Learning Contentment
Ten Family Values - Lesson 10
Exodus 20:17
December 6, 1992

Philippians 4:11" Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. "

Introduction:

A. "Mall Madness" Milton Bradley's new game
"Will you be the first to lose all your money? You are let loose in a shopping mall with $200.00. Go to it and spend it all. Empty your pockets first and you win the game. When you've spent every cent, your marker moves triumphantly into the winner's space marked "broke" and you win.
B. Would you be surprised to hear that a survey found: Female teens 93% - #1 fav. pastime is shopping -- beat dating?
C. Christmas Season: Plenty of ways to covet
"Covet:" the UNCONTROLLED desire to acquire
D. To acquire is not bad in itself, is not bad -- the lack of control is bad or that desire that causes you to cross the line... desiring something belonging to someone else

I. THE EFFECT OF ALWAYS WANTING MORE

A. FATIGUE

1. Never in our history have we been pushed to get so much so soon...
2. Baby boomer blues: those who got it wonder...most didn't & wonder why
3. Material rat race and everybody is tired
"Do not wear yourself out to be rich; have the wisdom to show restraint." Pr.23:4

B. DEBT

"The more money you have, the more money you spend..." Ecc. 5:11 (LB)

1. Expeneses rise to the level of income: i.e. the problem is with wanting
2. Problem with reducing debt by getting 2nds: greed still is there
3. Average Am: $1,300 credit for every 1,000 he makes -- deficit spending
4. Problem distinguishing between need and greed

C. WORRY

"The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep. " Ecc. 5:12 (GN)

1. Focus on things brings its problem cousins with it: insure, protect, manage
2. Insomnia increases with income

D. CONFLICT

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from the desires that battle with you?" James 4:1

1. Number 1 cause of divorce - financial tension
2. When you have what I want there is going to be trouble -- called coveting jobs, house, inheritance, position, prestige, spouse, etc. etc.

E. DISSATISFACTION

"You will never be satisfied if you long to be rich. You will never get all you want." Ecc. 5:10 (GN)

"Its foolish to think wealth brings happiness." (LB)

1. Law of diminishing returns

a. What satisfied at one time is now boring
b. Gives rise to fashion: redecorate, remodel, replace...
c. How are your feelings about what you got last Christmas??

2. The Antidote to coveting is contentment

"I have learned the secret of being content... whether living in plenty or in want." (Paul) Philippians 4:12

II. HOW TO LEARN CONTENTMENT

A. Flee Comparing Myself to Others.

"We do not dare classify or compare ourselves... It is not wise." II Cor. 10:12

1. Jobs, clothes, houses, possessions...
2. How do you react when you see someone with something new... ?
3. Learn to admire without having to acquire: you can't have everything...
4. Net-worth and Self-worth are not the same thing
"When we long to be rich, we are a prey to temptation; We get trapped into all sorts of foolish and dangerous ambitions which eventually plunge us into ruin." I Tim. 6:9 (JB)
5. Possessed by possessions: sacrificing relationships, morals, values...

e.g. women who just won 17 mil. called live-in boy friend, "I just won $17 mil. Start packin'" He said for warm weather or cold. She said it doesn't matter, just as long as you're gone when I get home."

B. Find Satisfaction in what you have.

"If God gives a man wealth and property... he should bed grateful and enjoy what he has... it is a gift from God." Ecc. 5:19 (GN)

1. "When and then" thinking "When I get ________ then I'll be happy."
2. Remember the law of diminishing returns
3. What are you waiting on to be happy? Marriage... out of marriage... possession... children...

***You are as happy as you want to be

4. "Happiness is not getting whatever you want. Happiness is enjoying whatever you've got."

a. God wants you to enjoy what you have.

I Tim. 6:17 "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy."

b. God enjoys watching you enjoy what He has given you

Pro. 15:27 "A greedy man brings trouble to his family."

5. 2 ways to have enough in life: get more or want less

C. Freely Give What I Have To Help Others.

1. Wants you to treat others as He has treated you.
"Tell those who are rich, not to be proud and not to trust in their money which will soon be gone. Tell them to use their money to do good. to give happily to those in need, always with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up real treasure of themselves in heaven -- it is the only safe investment for eternity!" I Tim. 6:17-19 (LB)
2. Who are the rich? Americans; even those scraping it our on welfare
3. Is it possible to be rich and not be greedy or covetous?? YES!

a. It's an attitude
b. Follow the four precautions in I Tim. 6:17-19

1. Don't become proud of your wealth: don't think your better than...
2. Don't put your trust in your money: put your trust in the Giver
3. Use your money to do good: don't waste it
4. Give cheerfully

a. The you receive the more God wants you to give
Matt. 8:10 "Freely received, freely give" 2 Cor. 8:12 "according to want a man has"
b. The opposite of getting is giving: it is an acting of breaking the bonds of covetousness
c. Point of spiritual victory -- Satan the author of covetous: "I will ascend... I will be like..."

5. If you do these things you will be storing up real treasure in heaven

a. Every time you give, God takes note of it

"There is more happiness in giving than in receiving." Acts 20:35 (GN)

6. Mark of maturity when you get more excited about what you are giving at Christmas than what you are getting

D. Focus On What's Going To Last.

" Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and stea. Matt. 6:19
"We fix our attention not on the things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time; but what cannot be seen lasts forever." II Cor. 4:18

1. Materialism: clouds our view of God
2. Everything we see is temporary (decays, rusts, waste away...)
3. What is IMPORTANT? Relationship with God and others, values, freedom, love...
e.g. Jesus story of the prosperous man who thought all there was to life was building bigger barns (Luke 12:18) Jesus ended that story with this, "A man's true life is not made up of the things he owns, no matter how rich he may be." Luke 12:15

4. Culture says your value is based on what you own
5. God says your value is based on what you are

e.g. Funeral in Beverly Hills "She had so much to live for..." "No she had so much to live on & nothing to live for."

6. Life-style: Culture or Christ; Madison Ave. or the Master; Greed or God
7. Do you want to break the materialistic grip upon you in this season?

1) Don't be proud of what you have (James 4:6)
2) Put your trust in God (Mark 11:22)
3) Use your money to do good (Galatians 6:10)
4) Be Cheerful Giver (2 Corinthians 9:7)