What Is The Secret To Being Content?

Does being content come from having everything you need and want, or is it something else?

"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, I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12-13.

TO BE IN NEED
The Apostle Paul knew what it was to be in need. He was in prisons, he was often without food and shelter he was treated as an outcast, and homeless; but he refused self-pity and in everything he learned to be content.

He also experienced having it all, and both situations required him to learn contentment.

I HAVE LEARNED THE SECRET
Christian maturity offers more than the convert thinks. We must keep on learning and discovering, and get past the milk of the Word to feast on the meat.

CONTENT
To be content is to be satisfied with what you have. It says what you have is enough, and refuses to look for more. This attitude requires a focus on deeper, bigger, and more important things.

IN ANY AND EVERY SITUATION
Paul saw no difference between unmet need and blessing. Because his focus was on God not the circumstances, therefore every circumstance is sacred.

PROSPERITY
If we are blessed with material goods the same attitude applies- we look to God as the giver of the gift. Prosperity may offer more temptations than poverty, like the temptation to indulge or take pride in the blessings. We need humility in poverty and prosperity.

THROUGH HIM
Whether in poverty or prosperity Paul was content through Christ. Not through a philosophy, a discipline, or good fortune but by a relationship with Christ.

Paul's joy was not in the things of this world but in the Lord. To focus on the Lord lifted him above all the shortcomings of this world.  In Christ he was independent from the needs of the world.

Those who are content look at God and their needs are met in Him. By faith they say, "I have an unmet need but God is good, wise, and beneficent so if He chooses to not meet this need it is not necessary or not for my good. He has a purpose in this situation I accept it and will be thankful. I will know him better through this."

To learn more about knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior follow this link.

The Danger Of Envying Other People's Wealth. Psalm 73:2-3

It is easy to find the person who seems to have lot more than you do. Their house looks bigger, their car is newer, their clothes are in fashion and they can eat in restaurants. While you ride the bus, eat leftovers and wear clothes that are frayed and patched up.

"But as for me, my feet almost slipped; I nearly lost my foothold. for I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." Psalm 73:2-3.

WEALTH IS NEUTRAL
There is nothing wrong with wealth. It may be God's blessing or even God's testing.

Many good people are wealthy. They worked hard, made wise choices, exercised discipline, saved, and earned the reward of vision and sacrifice. There is nothing wrong with that, and they are worthy of admiration.

Some people may obtain prosperity through dishonest means. We should not admire them.

GOD BLESSES
In either case, we should not envy the wealth of others. If God has given a person this world's treasures we should be thankful that God has shown them such blessings. If we perceive a person rejects God's goodness and spurns righteousness for themselves we know their wealth is all there is for them and they face a poor eternity without grace or blessings.

ENVY
Envy is the child of covetousness. In the Ten Commandments, God said, "You shall not covet." (Deuteronomy 5:21). When we envy we sin and break one of God's commands.

Envy is the opposite of contentment, and it robs us of the possibility contentment, and it causes us to forget the blessings we already have.

MY FEET ALMOST SLIPPED, LOST FOOTHOLD
Imagine climbing a steep mountain, near the top and the soil beneath your feet crumble and you begin to slide down toward a cliff edge. In the pilgrimage of life, we lose a valuable reference standard of moral uprightness when we begin to envy because we start to compromise deeper values for cheaper ones. When we begin to envy we jeopardize the good we have built, we are possibly risking our lives.

RESOLVE
We begin a dangerous course when we envy other people's wealth. We start to focus on the things that are secondary in life and miss the primary blessings of relationships, character, and self.

Resolve to focus on the blessings you have and not on what other people have.

 (c)Adron Dozat

What Does The Bible Say About Planning For The Future

Does saving and investing go against religion that says we live by faith because God will provide? Or is there some way we should be preparing for the future?

"Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, Give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations."Proverbs 27:23 -24, NIV.

FIRST TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU HAVE
God has provided our daily bread; don't abuse, misuse, or squander it. He has provided what we have for today and commands us to know its condition and care. Tomorrow's blessing may rest on how we handle today's blessing.

THE METAPHOR OF FLOCKS
Sheep are demanding and delicate; caring for them required a lot of work. Sick sheep do not bring lambs to birth, do not give good milk- if at all, and die. A sick herd diminishes quickly. The shepherd had to pay close attention to the health of the herd to prosper or even maintain his standard of living.

TODAY'S FLOCKS
Few of us have sheep, but we have other possessions, houses, cars, tools; and for growing wealth we have accounts, and funds. We must pay attention to these things. When things are maintained they last longer, a properly maintained car may last ten times longer than one that is neglected. (Our local gas station has five vehicles with over a million miles on each, they maintain everything on schedule).

AUTO PILOT MENTALITY
Today people want to turn something on or start some program and then sit back and watch it run. This is a dangerous attitude with possessions and wealth. We need to schedule regular time to service things and keep things running. We have to work.

RICHES DO NOT ENDURE
The shepherd's future was bound in today's flock. Taking care of today's sheep protected his future legacy, retirement, and security against famine or disaster. Take care of what you have now so it will hold its value and in some cases become more valuable or at least not cost more.
(c) Adron 2013

Are Small Lies OK If The Gain Is Great?

They say "honesty is the best policy," but what if we make an exception once in a while? Is it OK to tell a little half-truth to get a big payout? What does the Bible Say?

"A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare."Proverbs 21:6. NIV.

LYING TONGUE
The words "lying tongue" is a poetic phrase that pictures any deceit or falsehood. This includes any practice or act of untruth or the smallest deception- what many call a white lie or a half truth. The Bible in many places condemns lying and giving false witness.* When we say something is such and such, or that we will do so and so it must be true.

FORTUNE
A fortune may not be a massive amount of wealth it may be any treasure even of a small monetary value; the standard is the same in all cases; if the value is one dollar or one billion then lies and half-truths are condemned.

A FLEETING VAPOR
In the desert lands where these proverbs were written you might see a mirage, shimmering lights that looked like water. The desperate thirsty traveler could chase these to his death. So we may think a truth spun to our advantage may quince our need but it is ourselves we are deceiving.
A vapor is an insubstantial mist that has no tangible substance, we cannot hold it, and melts on the wind. This cannot be possessed, and soon gone.

A DEATH TRAP
Why is a fortune a deadly snare? There are always consequences to telling half-truths and lies, like you get caught and people want restitution and more, but the most compelling reason that it is a deadly snare is because God says it is. If The Lord calls something a deadly snare it is foolish to act as if it wasn't.

*Proverbs 6:16-19 , Numbers 23:19 Leviticus 19:11 (Just a few references to support the point, the list is very long).

(c) Adron 2013

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