Contentment

Contentment:

*HOW DO I FIND TRUE PEACE AND CONTENTMENT IN LIFE?

ISAIAH 26:3

There are many ways to have transient peace or what we think is peace, but genuine peace is found only in a trusting relationship with the Lord.

GENESIS 33:9

Forgiving those who have wronged us is a key to contentment.

**IS CONTENTMENT FOUND IN MONEY OR SUCCESS?

ECCLESIASTES 5:19-20; PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13; HEBREWS 13:5

Contentment is not dependent on wealth, nor does it have to be stifled by poverty. Wealth by itself is neutral—neither good nor bad. The key is to thank God for what we have and to use our time and resources to please him.

1 PETER 5:8

Satan’s goal is to get us to believe the illusion that knowing more or having more will make us content. Actually, it just shows we’ll never be satisfied. A person who is never satisfied is a person who fails to fully trust God.

1 TIMOTHY 6:6-7

Knowing that our real home is with God in eternity should help us be content with what we have now. Making wise personal investments here will bring us great wealth in heaven.

***HOW DO I LEARN TO BE CONTENT IN ANY SITUATION?

MATTHEW 5:3; LUKE 14:33

Contentment comes when we are willing to give up everything for God. Only then are we truly free to rest in the peace and security God offers.

DEUTERONOMY 3

*The Israelites faced a big problem-the well-trained army of Og, king of Bashan. The Israelites hardly stood a chance. But they won because God fought for them. God can help his people regardless of the problems they face. No matter how insurmountable the obstacles may seem, remember that God is sovereign, and he will keep his promises.

**What encouraging news for Joshua, who was to lead his men against the persistent forces of evil in the Promised Land! Since God promised to help him win every battle, he had nothing to fear. Our battles may not be against godless armies, but they are just as real as Joshua's. Whether we are resisting temptation or battling fear, God has promised to fight with and for us as we obey him.

***God had made it clear that Moses would not enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12). So God told Moses to commission Joshua as the new leader and encourage him in this new role. This is a good example to churches and organizations who must eventually replace their leaders.

"Good leaders prepare their people to function without them by discovering those with leadership potential, providing the training they need, and looking for ways to encourage them............"

Motives

*SO LONG AS WE DO THE RIGHT THING, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES OUR MOTIVE MAKE?

GENESIS 4:3-5

It is quite likely that Cain’s sacrifice was regarded as inappropriate because his motives were impure.

MATTHEW 6:1-8, 16-18

When we pursue spiritual life with self-serving motives, we rob ourselves of the joy God intends.

PHILIPPIANS 1:18

Sometimes God chooses to use even those motivated by selfish ambition to accomplish his purposes.

**HOW CAN I HAVE PURER MOTIVES?

1 CHRONICLES 28:8-10

We must learn to serve the Lord with a pure heart and mind.

PROVERBS 21:2

We must recognize that God is as interested in motive as he is in deed.

1 CORINTHIANS 4:1-5

Remember that God alone knows your heart. Ask him to reveal to you any area in which your motives are less than pure.

(Promise: Ezekiel 36:26)