by those choices. This evening the challenge is for us to choose contentment over comparison.

One fellow who was on the old game show, 'Let's Make a Deal' told of his experience. He had been visiting friends when it was suggested that they get dressed up and go to the show. They never expected to win anything, but thought it would be lots of fun. Turns out that he won $500. After the show, he was in a room with the other winners to sign legal releases and the like. He was thinking that he wished he had won the 'Big Deal', the woman who had won the 'Big Deal' was complaining that the furniture didn't match the decor of her home. Do you get the picture? They both had won things, but they began to compare and grew discontented over the blessings that they had received.

Comparison causes us to be discontented! People are discontented with their jobs, and employers are discontented with their workers. Husbands and wives discontented with one another keep the divorce courts filled with such cases. Families are destroyed because parents are discontented with their children and children feel the same way toward their parents. [2]

It is true in the business world, politics, sports, and, perhaps, the greatest tragedy of all-the local churches! The challenge this evening is for us to choose contentment over comparison.

Read: Phil. 4:10-13

I. What Contentment Is Not.

A. It is not complacency.

1. To be complacent one is satisfied with self.

2. It carrys the idea of no longer caring about what happens.

3. To resign or give up on life.

B. It is not the natural attribute of sinful man.

1. Note: v11 "...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

2. Contentment is something we must learn.

3. We learn by practice and we know by experience.

C. It is not having everything that we think we might enjoy.

1. Foolishly, I used to think that as long as I had a job that would provide me with enough money to buy the things I wanted, then I would be content.

2. Note: Eccl. 2:10-11 (ECCL 2:10-11) "AND WHATSOEVER MINE EYES DESIRED I KEPT NOT FROM THEM, I WITHHELD NOT MY HEART FROM ANY JOY; FOR MY HEART REJOICED IN ALL MY LABOUR: AND THIS WAS MY PORTION OF ALL MY LABOUR. {11} THEN I LOOKED ON ALL THE WORKS THAT MY HANDS HAD WROUGHT, AND ON THE LABOUR THAT I HAD LABOURED TO DO: AND, BEHOLD, ALL WAS VANITY AND VEXATION OF SPIRIT, AND THERE WAS NO PROFIT UNDER THE SUN."

a. Solomon learned by practice and knew by experience that satisfaction and contentment can not be found in things.

b. A gravemarker was observed with this inscription:

SHE DIED FOR WANT OF THINGS: HE DIED TRYING TO GIVE THEM TO HER.

(ECCL 5:10) "HE THAT LOVETH SILVER SHALL NOT BE SATISFIED WITH SILVER; NOR HE THAT LOVETH ABUNDANCE WITH INCREASE: THIS IS ALSO VANITY."

3. Ps 62:10

(PSA 62:10) "TRUST NOT IN OPPRESSION, AND BECOME NOT VAIN IN ROBBERY: IF RICHES INCREASE, SET NOT YOUR HEART UPON THEM."

II. What Contentment Is.

A. It is shifting the source of our contentment from without to within.

1. Paul said, "...In whatsoever state I am..."

2. The word 'contentment' comes from the word 'containment' which describes a person who is 'self-contained'.

3. That is, he is able to derive satisfaction from his inner resources, rather than from external resources.

(COL 3:2) "SET YOUR AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH."

B. It is not a result of having great wealth, but in having few wants.

1. Contented folks are satisfied with their lot in life, while others want a lot more!

(PHIL 4:19) "BUT MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS."

2. Contentment is not having everything we want, but is enjoying everything we have.

III. How Can We Choose To Be Content?

A. Paul's Example. v10-13

1. Rejoice in the Lord!

a. in the way that this church was taking care of him.

b. it wasn't a question of Paul wanting...

2. He had learned contentment!

a. Whether was abounding or was being abased.

b. Whether he was full or was hungry.

c. Whether he was suffering a need or having his needs met.

3. The power of Jesus Christ was enough to strengthen him in all things.

a. This verse has been taken out of context as some sort of magic formula to do the impossible.

b. However, Paul was talking about dealing with contentment.

c. Jesus Christ is able to make us content regardless of our circumstances!

B. We must center our lives around Jesus Christ.

(1 TH 5:18) "IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS: FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS CONCERNING YOU."

1. Note: 1 Timothy 6:6-8

(1 TIM 6:6-8) "BUT GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN. {7} 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."

2. The Word of God instructs us to be content...

a. with our jobs and wages

b. with our circumstances

c. with our financial status

d. with our marriage partner

C. We should never be content...

1. With our knowledge of God's Word.

2. With our service to the Lord.

3. With the amount of time we spend in prayer.

4. With our level of giving unto the work of God, or.....

5. With the number of people we are reaching with the Gospel.

Are we comparing or are we contented? Comparing will only bring dissatisfaction and heartache. Contentment will bring joy, peace, and fulfillment. It is time we choose to learn to be contented. If you do not know Christ as your Savior, you will never know true contentment. Do you need to come tonight?