Being Content
We live in a world where we are pressured to never feel content. People are taught from the time they are born to covet after the opposite of what God has given them.
If a person has been given a slim frame then they are taught to desire a muscular frame, if they have a thick frame then they are told that they should be slimmer.
If they have wealth then they are to desire more, if they have humble means then they should covet to be rich.
If they have bread to eat they should want meat also and if they have transportation then they are to covet after a more worldly desired vehicle.
The world has taught us to covet after things but God says to learn to be content wherever you are in life.
Jesus warns us about not being content with God’s plan for your life as he was faced with the request of a young man that did not understand the meaning of being content for it is written, “13And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses. 16And he spoke a parable unto them, saying, the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17and he thought within himself, saying, what shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:13-21
Jesus continued to teach us that we are to learn how to trust God in handling what is best for our lives for it is written, “ 22And he said unto his disciples; therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24Consider the ravens: for they neither sows nor reaps; which neither has storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knows that ye have need of these things. 31But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. 32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags, which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not, where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts. 34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:22-34
God desires that we be content in all parts of our lives including relationships!
Married people should not envy those who are single and someone who is divorced should not be in a hurry to get back into marriage but to trust God to show them what will be best for their lives and how to be content with whatever God chooses for it is written, “Are you bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.” I Corinthians 7:27
But it is also a wonderful thing to God if he would have you to be married for it is written, “22He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” Proverbs 18:22
A true servant of Jesus Christ must understand that you cannot be a content person and be vain or a proud person also for it is written, “3If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strife of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5Perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
Being content with whatever life throws at you is true contentment knowing and trusting that God knows what he is doing in your life for it is written, “6But godliness with contentment is great gain.7 for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”
I Timothy 6:3-8
If God has you in a time of your life where there is not much earthly revenue to share with others, learn to be content with where you are in life, knowing that God knows what’s best for you.
But if you seek after something that God has not planned for your life yet, you are headed for trouble for it is written, “9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, where unto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I Timothy 6:9-12
God has also made some people rich as part of his perfect plan but they are to be content with how God will instruct them as stewards over his riches for it is written, “17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; 18That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. I Timothy 6:17-19
The rich are to understand as well as learn to be content with the fact that they have been chosen by God to handle the office of giving to others and not to be greedy for it is written, “16Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17But whoso hath this world’s good, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him? I John 3:16-17
Do you trust God to know what is best for your life?
If your answer was yes, then my next question is, are you content with where God has you at this time?
One of God’s true servants clearly understood what it means to be content with God’s plan for his life as the apostle Paul wrote, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13
He truly understood God’s definition of being content as he wrote, “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watching, in fasting; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
II Corinthians 6:3-10
In order for any of us today to understand what it truly means to be content we must first understand why we are here for it is written, “13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
We are here on this earth to Love God and live our lives serving him. If we truly understand this then we will be content with whatever that entails.
For it is written, “ 5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:5-6
I pray that you learn to be truly content according to God that we all may hear the words, “ well done thy faithful servant” on the day of Judgment.
Until next time I love you
Minister Lamar F. Porter
Most High God Ministries
11/10/2011
