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Overcoming Discontent

#1 · June 22, 2004, 12:50 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on June 22, 2004, 12:50 pm
Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>
Overcoming Discontent

Intro

All Christians should join with David and say, "He makes me to lie down in green pastures. (Ps 23:2). What a picture of contentment!

What is Contentment?

(1)     Viewed negatively.

(a) Contentment is not insensibility. The Stoics strove to eliminate all feeling and all emotion until they could say, "I don't care" if a plate was broken, or something happended to a pet, or if they were bodily injured, or, ultimately, if they had to watch the nearest on earth to them suffer and die. This is not contentment. Such destroys all possibility of caring (Gal 6:2, Rom 12:15), and even eliminates love.

(b) Contentment is not self-satisfaction (Rev 3:14-22).

(c) Contentment is not apathetic indifference. (1 Jn 3:17

(2)     Viewed positively.

To be content means to rest satisfied, to be assenting and unrepining, to be well-pleased; to not be disgruntled or disheartened. Webster says it is "Freedom from care or discomfort." The Tyndale Commentary states that it is a detachment from anxious concern about the outward features of this life. The Pulpit Commentary states that, "It is a quiet restfulness in the midst of all kinds of changing events...It is a cordial acquiescence in the arrangements of Heaven."

What Says the Lord

(1) "And be content with your wages." (Lk 3:14). Such was the teaching of John to the soldiers. Such contentment would prevent them from intimidating others (doing violence), and practicing blackmail (falsely accusing) because of their low wage scale.

(2) "Not that I speak in respect to want: for I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content." (Phil 4:11). Paul penned this while in prison. Yet, he was content! How could he be? Well, he had learned that contentment and happiness are not dependent on external circumstances, but on inner qualities of the heart, and upon a right relationship with the Lord.

(3) "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing let us be content." (1 Tim 6:6-8). Someone said, "The poorest person in the world is the person who has more than he/she needs but feels like it isn't enough."

(4) "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you." (Heb 13:5). This text is not teaching that we should not try to improve our status in life (can't buy a better car for example); but, rather that we should avoid a misplaced emphasis on the material things. "This doesn't forbid all lawful endeavors to improve our own condition and that of others. Such an injunction would be wholly inconsistent with what is plainly taught in many other passages of Scripture. See for example, Rom 12:11; Eph 4:28; 2 Thess 3:11. But the meaning of the Apostle is simply this, that such should be our trust and confidence in God, that we would be satisfied with our condition, be it what it may; knowing that if we are only faithful God will cause all things to work together for our good. Be diligent in business; do all that you can lawfully and consistently to improve your own condition and to promote the happiness of others and then with calmness and resignation leave all the consequences to God." (Milligan).

Foes of Contentment

(1) Covetousness. In Heb 13:5 covetousness is put over against contentment as the antithesis of contentment, yea, as the enemy of contentment. Now, since covetousness is the inordinate desire for that which is unlawful, we can readily see how it is a foe to contentment. "The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have and being able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach."

(2) Unbelief. The Lord's instruction to be content is based upon His promises that He will not forsake us, that He will not leave us, that He will help us and that we need not fear what man may do. (Heb 13:5,6). Too, He promises to sustain us with all the physical necessities of life. (Matt 6:24-34; Ps 37:25). Now, do we really believe these promises? If so, how could we be otherwise than content. Birds build their nests, rear their young, and make their annual flights to other climates, but so far as is known no bird ever tried to build more nests than its neighbor; and no fox ever fretted because he had only one hole in the earth in which to hide; and no squirrel ever died in anxiety lest he should not lay up enough nuts for two winters instead of one; and no dog every lost sleep over the fact that he didn't have enough bones buried in the ground for his declining years. Are we putting emphasis on the wrong things? Never forget, God takes care of His own.

(3) Envy. Envy is "chagrin or discontent at the excellence or good fortune of another." (Webster, Cruden). Saul was content with what praise he was receiving until he saw David was getting more. (1 Sam 18:8,9). The Philistines were content with their lot until they saw the possessions of Isaac. (Gen 26:14). The elder son was contented with things at home until he knew of the feast given for his returned brother. (Lk 15:25-32). Hamam was contented until he saw Mordecai sit in the king's gate (Est 5:9-14). Envy is an insidious evil which must be eradicated from our hearts (Gal 5:19-26; 1 Pet 2:1; Rom 13:13).

(4) Pessimism. Two buckets hung in the well house. One discontentedly complained, "No matter how full I come up, I always go down empty." The other optimistically responded, "Yes, and regardless how empty I go down I always come up full." Kenfield Morley expressed it, "I can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." The disconted pessimist when asked how things are will reply, "They are so much worse than yesterday, and so much better than I expect them to be tomorrow."

(5) Self-Pity. The prodigal son was discontent personified, and he was guilty of self-pity. (Lk 15:29). As long as we regale in, "Life cheated me", or "I'm no unfortunate," life will be a discontented experience. Pity is good, but should never be wasted on oneself.

(6) Complaining. The discontented person is seldom willing to keep his discontent to himself. So, he voices it; and, in doing so he deepens his thoughts of discontent and magnifies his imagined cause of discontent. "I complained about having no shoes until I found a man who had no feet. I complained about no one visiting my family until I found a person who had no family. I complained about the members until I moved where there were none. I complained about the Bible teacher until I tried teaching. I complained about not having fine clothes until I saw some rags."

"The grumbler's life is ever so sad, It is filled with sorrows and woes, He hasn't thought how content he could be By counting the blessings God bestows."

(7) "I can't be satisfied" attitude. To be honest some people would have to read Phil 4:11 as, "I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be discontent." Some people are as hard to please as the contrary husband who said, "When I get home tonight if my wife has not cooked me a good supper I am going to give her fits. If she has, I'm not going to eat a bite." Then there was old Mrs. McCoy, the incurable grumbler. Nothing pleased her. But one fall the preacher heard of her excellent apple crop and figured that at last he had found one thing about which she could not possibly complain. "Well, Sister McCoy," he said, "I know you are happy. I've heard a lot about that apple crop!" The old woman glared at him as she replied: "Oh, I guess they'll do, but where's the rotten 'uns for the pigs?"

How May I Cultivate Contentment?

(1) Work at it! Contentment must be cultivated. Paul had to "learn' contentment. (Phil 4:11). Close the door to the foes of contentment and develop the things which cultivate it.

(2) Count your blessings. (1 Thess 5:18; Eph 5:20). Let us count our blessings, not our blights. Let us count our priviledges and not our privations. Let us lose count, counting our blessings rather than lose our blessings counting our troubles. Concentrate on what you DO have (food, clothing, shelter, family, health, freedom, job), rather than on those things you DO NOT have.

            Poem: I wish I had a telescope to scan the starry skies;

                        But since I have no telescope, I'm glad I have two eyes.

                        I wish I had a kitchen run by push-button commands.

                        But while that kitchen's still a dream, I'm glad I have two hands.

                        I wish I had a super-car to give my friends a treat;

                        But 'til that new car comes along, I'm glad I have two feet.

                        Two eyes to look to God above ---

                        Two hands to clasp in prayer---

                        Two feet to carry me to church—

                        Why, I'M A MILLIONAIRE!

(3) Transfer your attention and affection to higher and holier matters. (Col 3:1; Matt 6:33). Christ was contented; and, His meat was to do the will of Him that sent Him (Jn. 4:34). You will never find a discontented person who thinks otherwise than primarily on things materialistic. To overcome discontent he must change his thinking from the earthly to the heavenly, from the temporal to the eternal. It is all right to build air castles---way up there---in heaven!

(4) Keep busy. An idle mind is the devil's workshop. Be like Jesus and busy yourself going about doing good. (Acts 10:38). Then, you will not have time for finding, enlarging or fabricating bruises, privations, and "I don't haves" which generate and feed discontent.

(5) Think how bad it could be. Tom Tune, missionary in Hong Kong, gave this picture: "Over 500,000 people live in squatters huts in Hong Kong. More than 150,000 live in bed spaces. In the day they are rented by night workers and at night by day workers. More than 60,000 live on roof tops and about 50,000 in shops, garages, corridors and staircases. Nearly 70,000 live in verandahs and cocklofts; 12,000 in basements; 10,000 in stalls and caves; and about 30,000 people in boats and hulks. There are as many as 3,000 living on one acre of land and in one six acre tract there are over 100,000. More than 20,000 people in Hong Kong have no housing of any kind. They sleep in the street. Each night they wander around waiting until about nine o'clock when the shops close so they can put their 'beds' outside the doors." Now, what do you have (or have not) over which to be discontented?

(6) Learn that happiness is not tied to "things". (Eccl 5:10; Lk 12:15). But, apparently our materialistic centered and oriented society either disbelieves this or has not yet discovered it. So the majority of people frequently rush through day after day to "climb higher" or "get more." But does such bring happiness and contentment? Nay, verily! Otherwise, why the drawn face on the man behind the wheel of the Cadillac/Mercedes? Why the appointment with the psychiatrist by the elite socialite? Why the ulcer by the chain-smoking affluent, business executive? Yea, contentment doesn't come from externals but from inner attitudes. Barclay relates how Shakespeare in Henry the Sixth, pictures a kind wandering in the country and coming upon two gameskeepers. Upon telling them he is king, one of the gamekeepers asked him, "Where is your crown?" The king answers, "My crown is in my heart, not on my head; Not deck'd with diamonds and Indian stones, Nor to be seen; my crown is call'd content—A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy."

(7) Cultivate a deep sense of appreciation for the simple and necessary things of life, avoiding over-emphasizing the luxuries of life. "And having food and clothing let us be content" (1 Tim 6:8), is how Paul puts it. David put it this way, "A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked." (Ps 37:16). And Solomon said it like this: "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith." (Prov 15:16).

We Are To Be Contented With What We "Have", but, Never With What We "Are".

"To be contented with one's lot is a thing to be desired; to be contented with one's self is a thing to be dreaded." (Pulpit Commentary).

(1) We must be content with what we have. "And be content with such things as you have (Heb 13:5).

(2) We must not be content with what we are spiritually. This was the folly of the Laodiceans. (Rev 3:14-22). We "go on to perfection" (Heb 6:1). We must reach "forth to those things which are before," pressing "toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:13,14). Self-satisfaction is the root cause of all individual and congregational arrestment.

Conclusion

                        "If a wren can cling

                        To a spray a-swing

                        In the mad May wind,

                        and sing and sing

                        As if she'd burst for joy;

                        Why cannot I

                        Contented lie

                        In his quiet arms beneath the sky

                        Unmoved by earth's annoy?"

…
  ************************************  Weekly messages of hope and comfort for those who want to learn more about Jesus and His glorious plan for our lives.  To find out more about our ministry go to : worldoutreach.ca/sotn.htm  visit our "Ultimate Bible Quiz Site"  folsom.sk.ca/k4j/BQuiz/Quiz.html  *************************************                                                                              --  To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]  

Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>

Overcoming Discontent

Intro

All Christians should join with David and say, "He makes me to lie down in green pastures. (Ps 23:2). What a picture of contentment!

What is Contentment?

(1) Viewed negatively.

(a) Contentment is not insensibility. The Stoics strove to eliminate all feeling and all emotion until they could say, "I don't care" if a plate was broken, or something happended to a pet, or if they were bodily injured, or, ultimately, if they had to watch the nearest on earth to them suffer and die. This is not contentment. Such destroys all possibility of caring (Gal 6:2, Rom 12:15), and even eliminates love.

(b) Contentment is not self-satisfaction (Rev 3:14-22).

(2) Viewed positively.

To be content means to rest satisfied, to be assenting and unrepining, to be well-pleased; to not be disgruntled or disheartened. Webster says it is "Freedom from care or discomfort." The Tyndale Commentary states that it is a detachment from anxious concern about the outward features of this life. The Pulpit Commentary states that, "It is a quiet restfulness in the midst of all kinds of changing events...It is a cordial acquiescence in the arrangements of Heaven."

What Says the Lord

(1) "And be content with your wages." (Lk 3:14). Such was the teaching of John to the soldiers. Such contentment would prevent them from intimidating others (doing violence), and practicing blackmail (falsely accusing) because of their low wage scale.

(2) "Not that I speak in respect to want: for I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content." (Phil 4:11). Paul penned this while in prison. Yet, he was content! How could he be? Well, he had learned that contentment and happiness are not dependent on external circumstances, but on inner qualities of the heart, and upon a right relationship with the Lord.

(3) "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing let us be content." (1 Tim 6:6-8). Someone said, "The poorest person in the world is the person who has more than he/she needs but feels like it isn't enough."

(4) "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you." (Heb 13:5). This text is not teaching that we should not try to improve our status in life (can't buy a better car for example); but, rather that we should avoid a misplaced emphasis on the material things. "This doesn't forbid all lawful endeavors to improve our own condition and that of others. Such an injunction would be wholly inconsistent with what is plainly taught in many other passages of Scripture. See for example, Rom 12:11; Eph 4:28; 2 Thess 3:11. But the meaning of the Apostle is simply this, that such should be our trust and confidence in God, that we would be satisfied with our condition, be it what it may; knowing that if we are only faithful God will cause all things to work together for our good. Be diligent in business; do all that you can lawfully and consistently to improve your own condition and to promote the happiness of others and then with calmness and resignation leave all the consequences to God." (Milligan).

Foes of Contentment

(1) Covetousness. In Heb 13:5 covetousness is put over against contentment as the antithesis of contentment, yea, as the enemy of contentment. Now, since covetousness is the inordinate desire for that which is unlawful, we can readily see how it is a foe to contentment. "The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have and being able to lose all desire for things beyond your reach."

(2) Unbelief. The Lord's instruction to be content is based upon His promises that He will not forsake us, that He will not leave us, that He will help us and that we need not fear what man may do. (Heb 13:5,6). Too, He promises to sustain us with all the physical necessities of life. (Matt 6:24-34; Ps 37:25). Now, do we really believe these promises? If so, how could we be otherwise than content. Birds build their nests, rear their young, and make their annual flights to other climates, but so far as is known no bird ever tried to build more nests than its neighbor; and no fox ever fretted because he had only one hole in the earth in which to hide; and no squirrel ever died in anxiety lest he should not lay up enough nuts for two winters instead of one; and no dog every lost sleep over the fact that he didn't have enough bones buried in the ground for his declining years. Are we putting emphasis on the wrong things? Never forget, God takes care of His own.

(3) Envy. Envy is "chagrin or discontent at the excellence or good fortune of another." (Webster, Cruden). Saul was content with what praise he was receiving until he saw David was getting more. (1 Sam 18:8,9). The Philistines were content with their lot until they saw the possessions of Isaac. (Gen 26:14). The elder son was contented with things at home until he knew of the feast given for his returned brother. (Lk 15:25-32). Hamam was contented until he saw Mordecai sit in the king's gate (Est 5:9-14). Envy is an insidious evil which must be eradicated from our hearts (Gal 5:19-26; 1 Pet 2:1; Rom 13:13).

(4) Pessimism. Two buckets hung in the well house. One discontentedly complained, "No matter how full I come up, I always go down empty." The other optimistically responded, "Yes, and regardless how empty I go down I always come up full." Kenfield Morley expressed it, "I can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." The disconted pessimist when asked how things are will reply, "They are so much worse than yesterday, and so much better than I expect them to be tomorrow."

(5) Self-Pity. The prodigal son was discontent personified, and he was guilty of self-pity. (Lk 15:29). As long as we regale in, "Life cheated me", or "I'm no unfortunate," life will be a discontented experience. Pity is good, but should never be wasted on oneself.

(6) Complaining. The discontented person is seldom willing to keep his discontent to himself. So, he voices it; and, in doing so he deepens his thoughts of discontent and magnifies his imagined cause of discontent. "I complained about having no shoes until I found a man who had no feet. I complained about no one visiting my family until I found a person who had no family. I complained about the members until I moved where there were none. I complained about the Bible teacher until I tried teaching. I complained about not having fine clothes until I saw some rags."

"The grumbler's life is ever so sad, It is filled with sorrows and woes, He hasn't thought how content he could be By counting the blessings God bestows."

(7) "I can't be satisfied" attitude. To be honest some people would have to read Phil 4:11 as, "I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be discontent." Some people are as hard to please as the contrary husband who said, "When I get home tonight if my wife has not cooked me a good supper I am going to give her fits. If she has, I'm not going to eat a bite." Then there was old Mrs. McCoy, the incurable grumbler. Nothing pleased her. But one fall the preacher heard of her excellent apple crop and figured that at last he had found one thing about which she could not possibly complain. "Well, Sister McCoy," he said, "I know you are happy. I've heard a lot about that apple crop!" The old woman glared at him as she replied: "Oh, I guess they'll do, but where's the rotten 'uns for the pigs?"

How May I Cultivate Contentment?

(1) Work at it! Contentment must be cultivated. Paul had to "learn' contentment. (Phil 4:11). Close the door to the foes of contentment and develop the things which cultivate it.

(2) Count your blessings. (1 Thess 5:18; Eph 5:20). Let us count our blessings, not our blights. Let us count our priviledges and not our privations. Let us lose count, counting our blessings rather than lose our blessings counting our troubles. Concentrate on what you DO have (food, clothing, shelter, family, health, freedom, job), rather than on those things you DO NOT have.

Poem: I wish I had a telescope to scan the starry skies;

But since I have no telescope, I'm glad I have two eyes.

I wish I had a kitchen run by push-button commands.

But while that kitchen's still a dream, I'm glad I have two hands.

I wish I had a super-car to give my friends a treat;

But 'til that new car comes along, I'm glad I have two feet.

Two eyes to look to God above ---

Two hands to clasp in prayer---

Two feet to carry me to church—

Why, I'M A MILLIONAIRE!

(3) Transfer your attention and affection to higher and holier matters. (Col 3:1; Matt 6:33). Christ was contented; and, His meat was to do the will of Him that sent Him (Jn. 4:34). You will never find a discontented person who thinks otherwise than primarily on things materialistic. To overcome discontent he must change his thinking from the earthly to the heavenly, from the temporal to the eternal. It is all right to build air castles---way up there---in heaven!

(4) Keep busy. An idle mind is the devil's workshop. Be like Jesus and busy yourself going about doing good. (Acts 10:38). Then, you will not have time for finding, enlarging or fabricating bruises, privations, and "I don't haves" which generate and feed discontent.

(5) Think how bad it could be. Tom Tune, missionary in Hong Kong, gave this picture: "Over 500,000 people live in squatters huts in Hong Kong. More than 150,000 live in bed spaces. In the day they are rented by night workers and at night by day workers. More than 60,000 live on roof tops and about 50,000 in shops, garages, corridors and staircases. Nearly 70,000 live in verandahs and cocklofts; 12,000 in basements; 10,000 in stalls and caves; and about 30,000 people in boats and hulks. There are as many as 3,000 living on one acre of land and in one six acre tract there are over 100,000. More than 20,000 people in Hong Kong have no housing of any kind. They sleep in the street. Each night they wander around waiting until about nine o'clock when the shops close so they can put their 'beds' outside the doors." Now, what do you have (or have not) over which to be discontented?

(6) Learn that happiness is not tied to "things". (Eccl 5:10; Lk 12:15). But, apparently our materialistic centered and oriented society either disbelieves this or has not yet discovered it. So the majority of people frequently rush through day after day to "climb higher" or "get more." But does such bring happiness and contentment? Nay, verily! Otherwise, why the drawn face on the man behind the wheel of the Cadillac/Mercedes? Why the appointment with the psychiatrist by the elite socialite? Why the ulcer by the chain-smoking affluent, business executive? Yea, contentment doesn't come from externals but from inner attitudes. Barclay relates how Shakespeare in Henry the Sixth, pictures a kind wandering in the country and coming upon two gameskeepers. Upon telling them he is king, one of the gamekeepers asked him, "Where is your crown?" The king answers, "My crown is in my heart, not on my head; Not deck'd with diamonds and Indian stones, Nor to be seen; my crown is call'd content—A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy."

(7) Cultivate a deep sense of appreciation for the simple and necessary things of life, avoiding over-emphasizing the luxuries of life. "And having food and clothing let us be content" (1 Tim 6:8), is how Paul puts it. David put it this way, "A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked." (Ps 37:16). And Solomon said it like this: "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith." (Prov 15:16).

We Are To Be Contented With What We "Have", but, Never With What We "Are".

"To be contented with one's lot is a thing to be desired; to be contented with one's self is a thing to be dreaded." (Pulpit Commentary).

(1) We must be content with what we have. "And be content with such things as you have (Heb 13:5).

(2) We must not be content with what we are spiritually. This was the folly of the Laodiceans. (Rev 3:14-22). We "go on to perfection" (Heb 6:1). We must reach "forth to those things which are before," pressing "toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:13,14). Self-satisfaction is the root cause of all individual and congregational arrestment.

Conclusion

"If a wren can cling

To a spray a-swing

In the mad May wind,

and sing and sing

As if she'd burst for joy;

Why cannot I

Contented lie

In his quiet arms beneath the sky

Unmoved by earth's annoy?"

…

  ************************************  Weekly messages of hope and comfort for those who want to learn more about Jesus and His glorious plan for our lives.  To find out more about our ministry go to : worldoutreach.ca/sotn.htm  visit our "Ultimate Bible Quiz Site"  folsom.sk.ca/k4j/BQuiz/Quiz.html  *************************************                                                                              --  To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]