Central Thought: Every believer should be grateful to God for their present status in life and trust God for a better future.
Text:Matthew 6:25, Philippians 4:12-13, 1 Kings 21:1-24
Hymn: “Take my life and let it be”
We live in an age when many people are interested in making quick and more money without necessarily working hard for it. Many people have the desire and rush to be rich by all means. It is sad to note that some Christians today are being carried away by this “get rich quick” syndrome, because in the larger society and in the church those who have “made it” are highly honored. Many Christians measure their level of spirituality with how affluent they are and so are willing to do anything to acquire material things just because they want to be like others. But the Bible tells us that a man’s life does not consist of the abundance of what he has (Luke 12:15). There is no need to be covetous or greedy. God has promised to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
This study is aimed at inculcating in us the right value to life and teach us to be content with what God has given us at any point in time.
Lesson Objectives:
The objectives of this lesson are:
- To understand the meaning of the word contentment and appreciate areas in which people demonstrate discontent.
- To understand what the Christian attitude should be in acquiring material possessions.
- To identify the things that make some people to lack contentment and the dangers of not being contented.
- To understand if contentment contradicts the principles of aspiring for higher heights.
Question 1.) What do you understand by the word contentment?
Matthew 6:25, Philippians 4:12-13
The word contentment means a state of being happy and satisfied. It is accepting the state of one’s life and being grateful or happy with it.
For the natural man, contentment represents self-actualization, i.e. the satisfaction of reaching one’s full potential; also it sands for a sense of security provided by what he has achieved. For the believer, Christ is the secret of his contentment. In Luke 12:15, the Lord Jesus admonished believers to be content with what they have. Apostle Paul lived a contented life and is a good example for us to follow. He suffered and sometimes went without the comforts of life. In Philippians 4:11-13, he declared “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”.
The believer’s trust should be absolutely on God, being satisfied with his/her condition regardless of the circumstances. On the contrary, some believers just like unbelievers, worry similarly over the issues of life. The believer in-spite of his situation, must be satisfied and secured with what he has, what he is and where he is going.
Question 2.) Identify those things that promote lack of contentment.
Genesis 31:41, Ecclesiastes 5:10, 2 Kings 5:20, Isaiah 56:11, Matthew 26:14-16, Luke 12:15, 2 Peter 2:3
Lack of in-depth knowledge of God’s word is the foremost reason why believers are discontent.
The lack of awareness of how great God is and God’s ability to provide His children’s needs; also the lack of knowledge of who we are in God, is a major cause of discontentment. This is what leads to unhealthy competition and comparison among brethren.
Lack of focus/failure to know that we are here on a pilgrimage.
Generally, greed is the underlying cause of discontentment because human wants are insatiable. Greed to acquire other people’s possession, coveting other people’s interest, love of money, dissatisfaction and displeasure with one’s condition, inordinate search for happiness and more success, comparing oneself with others, withdrawal to oneself due to discontentment.
Question 3.) What should be the Christian’s attitude towards acquiring material possessions?
Matthew 6:33, Deuteronomy 8:18, 1 Timothy 6:6-8, Psalm 37:3-6, Luke 12:15
The Christian’s attitude towards acquiring material possessions is clearly outlined in scriptures; this is more important as the quest/greed to acquire material possession is one of the foremost causes for discontentment.
Matthew 6:33 admonishes the believer to put God and His Kingdom first in his/her pursuit. God comes first in the scale of preference and order of priority before the acquisition of material things. God and His righteousness should come first in all we do. It is only after setting our priorities right, by putting God first that the other things would be added to us.
In the believer’s pursuit therefore, he/she must maintain a deep desire to please God in acquiring material possessions. In Deuteronomy 8:18, we are reminded that “The Lord is He that giveth thee power to get wealth”. The implication of this is that whatever wealth we have and would ever have, is from the LORD. Having this understanding therefore, the believer should be guided in his bid towards material possession. Our resources therefore, should be judiciously spent to the glory of God.
The divine provision of food and raiment is sufficient for us to be grateful to God and be satisfied with God’s divine provision.
Similarly, we cannot say we are godly yet be discontent; a sign of Godliness is that we are content with God’s provision. The believer is further admonished to trust God, and do good; he must be sold out to God, for God to grant his heart’s desire and must further bring God into all he does, trusting God for direction and guidance.
The Lord Jesus gave a salient command on the issue of covetousness in Luke 12:15 where He said we must “beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consist not in the abundance of the things which he possesses”. If only believers constantly remind themselves of this scripture their attitudes towards acquisition of material possessions would change. Sadly in this part of the world the competitions, comparisons amongst brethren on social status, type and model of car, houses lived in, clothes worn, etc. Indicate lack of in-depth knowledge of God and His word. When we study the Bible, our confidence in God and His ability increase; we are then better equipped to face the future. When we remind ourselves constantly that these possessions have no eternal value and are only materials for the earth, we would be better guided in our words, ways and actions.
The knowledge of God’s abiding presence, with the comforting words that “He will never leave us nor forsake us” in Hebrews 13:5-6 should place the believer in a position of contentment. Therefore we should humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God.
Question 4.A.) Does contentment contradict the principle of aspiring for higher heights?
Growth is inevitable; therefore in every sphere of life one should aspire to make progress using Godly principles. Much as believers should be grateful to God for their current achievements/blessing, there is need to aspire to higher heights. This must be done in line with the injunction in Psalm 37:3-7.
It is God’s wish for every believer to prosper. In line with this, aspiration does not negate our being satisfied with our present position in life. Our Lord Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52). It behooves on believers to aspire to increase.
Question 4.B.) How can lack of contentment be avoided?
Psalm 37:3-4, 16, 25; Philippians 4:11, 19, 1 Timothy 6:7, Hebrews 13:5, Colossians 3:11, 1 Timothy 6:6
A major way we can avoid lack of contentment is to trust in the Lord. Our absolute trust in God for our today and tomorrow while thanking God for yesterday, gives us an assurance that in-spite of our circumstances, there is hope for a better future; this breeds in us satisfaction which is not borne out of self-pity but out of the realization of God’s ability to intervene in the affairs of men. This enables the believers to trust God for change Psalm 37:3-4. It is also important to note that “a little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked” Psalm 37:16. The realization of this fact should spur the believer to aim at achieving greater heights, while appreciating God for his present state and what he/she has attained.
The knowledge of God’s word is a veritable tool that enables us to avoid lack of contentment. For example, understanding that God will never leave nor forsake His own and will also not leave His children to beg for bread helps the believer to remain “still”, while looking up to God. The believer is constantly reminded that God supplies his needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). When we realize that we brought nothing into this world and certainly shall carry nothing out, it will strengthen us to be content with whatever we have and what we are. We must strive to know God, for the more of God we know, the more we will be content. We must have heaven as our focus. If it is peer pressure, associates etc., that is derailing the believer, he/she must make conscious efforts to cut them off. We must also decide to live a simple life within our means. We must further decide to be happy with ourselves in every situation and refuse to live in self-pity.
Daily Living Application:
Every believer is encouraged to be content with what God has endowed him with, seeing that Godliness with contentment is great gain. We should therefore aspire to trust God daily to take us from where we are, to where He wants us to be.
Memory Verse:
1 Timothy 6:6-7
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out”.
Daily Devotional Guide:
Monday: What is contentment?
Philippians 4:12-13, 2 Corinthians 11:23-28
Tuesday: Some areas where people easily demonstrate discontentment.
Joshua 7:21, Isaiah 56:11
Wednesday: The Christian’s attitude towards acquiring material possessions.
Matthew 6:33, Deuteronomy 8:18, Luke 12:15
Thursday: The Christian’s attitude towards acquiring material possessions.
1 Timothy 6:6-8, Psalm 37:3-6
Friday: Dangers of discontentment- Lesson form the story for King Ahab.
1 Kings 21:1-24
Saturday: How to avoid lack of contentment.
Psalm 37:34, Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 13:5