Choosing Contentment

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.’”  That passage from Hebrews 13:5 reminds us that there are more important things than, well, things. Today we’ll talk about the benefits of choosing contentment.

• Let’s start by defining contentment. “Contentment is an attitude that says, I will be satisfied with what God has given me.”
• THE PULL OF MATERIALISM
• Unfortunately, the godly contentment we’re talking about isn’t a popular virtue in our materialistic culture.  There’s constant pressure from peers and the media to desire more things, better cars, cooler friends.  The attitude that says, “I deserve this” is so prevalent, that we’ve given it a name, “entitlement”. 
• So, if an entitlement attitude is creeping in at your house, what do you do? Here’s some wisdom from Moody Church theologian Harry Ironside: “We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” Cultivate that “attitude of gratitude”, and you’ll find it easier to be content. If someone – including you – starts complaining, stop a moment and think about what you’re thankful for instead.
• THE BENEFITS OF BEING CONTENT
• Y’know, the Bible tells us about the benefits of being content. For the Apostle Paul, being content meant having the ability to weather all of life’s storms without fear or worry. In Philippians 4:11, Paul writes,
• “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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.”
• Well, what’s Paul’s secret for being content in all circumstances?  How does he do that?  He finishes the passage in Philippians by saying, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Ultimately, it’s Jesus who provides the strength to be at peace in all circumstances.
• Like Paul, we can choose to be content because, as Christ-followers, our position in Christ never changes.  Circumstances ebb and flow like the stock market, but who we are in Christ never budges one bit.  We are saved by grace, and our eternal future is secure.  This can and should change our perspective on everyday life. 
• Proverbs 19:23 puts it another way: The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
• Fear in this case means trust, honor, awe.  We trust, obey and respect the Lord because He is our Master, our Holy Lord.  This trust leads to life, or flourishing.It’s like spiritual confidence! Then, as a result of fearing the Lord, the verse says, “one rests content, untouched by trouble.” That doesn’t mean we won’t face trouble, but trouble can’t destroy us, spiritually.  So, we can choose to be content.
• Another way to understand the choice to be content or not is to understand what the opposite looks like.  The opposite of contentment is to be dissatisfied, disappointed, and unhappy. It’s actually worse than that.  Proverbs 27: 20 says, “Death and Destruction are never satisfied “… so being discontented is right down there with death and destruction.  Not something you want in your life.
• In Ecclesiastes 5:10, we see another problem with discontent – a lack of meaning.
• Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.
• If what you make or what you have is all that matters, then you can never really be content, and you’re courting “death and destruction” in your heart.  The Bible confirms that in God’s economy, material things are meaningless by themselves.  You can be grateful for what God has provided now, knowing that he has a good plan for you, both now and in the future. So, as Philippians 4:19 teaches, you can let your heart be filled with gratitude because the Lord “will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
• What God has for us is so much better than what we can imagine for ourselves.  When we realize this, buying and keeping things doesn’t seem so appealing anymore. We can choose, like the Apostle Paul, “to be content in all circumstances”.  This doesn’t happen overnight, especially when you’re in the habit of accumulation. Ask the Lord to change your heart about this, and He will!

On this program, Rob also answers listener questions: 

• What are the rules surrounding penalties for withdrawing money from a Roth IRA?
• How do you determine the best way to use a limited amount of money with several pressing needs? 
• What’s happening with plans for a national digital currency? 
• Does it make sense to reduce 401k contributions to pay off credit card debt and build up an emergency fund? 

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Christian Credit Counselors

Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Also, visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community, and give as we expand our outreach. 

Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.