Being Content in God
Session 1: Getting Along Well in Our Soul
I. State of the Soul:
The scripture often talks about an intriguing concept that I think is worth taking a look at; the state of our souls. It speaks of our souls as being capable of a wide range of emotion and capacity. In a series about how to find our contentment in God it will be helpful to look deep, deep within, into the foundation of our being.
A. Our Soul is Eternal:
Our bodies will fade, but our soul is eternal, we were given our soul at conception and from that very moment on into forever we will never cease to be because our soul will remain eternally. So when we talk about a person, we are really referencing their eternal soul, which is currently housed in a perishing frame called their body.
B. Our Souls are to Belong to God:
We are those who belong to God and we have been commissioned to love and to serve God all of our days. This love and service happens not only in our minds and physical bodies, but from our souls as well.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (Dt. 6:5).”
“what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul (Dt. 10:12)”
C. Our Souls Can Reach:
It is in the depth of our souls that thirst and yearn for God; our souls can reach for Him.
“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God (Ps. 42:2)?”
“My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God (Ps. 84:2).”
D. Our Souls Can Worship:
Our souls have the capacity to praise God and to choose to rejoice in Him and rejoice for the good things He has done.
“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name (Ps. 103:1).”
“Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation (Ps. 35:9).”
E. Our Souls Can Ache:
Our souls can experience bitterness, anguish and even become wearied by the journey of prolonged difficulty.
“Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul (Jb. 7:11).”
“My soul is in deep anguish (Ps. 6:3).”
“My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word (119:28).”
F. Our Souls Can Ache:
After all the wide range of emotion it is good to know that even a wearied soul can be refreshed.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul (Ps. 19:7).”
G. Our Souls to be Doing Well:
So what does it mean for our souls to be doing well? What are we looking at when the scriptures tell us that our souls can get along well? It means that there is a place within our souls that we can find our contentment in God.
"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well (3Jn. 1:2)."
II. Contentment in Our Souls:
We want to find contentment in our souls. The Lord has given us everything in Christ and speaks often to the dissatisfaction of our souls and our proneness to anxiety, covetousness and fears of missing out. But He wants for us to learn how to be satisfied with what we have and not give in to that place in our hearts that continually wishes for more.
A. Having Great Gain:
The promises of the scripture however is not one of doom and gloom but rather one that says we should actually long for and expect good things from the Lord; we can look forward to a life greatly blessed by the Lord where our hearts are full and we have all that we need. The Bible tells us to find our contentment in God and promises that if we do then we can bank on a life of great gain.
“But godliness with contentment is great gain (1Ti. 6:6).”
B. The Love of Money:
The opposite is just as true however; here we see the real connection between our hearts, our possessions and eternity. This same passage tells us that contentment in God is great gain and that the love of money and pursuit of it promises all kinds of evil and even the ill effect of our hearts waning from God and leaving the faith. This should be cause for alarm, and it is by no means an isolated concept in New Testament as Jesus gave the same warning on numerous occasions (Mt. 19:23; Lk. 12:18-21, 16:19-31).
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it…Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1Ti. 6:6-10).”
C. Life Aspiration to be Free and Content:
I don’t know about you but it is a deep longing in my heart to not be owned by anything besides the Lord. I want to have godly desires my whole life through and to be free in my heart and to learn to be content.
D. No Matter the Circumstance:
The Christian life is intended to be one of enjoyment of God and great contentment as a rule. Fighting to find that contentment is a worthy cause to strive for; as we read the New Testament’s perspective on the subject we should be convicted and provoked to have that same measure of inner immovability. To find our peace in God and not in our ever-changing circumstances is a true gift and a worthy aspiration for our lives.
“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. I can do all this through him who gives me strength (Php. 4:11-13).”
III. Finding Contentment:
Since we can see the clear testimony that there is in fact an otherworldly version of contentment outside of our circumstances we want to know how we can enter into this peace. Contentment must be fought for and there are several things that the scripture draws our attention to as onramps and aids to finding it.
A. Contentment is Not Default:
With all that is warring against our souls and a very real Enemy seeking to devour us we should not assume that we will just be content with God because we’re saved and we woke up today. It isn’t a default heart posture by any means; we have to fight for contentment of soul.
B. Contentment Through His Strength:
Paul calls it a secret, like it’s available but not easily found and learning this secret is a significant part of our maturity. The secret is found placing our joy and our hope in the right place; if we lean into Him as our source then we can draw strength no matter what comes our way.
“This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength (Ne. 8:10).”
“those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Is. 40:31).”
C. The Fear of The Lord Leads to Contentment:
The foundation of wisdom is the fear of the Lord; living in this fear is also the path to being content in our hearts. Solomon said that the one who lives this way will be able to rest and will be untouched by the troubles of life.
“The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble (Pr. 19:23)."
D. Promise of Contentment for the Upright:
Proverbs tells us that the promise of contentment rest on those who will commit themselves to live uprightly. We can take assurance of soul that there is pleasure form the Lord on us if we walk with character and live godly lives before our God. This is an inner peace that can not be taken by external circumstances if we will allow ourselves to feel it.
"The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry (Pr. 13:25)."
“But godliness with contentment is great gain (1Ti. 6:6).”
E. Contentment for Those Who Obey and Serve God:
The Lord wants for us to know that there is great contentment available to us if we will just live in obedience to Him. No matter what our situation we can prosper in a life committed to serve God.
“If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment (Jb. 36:11).”
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