CONTENTMENT

CONTENTMENT

Do you ever find yourself envious of others? Not satisfied with what you
have? Some gets a new car, a newer, bigger TV and the juices of envy and
jealousy begin to flow? Someone's house is bigger and better -- you want
a Jacuzzi because someone else has a brand new pool?

Paul writes in Philippians 4:11 "Not that I speak from want; for I have
learned to be content win WHATEVER circumstances I am in." Henry
Blackaby, in his devotional, EXPERIENCING GOD DAY BY DAY writes: "Our
world promotes dissatisfaction with our lives. We are constantly
bombarded with newer and better things that will make our lives more
complete if only we would obtain them! If we listen to the world, we
will always be comparing the lifestyles and possessions of others with
our own, and we will always be dissatisfied. If our contentment comes
from possessions, activities, or other people, these can be altered or
removed. If our contentment comes from our relationship with Christ,
there is absolutely NOTHING that can take that away.

Paul had enjoyed power and status among his people. He had also been
imprisoned and bound in stocks in the depths of a jail cell. He had
stood before a king and been stoned almost to death by an angry mob.
Paul had enjoyed the benefits and pleasures of life, yet he could give
them all up and still be filled with the joy of the Lord. His
contentment did not depend on his environment but on his relationship
with Christ.

Contentment frees you to enjoy EVERY good thing God has given you.
Contentment demonstrates your belief that God loves you and has your
best interest in mind. Discontent stems from the sins of ingratitude and
a lack of faith that God loves you enough to provide for all that you
need. Strive to be grateful for all that God has given you. A grateful
heart has no room for envy."

I have shared with you prayers of the puritans. Here is one on
contentment:

Heavenly Father,
If I should suffer need, and go unclothed, and be in poverty,
make my heart prize Your love,
know it, be constrained by it,
though I be denied all blessings.
It is Your mercy to afflict and try me with wants,
for by these trials I see my sins,
and desire severance from them.
Let me willingly accept misery, sorrows, temptations,
if I can thereby feel sin as the greatest evil,
and be delivered from it with gratitude to You,
acknowledging this as the highest testimony of Your love.
When the Son, Jesus came into my soul
instead of sin, he became more dear to me than sin had formerly
been;
his kindly rule replaced sin's tyranny.
Teach me to believe that if ever I would have any sin subdued
I must not only labor to overcome it,
but must invite Christ to abide in the place of it,
and he must become to me more than vile lust had been;
that his sweetness, power, life may be there.
Thus I must seek a grace from him contrary to sin,
but must not claim it apart from himself.
When I am afraid of evils to come,
comfort me by showing me
that in myself I am a dying, condemned wretch,
but IN CHRIST I am reconciled and live;
that in my self I find insufficiency and no rest,
but in Christ there is no satisfaction and peace;
that in myself I am feeble and unable to do good,
but in Christ I have ability to do all things.
from THE VALLEY OF VISION

So how about you? Can you say with Paul this morning: "for I have
learned to be content in WHATEVER circumstances?" That's my prayer for
me and you today.