Quality of Life Series
11/11/03
LEADER: Are you anxious to be content?
What makes you anxious?
How do you change your condition?
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “The Focus of Our Anxiety”
FROM: http://www.christianglobe.com/Illustrations/theDetails.asp?whichOne=a&whichFile=anxiety
40% -- things that will never happen
30% -- things about the past that can't be changed
12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue
10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress
8% -- about real problems that will be faced
LEADER: Do you feel you are only focusing on the 8%?
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Well for the Bushes” Excerpt:
E-Devotionals and More 4-21-99
FROM: http://www.e-devotionals.org/1999/de990421.htm
Anxiety -- it grips us and rips us apart at times. Webster's Dictionary defines anxiety as "an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (such as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it." Anxiety is often created by apprehension of an event that has not occurred and most often never does occur. But in the midst of anxious feelings, it is very difficult to be realistic. That is why it is so important to have a friend that can help you see past the emotions and into reality.
One of the signs that I'm getting too busy and overwhelmed by life is when I go into a room and find I can't remember why I walked in there. I think we've all experienced forgetting what it was that we were searching for at some time in our life. Sadly, there are many people who are searching for meaning in their lives, trying to find comfort and hope for both today and tomorrow, yet they have forgotten that God is part of the search. The Spirit of God is nudging them forward while the anxieties of the past and today are clouding their vision of who they seek. When are we focused on what we fear losing we lose the ability to seek the kingdom where there is no fear. We need to stay God centered, lest the world's concerns will crush us. Seek the peace of Christ, Soar into the day on the wings of the Holy Spirit, find your home in the heavenly Father.
It's that commodity of which we all have the same amount. Whether we are young or old, fat or thin, rich or poor, we all have 24 hours in a day, though we often wish we had more! But how are we using this precious, non-renewable gift from God? We may think we have our priorities in the right place, but how we spend our time says a lot about what is in our heart, what is driving us.
Think about a "normal" day. There are of course some non-negotiables. Unless we are retired, we have to work -- whether it's for pay or not, in or outside the home. We have to eat, brush our teeth, etc. But some of our time is free for us to choose how to spend it.
Does the way you spend your time reflect a yearning for God's Kingdom, or for something else? Think of your time use in terms of a checkbook register. What does your time usage show you are yearning after? How much time are you deducting for relationships with family or friends? Does your time with them reflect accurately their importance to you? How much time is spent serving in your local church, using the abilities God has given you? He didn't give them to us, in order for them to lie dormant! And these expenditures can reap the interest of closer relationships and fulfilling service of God.
Too often, we squander this valuable resource of time. Two common time- wasters which I myself am sometimes guilty of, are worry and lack of organization. I wouldn't want to see a tabulation of the time I have let slip through my fingers, worrying about things! And of course worry itself is a sin; Jesus instructs us to avoid it. However, that is much easier said than done. When we find ourselves worrying, we need to pray then and there about that matter.
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7
We should ask God to help us leave it with Him and to focus our time, thought and energies where He wants us to focus them. I'm sure you have all heard the statistic -- something like 90% of what we worry about never happens anyway! And as Christ pointed out, our worrying can't change a thing. What a time-waster!
Another time-dissipator is simply a lack of organization. If we take the time to become and stay organized, we usually save time in the long run, whether it's time spent looking for lost car keys, birthday dates, books or whatever. I have found that trying to be more organized helps me save time, whether it's in teaching Sunday school, preparing for that teaching, studying for classes, in volunteer activities or cleaning up.
One habit I have -- but which I admit I can be guilty of taking too far -- is when possible, do two things at once. For example, I always have something to read in the car, in case of traffic jams, for stoplights etc. The same goes for waiting in doctors' offices etc. Instead of sitting there fretting over what we could be doing, we could take along mail we need to catch up on, or spend that time praying for those in the waiting room around us or those on our daily prayer lists.
But sometimes our perspective is skewed, and what we consider frustrating wastes of time -- interruptions -- are actually prime times of ministry if we are open to that. We need to ask God to help us see interruptions through His eyes. And it can be wise to simply leave a little time each day free for those pretty inevitable interruptions, because if we don't, we may pay for it by falling behind.
I also feel the need to remind us that time we spend being replenished is NOT wasted time. Even Jesus took breaks. That type of time actually renders us better stewards of God's gifts to us. Our ministry won't be as fruitful if we are burnt out ourselves. It's all a matter of balance.
I hope and pray you will join me in trying to make the best use of the valuable gift of time that God gives us.
Anxiety is the result of attempting to control that which is beyond our control.
Each individual is important to the movement of God's plan. However God is in
control of the big picture. The people are given the task of serving the Lord.
Our anxiety arises when we try to serve more than one Lord. Joshua's challenge
to the people is to faithfully serve God alone. God is jealous for a meaningful
relationship with all people, one which is free of the anxieties of going
through life alone. What personal gods do you cling to?
Prayer: Lord of creation, you
brought order out of chaos, and called it good; you caused the flood waters to
recede and gave creation a second chance; you gave Ruth hope even after her
husband and father in-law had died; you kept Esther calm while the second in
command planned to kill off her people. Help me to hear your voice of assurance
today. Strengthen my faith, hope, and courage, casting out the fears and the
anxieties of doubt. Let me carry on the work you began in Peter, the rock. Amen.
http://www.moody.edu/st/tiw/tdw/devotional.cfm?dy=21&mn=05&yr=2003
Charles Spurgeon wisely observed, “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows but only empties today of its strength.” Worry plagues many of us. We may wonder if our jobs are secure or if health problems will develop. Parents may become anxious about the choices their son or daughter will make in the future. Worry stems from the frustration of trying to control aspects of our lives that are beyond our reach. Jesus offered a correction to this perspective when He commanded His disciples not to worry (v. 25).
Jesus acknowledged that our worries often focus on the basic necessities of life. The things a person eats, drinks, or wears are usually not luxuries. They are necessities. But as important as these things are, they’re not most important when we account for the whole person. Jesus’ command should prompt us to ask whether the well-being of our souls–the spiritual side of our nature–is receiving the same degree of attention as our physical side.
While we cannot ignore the physical necessities of life, some things that cause us anxiety may actually be luxuries. One humorist has defined a necessity as “Almost any luxury you see in the house of your neighbor.” Most of us would probably expand the list of necessities that Jesus identifies in today’s passage. For instance, He doesn’t say anything about a house, a car, or a telephone! Jesus’ list, of course, isn’t meant to be exhaustive. It’s only intended to cover the basics. This also reminds us that God’s value system and ours don’t always coincide.
FROM: http://www.cfdevotionals.org/devpg98/de981110.htm 98-11-10
1 Timothy 6:8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
Think with me for a moment about all the great changes in society worry has brought about. Also think about your personal life, how much have you altered or gained by worry? Worry is a state of a mind that is grasping for contentment. We worry because we are not content with our particular circumstances or conditions. Worry has never changed $1 into $10, worry has never changed the circumstances of that loved one who is late due to traffic, worry has never changed a "C-" paper to an "A" paper.
But one says, "I cannot help worrying and being anxious". This need not be true, but rather, anxiety means that you think the Lord is not big enough for this particular situation, , and therefore, you must take these concerns upon yourself. Anxiety usually makes us unfit to handle the pressing concerns that are captivating the thoughts. Contentment allows us to rest in the providence, protection and sovereign will of God.
What then should worry do for us? When we find ourselves worrying, this should lead us to prayer, and to a simple trust and dependance upon God. May the Lord lead us all closer towards this level of contentment that is, for everyone, so difficult to attain.
FROM: http://www.cfdevotionals.org/devpg98/de981103.htm 98-11-03
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have.
Contentment is really the opposite of greed. Contentment allows us to look upon the things we have been blessed with as coming from the gracious providence of God. Even more so, contentment sees the ends for which these things have been granted to us. They are there to aid us in our service of God in the world. Lusting after that which is unattainable is a certain way of attaining both dis-contentment and ultimately unhappiness.
"Do not behave like fools, for whatever the fool has his eye on, there is his whole heart." Angela of Foligno
FROM: http://www.cfdevotionals.org/devpg98/de981215.htm 98-12-15
Have you ever walked in a shoe that was a couple of sizes too big for your foot? Did having more shoe help you? I doubt it. In fact, I bet that having more shoe did one thing, it gave you blisters. So also having more things can impede us rather than help us. It was the same when David put on Saul's armor, 1 Samuel 17:39, the armor was more than he needed, it would have thwarted his cause.
Contentment in the area of things is a tough road for us to walk these days. We are judged by the clothes we wear, the car we drive, the neighborhood we live in...., Etc. We are judged by things. But, notwithstanding how you live, well-to-do, or last pay check - to the one before that one, God does not judge you by the things you have. He looks at the heart.
The heart that has been renewed in Christ is a pure heart and when God looks at such a heart He sees the heart of Christ. Let us not have these pure hearts fighting the defilement of discontentment. May we learn to be content with the provisions of God and praise Him for them as Jacob did.
"Happiness does not depend on the actual number of blessings we manage to scratch from life, but on our attitude towards them." Alexandr Solzhenitsyn
FROM: http://www.cfdevotionals.org/devpg98/de981201.htm 98-12-01
Matthew 26:39 “It is best for us to be subject to God's will and to say with Christ, "Not My will but thine be done."
Subjection of our will to the will of God will lead us far in generating a contented heart and mindset.
Napoleon, on the eve of his departure to conquer Russia detailed his plans to a noble lady with such arrogance that she tried to warn him saying, "Sir, man proposes; but God disposes." To which he replied, "Madam, I propose and dispose too". A few months later his ranks were in disarray as they retreated from Moscow. He lost both his crown and his army, thus vindicating the power of the will of God over the will of even the most powerful man.
You may not know it, but April is National Anxiety Month. I'm not exactly sure if that means that in April it is acceptable to be anxious or if it means that more people are anxious in April than in other months. It really doesn't matter, I suppose. It is true that a lot of Christians suffer from anxiety. But it need not be this way with the child of God. We, of all people, have reasons to be free from the awful realities that can come with anxiety.
There are natural forms of anxiety that even animals experience. This causes them and us to avoid those things that cause fear or might be harmful. These fears can be real or imagined. There is also a form of anxiety that is part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This causes us to fear those things that are sinful and contrary to the will of God.
"The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil."
Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14.
There are other types of anxiety in the Bible as I am sure you know. However, I think that these types of anxiety are often not what we experience on a daily basis. Often we experience anxiety because of strained relationships, job related issues, health concerns, or any number of issues. This is natural but the Bible clearly gives us another alternative which is free from the prison we create for ourselves with anxiety. The apostle Paul could have felt this way after being shipwrecked in Acts 27, but Paul gained courage from the Lord and was able to encourage the others with him, Acts 27:22-25.
Also, there is for us the example of Caleb and Joshua when they and others were sent out to spy on the promised land. The majority came back and thought they would be unable to take the land for various reasons, but Caleb spoke otherwise. "The Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, 'We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we shall surely overcome it.'"
Numbers 13:30
But the majority won out and the Israelites wound up squeezing sand between their toes for forty years wandering around in the desert.
Scripture is full of examples of those in difficult circumstances and where anxiety would seem a natural response, and yet, men and women overcame by their faith. This should give us encouragement to seek to do the same. Everyone is anxious about something, but the Lord knows our fears and He is bigger than all the issues in our lives. He has a track record in His Holy Word of being with those who experience anxiety and we can take comfort in the fact that He is the same God today as He was when the Bible was being written. He is loving and cares for His children and therefore we can take our anxious fears and lay them at the foot of the cross.
HAVE SOMEONE READ: Matthew 10:29-31 "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows."
LEADER: CONTENTMENT TEST KCBI 90.9 FM 11/3/03
Guaranteed contentment: Paraphrased
The Pastor said: Give me 24 hours and I will guarantee your total contentment with your current possessions and situation
· I’d have your boss call and tell you you are no longer needed at work….you have lost you job.
· I would have the fire department call and tell you your house and all it’s contents have burned.
· I would have the police call and say your family has been in an accident…no survivors
· I would have your doctor call and tell you your test results came back and you have a terminal illness.
· I would have a deacon call and tell you your pastor has confessed to a great sin and will no longer be pasturing your church or be there for you.
· Then I would call you within 24 hours to tell you it was a test: Your job is in tact, your home and family and health are in tact and your pastor is serving the church, you and the Lord.
HAVE SOMEONE READ: Matthew 6:25-34
The Cure for Anxiety
25 "For
this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will
eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is
not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 " Look
at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his
life? 28 "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the
lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,
29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed
himself like one of these. 30 "But if God so clothes the grass of the
field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not
much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 "Do not worry then,
saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for
clothing?' 32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for
your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these
things will be added to you. 34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for
tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
FROM: http://netministries.org/see/devotion.exe/dd00288
FROM: http://www.cfdevotionals.org/devpg99/de990105.htm 99-01-05
Phil. 4: 11-13 For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased and to abound: I have learned the secret of both being full and being hungry, of having abundance and suffering need; I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.
Contentment is often unique to Christians
It really is a rare thing to find contentment in the world. Outside of the Christian faith most folks do not believe that there is a God who has a special interest in the cares of human affairs. "Cast all your care upon the Lord, for He cares for you," (1 Peter 5:7) is not within the belief system of most people. It is a practice almost unique to Christians to be content in knowing that their Creator cares for them.
And why is it that we as Christians are content? "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32. Christians have a hope that comes through their faith. It is a hope in eternity and a future glory. This, in itself, is reason for the follower of Christ to have contentment. The Christian lives not for this world but for the world to come.
The greatest help to the privilege we have of being content in Christ is knowing and experiencing the depth of our reconciliation with God in Christ. When we know reconciliation as tested and true knowledge we know Christ not simply as savior, but as a loving, intimate savior who effects every area of our life.
Charles Hodge likens contentment to the union of heaven and earth. It is as if contentment allows heaven to be present here on earth when it exists in the heart of the Christian. He calls contentment, "better than wealth or fame, a surer source of happiness, and a higher means of good."
So why is contentment a great and privileged part of Christian living? It is because contentment brings heaven into our lives. Contentment, when practiced in faith, becomes a wellspring of heaven to us. In heaven we shall lack nothing and experience no wants, needs, or desires. In heaven all will be fulfilled and to have contentment here on earth already is to seize heaven now!
“Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.” –
“A contented man is one who enjoys the scenery along the detours.”
Source unknown
Source unknown
HAVE SOMEONE READ: Philippians 4:11-12 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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.
HAVE SOMEONE READ: Philippians 4:19 And it is he who will supply all your needs from his riches in glory because of what Christ Jesus has done for us.
Those who learn contentment know the meaning of Acts 20:24, "Therefore I do not consider my life of any account, that I may finish my course, and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."
Those who learn contentment in this life have learned that there is more to this life than life itself. There is a purpose and that purpose has nothing to do with things, or position. To learn contentment is to learn that those who have more than others have more to give to others, those who have higher position have as part of their calling to be gracious to those who do not have position.
All of us, if we have position, riches, a summer home, or none of these things, are to live to the high calling which we have received. Our calling is great, we are ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21) and as the verse in Acts above says, we testify to the gospel of grace.
Many Christians go through trials, often great trials. Contentment is a tough thing for anyone, but especially tough in the midst of trials. Those who learn to be content with the least, have the least to lose when trials come.
If you can say, "None but Christ, only Christ, and ever Christ, will be my comfort and joy", then you have contentment. Christ will never leave His children, and while houses may burn, jobs may be lost, and family and friends may forsake us, Christ's love for His children will never melt even through fire, His task of loving His children will never be forgotten, lost, or vacationing, and He will never, never forsake His child.
None but Christ, only Christ, and ever Christ, If we could learn this we would be changed people.
FROM: http://www.moody.edu/st/tiw/tdw/devotional.cfm?dy=9&mn=11&yr=1998
The opposite of rest and peace is worry and anxiety.
It's hard to be at peace when your heart and mind are being tossed around by fear and worry. It usually doesn't help to tell someone, ""Quit worrying."" So we want to suggest the opposite!
· Go ahead and take five minutes today for some serious worrying. Lay out your fears; name your concerns.
· But after you have worried about them, take them to your Shepherd.
· Pray the promises of Psalm 23 back to Him--and see if your worries look as big
FROM: http://www.moody.edu/st/tiw/tdw/devotional.cfm?dy=21&mn=05&yr=2003
What are you worried about today?
· Is it a concern over which you have no real control? As you pray about your concerns today, look at them through the lens of reality and the lens of God’s care.
HAVE SOMEONE READ: Matthew 5:6 Happy are those who long to be just and good, for they shall be completely satisfied.
COMMENTS:
PRAYER REQUESTS AND PRAISES:
FROM: http://www.cfdevotionals.org/devpages/de970625.htm
· Lord of creation, you brought order out of chaos, and called it good; you caused the flood waters to recede and gave creation a second chance; you gave Ruth hope even after her husband and father in-law had died; you kept Esther calm while the second in command planned to kill off her people. Help me to hear your voice of assurance today. Strengthen my faith, hope, and courage, casting out the fears and the anxieties of doubt. Let me carry on the work you began in Peter, the rock.
Amen.
CUT AND DISTRIBUTE FOR READING:
40% -- things that will never happen
30% -- things about the past that can't be changed
12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue
10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress
8% -- about real problems that will be faced
“Well for the Bushes”
Anxiety -- it grips us and rips us apart at times. Webster's Dictionary defines anxiety as "an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (such as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it." Anxiety is often created by apprehension of an event that has not occurred and most often never does occur. But in the midst of anxious feelings, it is very difficult to be realistic. That is why it is so important to have a friend that can help you see past the emotions and into reality
One of the signs that I'm getting too busy and overwhelmed by life is when I go into a room and find I can't remember why I walked in there. I think we've all experienced forgetting what it was that we were searching for at some time in our life. Sadly, there are many people who are searching for meaning in their lives, trying to find comfort and hope for both today and tomorrow, yet they have forgotten that God is part of the search. The Spirit of God is nudging them forward while the anxieties of the past and today are clouding their vision of who they seek. When are we focused on what we fear losing we lose the ability to seek the kingdom where there is no fear. We need to stay God centered, lest the world's concerns will crush us. Seek the peace of Christ, Soar into the day on the wings of the Holy Spirit, find your home in the heavenly Father.
Anxiety is the result of
attempting to control that which is beyond our control. Each individual is
important to the movement of God's plan. However God is in control of the big
picture. The people are given the task of serving the Lord. Our anxiety arises
when we try to serve more than one Lord. Joshua's challenge to the people is to
faithfully serve God alone. God is jealous for a meaningful relationship with
all people, one which is free of the anxieties of going through life alone. What
personal gods do you cling to?
Prayer: Lord of creation, you
brought order out of chaos, and called it good; you caused the flood waters to
recede and gave creation a second chance; you gave Ruth hope even after her
husband and father in-law had died; you kept Esther calm while the second in
command planned to kill off her people. Help me to hear your voice of assurance
today. Strengthen my faith, hope, and courage, casting out the fears and the
anxieties of doubt. Let me carry on the work you began in Peter, the rock. Amen.
It's that commodity of which we all have the same amount. Whether we are young or old, fat or thin, rich or poor, we all have 24 hours in a day, though we often wish we had more! But how are we using this precious, non-renewable gift from God? We may think we have our priorities in the right place, but how we spend our time says a lot about what is in our heart, what is driving us.
Think about a "normal" day. There are of course some non-negotiables. Unless we are retired, we have to work -- whether it's for pay or not, in or outside the home. We have to eat, brush our teeth, etc. But some of our time is free for us to choose how to spend it.
Does the way you spend your time reflect a yearning for God's Kingdom, or for something else? Think of your time use in terms of a checkbook register. What does your time usage show you are yearning after? How much time are you deducting for relationships with family or friends? Does your time with them reflect accurately their importance to you? How much time is spent serving in your local church, using the abilities God has given you? He didn't give them to us, in order for them to lie dormant! And these expenditures can reap the interest of closer relationships and fulfilling service of God.
Too often, we squander this valuable resource of time. Two common time- wasters which I myself am sometimes guilty of, are worry and lack of organization. I wouldn't want to see a tabulation of the time I have let slip through my fingers, worrying about things! And of course worry itself is a sin; Jesus instructs us to avoid it. However, that is much easier said than done. When we find ourselves worrying, we need to pray then and there about that matter.
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7
We should ask God to help us leave it with Him and to focus our time, thought and energies where He wants us to focus them. I'm sure you have all heard the statistic -- something like 90% of what we worry about never happens anyway! And as Christ pointed out, our worrying can't change a thing. What a time-waster!
Another time-dissipator is simply a lack of organization. If we take the time to become and stay organized, we usually save time in the long run, whether it's time spent looking for lost car keys, birthday dates, books or whatever. I have found that trying to be more organized helps me save time, whether it's in teaching Sunday school, preparing for that teaching, studying for classes, in volunteer activities or cleaning up.
One habit I have -- but which I admit I can be guilty of taking too far -- is when possible, do two things at once. For example, I always have something to read in the car, in case of traffic jams, for stoplights etc. The same goes for waiting in doctors' offices etc. Instead of sitting there fretting over what we could be doing, we could take along mail we need to catch up on, or spend that time praying for those in the waiting room around us or those on our daily prayer lists.
But sometimes our perspective is skewed, and what we consider frustrating wastes of time -- interruptions -- are actually prime times of ministry if we are open to that. We need to ask God to help us see interruptions through His eyes. And it can be wise to simply leave a little time each day free for those pretty inevitable interruptions, because if we don't, we may pay for it by falling behind.
I also feel the need to remind us that time we spend being replenished is NOT wasted time. Even Jesus took breaks. That type of time actually renders us better stewards of God's gifts to us. Our ministry won't be as fruitful if we are burnt out ourselves. It's all a matter of balance.
I hope and pray you will join me in trying to make the best use of the valuable gift of time that God gives us.
Charles Spurgeon wisely observed, “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows but only empties today of its strength.” Worry plagues many of us. We may wonder if our jobs are secure or if health problems will develop. Parents may become anxious about the choices their son or daughter will make in the future. Worry stems from the frustration of trying to control aspects of our lives that are beyond our reach. Jesus offered a correction to this perspective when He commanded His disciples not to worry (v. 25).
Jesus acknowledged that our worries often focus on the basic necessities of life. The things a person eats, drinks, or wears are usually not luxuries. They are necessities. But as important as these things are, they’re not most important when we account for the whole person. Jesus’ command should prompt us to ask whether the well-being of our souls–the spiritual side of our nature–is receiving the same degree of attention as our physical side.
While we cannot ignore the physical necessities of life, some things that cause us anxiety may actually be luxuries. One humorist has defined a necessity as “Almost any luxury you see in the house of your neighbor.” Most of us would probably expand the list of necessities that Jesus identifies in today’s passage. For instance, He doesn’t say anything about a house, a car, or a telephone! Jesus’ list, of course, isn’t meant to be exhaustive. It’s only intended to cover the basics. This also reminds us that God’s value system and ours don’t always coincide.
And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 1 Timothy 6:8
Think with me for a moment about all the great changes in society worry has brought about. Also think about your personal life, how much have you altered or gained by worry? Worry is a state of a mind that is grasping for contentment. We worry because we are not content with our particular circumstances or conditions. Worry has never changed $1 into $10, worry has never changed the circumstances of that loved one who is late due to traffic, worry has never changed a "C-" paper to an "A" paper.
But one says, "I cannot help worrying and being anxious". This need not be true, but rather, anxiety means that you think the Lord is not big enough for this particular situation, , and therefore, you must take these concerns upon yourself. Anxiety usually makes us unfit to handle the pressing concerns that are captivating the thoughts. Contentment allows us to rest in the providence, protection and sovereign will of God.
What then should worry do for us? When we find ourselves worrying, this should lead us to prayer, and to a simple trust and dependence upon God. May the Lord lead us all closer towards this level of contentment that is, for everyone, so difficult to attain.
Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have. Hebrews 13:5
Contentment is really the opposite of greed. Contentment allows us to look upon the things we have been blessed with as coming from the gracious providence of God. Even more so, contentment sees the ends for which these things have been granted to us. They are there to aid us in our service of God in the world. Lusting after that which is unattainable is a certain way of attaining both dis-contentment and ultimately unhappiness.
"Do not behave like fools, for whatever the fool has his eye on, there is his whole heart." Angela of Foligno
Have you ever walked in a shoe that was a couple of sizes too big for your foot? Did having more shoe help you? I doubt it. In fact, I bet that having more shoe did one thing, it gave you blisters. So also having more things can impede us rather than help us. It was the same when David put on Saul's armor, 1 Samuel 17:39, the armor was more than he needed, it would have thwarted his cause.
Contentment in the area of things is a tough road for us to walk these days. We are judged by the clothes we wear, the car we drive, the neighborhood we live in...., Etc. We are judged by things. But, notwithstanding how you live, well-to-do, or last pay check - to the one before that one, God does not judge you by the things you have. He looks at the heart.
The heart that has been renewed in Christ is a pure heart and when God looks at such a heart He sees the heart of Christ. Let us not have these pure hearts fighting the defilement of discontentment. May we learn to be content with the provisions of God and praise Him for them as Jacob did.
"Happiness does not depend on the actual number of blessings we manage to scratch from life, but on our attitude towards them." Alexandr Solzhenitsyn
Matthew 26:39 “It is best for us to be subject to God's will and to say with Christ, "Not My will but thine be done."
Subjection of our will to the will of God will lead us far in generating a contented heart and mindset.
Napoleon, on the eve of his departure to conquer Russia detailed his plans to a noble lady with such arrogance that she tried to warn him saying, "Sir, man proposes; but God disposes." To which he replied, "Madam, I propose and dispose too". A few months later his ranks were in disarray as they retreated from Moscow. He lost both his crown and his army, thus vindicating the power of the will of God over the will of even the most powerful man.
Matthew 10:29-31
Matthew 6:25-34
You may not know it, but April is National Anxiety Month. I'm not exactly sure if that means that in April it is acceptable to be anxious or if it means that more people are anxious in April than in other months. It really doesn't matter, I suppose. It is true that a lot of Christians suffer from anxiety. But it need not be this way with the child of God. We, of all people, have reasons to be free from the awful realities that can come with anxiety.
There are natural forms of anxiety that even animals experience. This causes them and us to avoid those things that cause fear or might be harmful. These fears can be real or imagined. There is also a form of anxiety that is part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This causes us to fear those things that are sinful and contrary to the will of God.
"The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil."
Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14.
There are other types of anxiety in the Bible as I am sure you know. However, I think that these types of anxiety are often not what we experience on a daily basis. Often we experience anxiety because of strained relationships, job related issues, health concerns, or any number of issues. This is natural but the Bible clearly gives us another alternative which is free from the prison we create for ourselves with anxiety. The apostle Paul could have felt this way after being shipwrecked in Acts 27, but Paul gained courage from the Lord and was able to encourage the others with him, Acts 27:22-25.
Also, there is for us the example of Caleb and Joshua when they and others were sent out to spy on the promised land. The majority came back and thought they would be unable to take the land for various reasons, but Caleb spoke otherwise.
"The Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, 'We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we shall surely overcome it.'"
Numbers 13:30
But the majority won out and the Israelites wound up squeezing sand between their toes for forty years wandering around in the desert.
Scripture is full of examples of those in difficult circumstances and where anxiety would seem a natural response, and yet, men and women overcame by their faith. This should give us encouragement to seek to do the same. Everyone is anxious about something, but the Lord knows our fears and He is bigger than all the issues in our lives. He has a track record in His Holy Word of being with those who experience anxiety and we can take comfort in the fact that He is the same God today as He was when the Bible was being written. He is loving and cares for His children and therefore we can take our anxious fears and lay them at the foot of the cross.
For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased and to abound: I have learned the secret of both being full and being hungry, of having abundance and suffering need; I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.
Philippians 4: 11-13
Contentment is often unique to Christians:
It really is a rare thing to find contentment in the world. Outside of the Christian faith most folks do not believe that there is a God who has a special interest in the cares of human affairs. "Cast all your care upon the Lord, for He cares for you," (1 Peter 5:7) is not within the belief system of most people. It is a practice almost unique to Christians to be content in knowing that their Creator cares for them.
And why is it that we as Christians are content? "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32. Christians have a hope that comes through their faith. It is a hope in eternity and a future glory. This, in itself, is reason for the follower of Christ to have contentment. The Christian lives not for this world but for the world to come.
The greatest help to the privilege we have of being content in Christ is knowing and experiencing the depth of our reconciliation with God in Christ. When we know reconciliation as tested and true knowledge we know Christ not simply as savior, but as a loving, intimate savior who effects every area of our life.
Charles Hodge likens contentment to the union of heaven and earth. It is as if contentment allows heaven to be present here on earth when it exists in the heart of the Christian. He calls contentment, "better than wealth or fame, a surer source of happiness, and a higher means of good."
So why is contentment a great and privileged part of Christian living? It is because contentment brings heaven into our lives. Contentment, when practiced in faith, becomes a wellspring of heaven to us. In heaven we shall lack nothing and experience no wants, needs, or desires. In heaven all will be fulfilled and to have contentment here on earth already is to seize heaven now!
“Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.”
“A contented man is one who enjoys the scenery along the detours.”
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Philippians 4:11-12
Philippians 4:19
Those who learn contentment know the meaning of Acts 20:24, "Therefore I do not consider my life of any account, that I may finish my course, and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."
Those who learn contentment in this life have learned that there is more to this life than life itself. There is a purpose and that purpose has nothing to do with things, or position. To learn contentment is to learn that those who have more than others have more to give to others, those who have higher position have as part of their calling to be gracious to those who do not have position.
All of us, if we have position, riches, a summer home, or none of these things, are to live to the high calling which we have received. Our calling is great, we are ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21) and as the verse in Acts above says, we testify to the gospel of grace.
Many Christians go through trials, often great trials. Contentment is a tough thing for anyone, but especially tough in the midst of trials. Those who learn to be content with the least, have the least to lose when trials come.
If you can say, "None but Christ, only Christ, and ever Christ, will be my comfort and joy", then you have contentment. Christ will never leave His children, and while houses may burn, jobs may be lost, and family and friends may forsake us, Christ's love for His children will never melt even through fire, His task of loving His children will never be forgotten, lost, or vacationing, and He will never, never forsake His child.
None but Christ, only Christ, and ever Christ, If we could learn this we would be changed people.
Psalm 23
Matthew 5:6