How To Be CONTENT In Your LIVING And GIVING

How To Be CONTENT In Your LIVING And GIVING

Philippians 4:10-13; Selected Scriptures
By
D.Z. Cofield, Th.M., D. Min.
June 4, 2023

Responsive Reading – Proverbs 22:7 (ESV), 22-27 (NLT2)

Leader: 7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the
lender.

Congregation: 22 Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the
needy in court.

Leader: 23 For the LORD is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins
them.

Congregation: 24 Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hottempered
people,

Leader: 25 or you will learn to be like them and endanger your soul.

Congregation: 26 Don’t agree to guarantee another person’s debt or put up
security for someone else.

Everyone: 27 If you can’t pay it, even your bed will be snatched from under
you.

Jack Whittaker
David Lee Edwards
William Post
Evelyn Basehore
Billie Bob Harrell Jr.

YOU ARE IN DEBT WHEN YOU SPEND MORE THAN
YOU MAKE.

YOU ARE IN DEBT WHEN YOU SAY YES TO
YOURSELF MORE THAN YOU SHOULD.

1. You must realize becoming CONTENT is something you
must LEARN, not something you are BORN with.
Philippians 4:10-11 (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.

Learned –

Content –

Proverbs 14:30 (CEV) – It’s healthy to be content, but envy can eat you up.

Proverbs 30:7-9 (ESV) – Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me
before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither
poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 lest I be
full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.

2. You need to realize you can achieve a state of

CONTENTMENT despite the CIRCUMSTANCES you find
YOURSELF in.

Philippians 4:12 (NLT) – I know how to live on almost nothing or with
everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is
with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.

A. Contentment is possible whether you have SOMETHING or
NOTHING.

Luke 12:15 (NLT) – Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of
greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

B. Contentment is possible regardless of the SITUATION you find
YOURSELF in.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (TEV) – If you love money, you will never be satisfied; if
you long to be rich, you will never get all you want. It is useless.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NLT) – Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great
wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world,
and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough
food and clothing, let us be content. 9 But people who long to be rich fall into
temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge
them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds
of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith
and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Ecclesiastes 6:9 (NLT) – Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you
don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing
the wind.

3. You need to realize your ability to be CONTENT is only
achievable when you DEPEND upon CHRIST.

Philippians 4:13 (NLT) – For I can do everything through Christ, who gives
me strength.

Philippians 4:10-17 (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. 14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians
yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia,
no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except
you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and
again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your
credit.

A. You can only become content when you depend upon Christ to
STRENGTHEN you.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV) – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for
you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the
more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon
me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults,
hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am
strong.

B. You can only become content when you depend upon Christ to
TAKE CARE of you.

Hebrews 13:5-6 (ESV) – Keep your life free from love of money, and be
content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor
forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not
fear; what can man do to me?”

Psalm 28:7 (NLT) – The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all
my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of
thanksgiving.

L.I.F.E. Group Questions

1. Do you think most people play the lottery to take care of their needs,
satisfy their greed, or a little of both? Explain.
2. Why do you think so many people end up broke after winning the
lottery?
3. In general, when you look at your life do you think you are more content
or discontent? Explain
4. Why is it so challenging to be content in life, especially when it comes
to getting and having possessions?
5. What has happened to you that helped you learn how to become more
content in life?
6. When was a time you felt contentment in the middle of problems or
uncertainty?
7. When you look at Philippians 4:13 in its context, how can God
strengthen you to become consistently content in your life.
8. How can you distinguish the difference between what you really need
and what you only want?
9. How does coveting the things of this world keep you from being
content?
10. What’s the relationship between being content and giving thanks for
your blessings?
11. What’s the relationship between being content and giving your material
possessions to do the kingdom work of God?
12. What can you do this week to become more content in your life?