IT'S BETTER OVER THERE
Philippians 4:10–13 (ESV)
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
We want God to be amazon. But a good place without God is empty. We want to be where God wants us. When we jump without God there is no soft place to land.
We have to learn the lost art of contentment! Being content is not being complacent.
Contentment is a tent. Settled in and ok for a season - but ready to go at a moments notice. Complacent is a house. Settled and fixed - ok to never move again.
We can be content where we are with faith in God for where He is taking us!
CONTENTMENT IS A STEADY VISION FULL OF FAITH. IT'S A LEANING AND A KNEELING. IT'S A LEANING ON GOD WITH FULL FAITH IN YOUR HEART, KNOWING THAT HE KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU NEED - IT'S A KNEELING AT HIS FEET DAILY SAYING TO GOD, THE ONLY PLACE THAT MATTERS IS HERE IN YOUR PRESENCE AND WHERE YOU HAVE ME RIGHT NOW IN THIS SEASON IS PERFECT BECAUSE I AM YOUR CHILD AND IF YOU ARE WITH ME I AM GOOD NO MATTER WHAT!
We have to fight coveting!
Do not covet (Exodus 20:17)
What is coveting?
Coveting is an inner grasping. Coveting is that inner grasping after things that says, “I have to have these things or I’m so empty."
I love what Timothy Keller said in a message titled Contentment:
"The first commandment was, “love god with all your heart. Put nothing before him. Be totally absorbed in him.” the tenth commandment is the result. The first commandment is to love god, and the tenth commandment is if you love god enough, love god enough so that you’ll be content in all circumstances. Then all the rest of the commandments in between fall in place. If I love god enough to be content in all things, why would I want to steal money? Why would I want to steal sex? Why would I want to steal status? Why would I want to steal revenge? Why would I need these things? Pleasure is nice. Pleasure is created by god. Money, comfort, sex … these things are created by god. They’re nice. They’re marvelous. They’re icing on the cake. They stimulate the palate of the soul, but they’re not food. Can you imagine living on icing?"- Timothy Keller
IN OTHER WORDS, TO BE CONTENT IS TO BE FILLED TO THE FULL WITH EVERYTHING GOD IS. TO BE CONSUMED IN MIND, BODY, AND SOUL WITH EVERY WORD OF GOD - TO BE AT PEACE BECAUSE YOU ARE GOD'S AND HIS PROMISES ARE THE CURRENCY YOUR HEART BANKS ON.
"Ah, you will never have enough till you get Christ; but when you have him, you will be full to the brim. Contentment is the peculiar jewel of the beloved of the Lord Jesus." - Charles Spurgeon
This Season Is Not but for a season...
Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 (ESV)
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
YOUR CURRENT SEASON NEEDS YOU AND WHAT GOD WILL PULL OUT OF YOU. WHAT’S GOING TO BE PRODUCE IN YOU THROUGH THIS SEASON OF YOUR LIFE WILL BE FOR THOSE IN YOUR NEXT SEASON.
Spending all of our time wanting out of a season robs us of the work and fruit God wants to do