Learning To Be Content 2

Hello Everyone,

Contentment is a learning process. Contentment does not come naturally. Read with me in Exodus 20:17:

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Another effect of always wanting more is Worry.

The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep. Eccl 5:12

When we focus on things we always inevitably worry. The more you have, the more you have to worry about. How am I going to protect it?
How am I going to save it? How am I going to invest it? How am I going to insure it? How am I going to avoid taxes on it? How am I going to keep from losing it?

The more you have, the more you've got to worry about. The blue collar man works a hard day's labor, goes home, watches TV, loves his wife, goes to sleep, sound.

The white collar man comes home with his briefcase, he brings his work home with him, he's frustrated, he's thinking about it all night, he tosses and turns.

I read about a study that said insomnia increases with income.
You add these first three together -- fatigue, debt, worry and you get a fourth effect of always wanting more..

Conflict:

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you”? James 4:1

Conflict comes when we always want more. The number one cause of divorce is financial tension.

God says, "Don't covet what is somebody else's." Don't covet somebody else's job, car, house, wife, husband. God says don't do it.

When there is always a desire to acquire more it also brings with it Dissatisfaction.

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. Eccl. 5:10

The Living Bible says "It's foolish to think wealth brings happiness!" Things can bring happiness for a while. But the thrill doesn't last. The excitement wears off.

Why? Why don't things keep you permanently happy? Because things don't change and human beings like change. If things don't change we get bored with them.

Pretty soon you have to redecorate, or remodel or repair or replace or at least rearrange it. Things don't give permanent happiness.

Things do not bring lasting happiness. It's a temporary thrill. And coveting is the number one reason for dissatisfaction in our world.

What is the antidote to coveting?
The antidote to coveting is contentment. Paul says, 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. Phil 4:12

Circle "learned".
Contentment is something you have to learn. It does not come natural.

All For Jesus
Phil