This afternoon, I would like to talk about the problem of contentment, or the sin of discon-tentment perhaps would be a better title for the message.
We live in a changing world. One man wrote a book entitled "Who switched the price tags?". That is about the way it is today. Things which were valuable and sought after once are no longer thought to be important. Because the values of society are shifting like the sands of a desert, people are growing more and more discontented. People are discontented with their jobs, and employers are discontented with their workers. Husbands and wives discontented with one another. Families are destroyed because parents are discontented with their children and children feel the same way toward their parents.
It is true in the business world, politics, sports, and, perhaps the greatest tragedy of all, it is true among Christians!
I. What Contentment Is Not.
A. It is not complacency.
1. To be complacent one is satisfied with self.
2. It carries 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
"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. 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 grave marker was observed with this inscription: SHE DIED FOR WANT OF THINGS: HE DIED TRYING TO GIVE THEM TO HER.
3. Note: Eccl. 5:10
"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity."
a. John D. Rockefellar was asked how much money it took to make a man happy.
b. His response, "Just a little bit more."
c. David warned in Ps. 62:10, "...If riches increase, set not your heart upon them."
d. One maidservant made the state- ment, "Oh, if only I had five dollars, wouldn't I be content?" Hearing her, the master of the house gave her a crisp new five dollar bill, and as he walked away he overheard her say, "Oh why didn't I ask for ten?"
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. In Colossians 3:2, "Set your affections 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. An older, wiser man watched as a young man carried one thing after another into the house next door.
2. Every item was brand new and most modern.
3. The old gentleman told the young man that if he discovered that there was anything he didn't have, but thought that he needed, just let him know, and he would teach him how to do without it.
4. Contented folks are satisfied with their lot in life, while others want a lot more!
5. Paul said, "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Ph. 4:19
6. Contentment is not having everything we want, but is enjoying everything we have.
III. How Can We Be Content?
A. Paul's Example. v10-13
1. Rejoice in the Lord!
a. For 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 used 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. "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thess. 5:18
2. The Word of God instructs us to be content...in all things.
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 the number of people we are reaching with the Gospel.
Are you a contented this afternoon? If you do not know Christ as your Savior, you will never know true contentment. God's Word has the answer for the sin of discontentment: confession, repentance, and forgiveness.