Category Archives: Contentment

Bible, Contentment, Delight, God's Will, Joy, Romans, Scripture

TRUE DELIGHT

ROMANS 7:22

“For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person,”

What does it mean to delight in something? For me, it means to find pleasure and contentment. For example, I delight in pleasing my wife, of serving her and living in harmony with her. Do I do that all the time? Not by a long shot, but I do delight in those things. I also find true delight in my grandchildren. Knowing I have a part in their lives brings me such joy and delight.

The word Paul uses here for “joyfully agree” can also be translated as “delight.” The word is only used here in the whole New Testament. It’s the Greek word sunédomai which means to feel satisfaction concerning something. The Topical Lexicon writes, “Romans 7:22 records the lone New Testament occurrence: ‘For in my inner being I delight in God’s law’ (Berean Standard Bible). Here Paul sets the verb in deliberate contrast to the warring ‘law of sin’ in his members (Romans 7:23). The word paints an intimate portrait of the regenerate conscience: despite the tug of indwelling sin, the true self of the believer resounds with joy at the goodness of God’s revealed will.”

APPLICATION

Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Who doesn’t want that? But in order to receive those “desires of your heart” you must first delight yourself in Him. How do you do that? By spending time with Him so that you will know what your desires should be, not what you want them to be.

I was talking to someone recently about a relationship they are in with someone. This other person has “cast lots” before God to get an answer about the future of their relationship. I explained to my friend that when we do that, we must be prepared to accept the answer He gives and not be disappointed when the answer is not what we wanted. We have to delight in Him first to understand that.

What do you delight in? Family? Friends? Work? Your home? None of those things are bad. We need them all to live a fulfilled and contented life. But we must first delight ourselves in the Lord. Then we will understand true delight. Psalm 35:9 tells it plainly. “Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.” That should be our ultimate delight!

Father, I do delight in You and Your precepts.

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Bible, Contentment, Peace, Scripture, Sufficiency, Thankfulness

BEING CONTENT

PHILIPPIANS 4:11

“Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”

Contentment! Do you struggle with that? So many people cannot be satisfied or content in their situation. They want a newer car or a bigger house. They don’t like the way they look, so they seek out every treatment they can find to make them look “young again.” Contentment is often a fleeting thing for them. Not for Paul. Look what he says today.

He is still thanking the Philippians for their gift but reminds them that he is content in whatever position he is in. Remember, he is in prison (or at least house arrest) in Rome. That’s not a place in which many could find contentment. The word used here for “content” is autarkés only appears here in the New Testament. It comes from autos (himself) and arkeo (content) – self contented. HELPS Word studies says, “it refers to positive self-sufficiency (inward adequacy) – i.e. that comes through the indwelling power of Christ.”

APPLICATION

In 2 Corinthians 9:8 we see the noun form of this word where it is translated “sufficiency.” “And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;” Also that same noun is found in 1 Timothy 6:6. “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (KJV).

Learning to live content can bring such peace. The writer of Hebrews uses the verb form of this word in Hebrews 13:5. “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER ABANDON YOU,’”

Are you content? Are you at peace with who you are and what you have? If you are struggling with contentment, let me urge you to do a deep dive on the topic of peace or rest. God does not want us to live uncontented lives. He gave us His Son to remove all discontentment, except for the discontentment regarding sin. We should never be content about that. But otherwise, we should live our lives being content with our God and our Savior. Amen?

O Lord, thank You for giving me the sense of contentment that is only found in Christ.

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Attention, Bible, Boasting, Contentment, Emotions, Humility, Scripture, Works

YOU DID NOT DO THIS

EPHESIANS 2:9

“not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” 

Pride! Boasting! It will definitely get us into trouble. Some ballplayers like to trash talk. They are always talking about how good they are and how much better they are than anyone else. The smart players leave their boasting for the field or court. They just do their job and let the results speak for themselves. Sure, they are proud of what they have accomplished, but they don’t have to brag about it.

In this part two of the passage Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul tells us rather plainly that our salvation had nothing to do with us. He says it is “not a result of works.” It had nothing to do with you. You did not do this! You have no reason to boast. God did this through His Son, Jesus Christ. It was His work on the cross. You can’t boast in that. All you can do is receive the grace He gives you through the faith He gives you.

APPLICATION

The Greek word Paul uses for “boast” is kauchaomai. It can be used in a good or bad sense. It can refer to a God-given confidence or vaunting yourself. Paul uses this word a lot. In fact, of the 38 times it is used in the New Testament, Paul uses it 36. The other two times occur in James.

In 2 Corinthians 11:30 Paul writes, “If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness.” Paul knew from the outset of his salvation that he had no reason to boast. He was struck blind and had to be led to a place where he stayed for three days until Ananias came and laid hands on him, giving him his sight back. Paul was brought low in order to be raised up to be used by Christ.

Over in 2 Corinthians 10:17, Paul uses this word again as he partially quotes Jeremiah 9:23-24, which says, “23 This is what the LORD says: ‘Let no wise man boast of his wisdom, nor let the mighty man boast of his might, nor a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let the one who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises mercy, justice, and righteousness on the earth; for I delight in these things,’ declares the LORD.” Again, it wasn’t about Paul. It was all about Jesus.

Paul points to the right place in which to boast when he writes these words in Galatians 6:14, “But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” It is only in the cross! That is where our glory should be directed. He has done all the work. Because of that, we can boast in Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Father God, I boast only in Jesus and the cross on which He died.

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Bible, Comfort, Contentment, Peace, Rest, Scripture

PICNIC TIME

ZECHARIAH 3:10

“‘“On that day,” declares the LORD of armies, “every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree.”’”

People love to go on a picnic. You know, wicker basket full of fried chicken, potato salad, apple pie and sweet tea (of course). The tranquility of those times is precious. You can nap lazily under the shade or dip your feet in a nearby stream. The peace of these moments is hard to beat. Peace, peace, peace!

That is exactly what the Lord was saying here in today’s verse. After all the wars. After all the days of exile, they can now invite neighbors for a picnic under the vine and fig tree. He is telling them they can be at rest now. Don’t you know that thrilled their hearts? Don’t you know they felt that peace for the first time in a long time?

APPLICATION

Micah wrote of this in Micah 4:4. “Instead, each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, because the mouth of the LORD of armies has spoken.” The same is true today. Jesus told us in John 14:27, “‘Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.’”

Aren’t you tired of the weariness of life? There is no need to continue striving, chasing after the wind, as Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes. Christ offers you the supreme peace. His peace doesn’t end when the picnic ends. Oh no. His peace is everlasting. It will never, never, never end. You can put your complete trust in that.

I am thankful I have the peace of God through Christ. This peace allows me to be at peace with men. Recently, I was starting a trip overseas. My flight was postponed three times before it was finally cancelled. I was rebooked the next day, only to get on board and have about an hour delay due to engine issues. But I was at peace. Why? Because it was His peace, not mine that ruled the day. I pray you can experience the same.

Oh, the sweet, sweet peace of Jesus, that rules my heart and soul.

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Abiding, Bible, Blessing, Caregiver, Contentment, Gifts, Hunger, Provision, Scripture

ONLY HALF

HAGGAI 2:16

“from that time when one came to a grain heap of twenty measures, there would be only ten; and when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there would be only twenty.”

I have been blessed through my years in that I can say I have never gone hungry. Oh, I thought I was starving a few times, but I was really just whiny about not eating when I wanted. There’s a difference in being hungry and truly starving. Not having enough to provide yourself or your family is a real issue in many parts of our world today. Be grateful if you are like me and are blessed with more than you need.

God was reminding the people of Israel to continue to think back to the days when they didn’t have enough. Grain was short on supply, as well as the fruit of the vine to make wine. Those were days of judgment when they suffered because of their disobedience. Now, they were living in relative ease, but they needed to remember where they had been and what God had done for them.

APPLICATION

Maybe that’s you. Do you need to remember where you were and where God has brought you? We seem to forget so quickly, don’t we. In the middle of thanking the Philippians for sending him a gift, Paul says this in Philippians 4:11-12. “11 Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.”

Paul reflected back to the lean years. He shared how God had taught him to be thankful in whatever situation he found himself. Boy, we could learn a lot from Paul, couldn’t we? But I love the next verse. Paul reveals the secret to this. It’s in verse 13. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” That is the key. It is Christ in me. It is Christ in you.

When I think back to my “lean” years, I can pinpoint specific events that caused my faith to leap forward. Times when all I could do is trust in His sovereign will helped me grow. Was it fun? Nope. Did I struggle through it? Yep. But looking back I can see the fingerprints of God all over. Will you join me in trying to look closer for God’s fingerprints today? They are there. We just have to look.

Father, I am eternally grateful for Your bountiful provisions. The world may see them as meager, but I know You are giving me exactly what I need.

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Bible, Contentment, Peace, Rest, Satisfaction, Scripture

NEVER SATISFIED

HABAKKUK 2:5

“’Furthermore, wine betrays an arrogant man, so that he does not achieve his objective. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and he is like death, never satisfied. He also gathers to himself all the nations and collects to himself all the peoples.’”

Some things are never satisfied. Football fans are not satisfied that their team won the championship. They want them to win it every year, and if they don’t, they want to get rid of the coach. Church members want the preacher to preach the perfect sermon every week. If he struggles one week, they start questioning his abilities.

God is still speaking here in verse 5. And He is telling Habakkuk that the wicked man is never satisfied. There is another story I was reminded of when I read this today. God gave the Hebrew children in the wilderness manna from heaven. But they grumbled against it. They tired of God’s miraculous provision and wanted something more.

APPLICATION

Don’t point fingers! We all do the same thing. God meets our needs, but we ask for more. God does a miracle in our life through a healing of us or someone else, and once again we ask for another. Satisfaction in Christ means we are satisfied completely when we receive our salvation. All other things are just the cherry on top of the ice cream. Nice but not necessary.

Paul says is well in Philippians 4:12. “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.”

That should be our goal each and every day – to be content, to be satisfied. Unlike the pagan described in today’s verse, we should not always hunger for more. True contentment in Christ is sweet. There is no pressure, no worries, no strife – just rest. Don’t you want to rest in Him today?

I am satisfied, I am satisfied, I am satisfied with Jesus. But the question comes to me, as I think of Calvary, Is my Master satisfied with me?

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Abiding, Bible, Choices, Contentment, God's Will, Scripture

BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER

NAHUM 3:16

“You have made your traders more numerous than the stars of heaven—the creeping locust sheds its skin and flies away.”

You may have heard the saying “You can tell a man from boys by the size of his toys.” We think bigger is always better. Or in Christian terms “busier is better.” If I just do this for God, He will love me more. If I just serve on this committee at church, people will like me more. If I could just sing on the Praise Team, I would be more spiritual.

Nineveh was the biggest and best in the trade world at that time. Because two rivers converged at Nineveh, it was a major trade route to the sea and beyond. And with all that trade, money flowed. There were many wealthy traders in Nineveh. Wealth brings its on set of temptations – idol worship, prostitution, drugs, etc. Bigger is not always better.

APPLICATION

Are you relying on the “size of your toys” to bring you happiness and contentment? It won’t happen. Oh, for a little while, you will be happy with that new car or truck. You will finally buy your dream home or land that dream job. But the things of this world are fleeting. They will not last.

As believers, our contentment is only in Christ. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 tells us something about contentment. “6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Then Paul tells us what to pursue in verse 11. “But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.” Those are eternal things. Those bring true happiness. Those are things worth chasing after with all the vigor you can muster. Let’s pursue the better over the bigger.

I desire to follow You, Lord, into a deeper relationship filled with righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.”

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Accountability, Bible, Blameless, Choices, Consequences, Contentment, Deception, Disciplemaking, Discipline, Modeling, Scripture

THE RIGHT WEIGHT

MICAH 6:11

“‘Can I justify dishonest balances, and a bag of fraudulent weights?’”

I have this little hand-held baggage scale. You simply wrap the strap around the baggage handle, pick it up and you get the weight. That is necessary when you are flying somewhere because they have restrictions on how much weight you can have in that bag. Too much, and it costs you more. You cannot cheat the scale.

God watches our actions just as closely. He will not tolerate our deceitfulness. The people would try to cheat others in the market by having those fraudulent weight and scales. He had warned the people about this in Leviticus 19:35-36 where it says, “‘You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measurement of weight, or volume. You shall have accurate balances, accurate weights, an accurate ephah, and an accurate hin;’”

APPLICATION

I am reminded of a verse in Job when he was vehemently denying any sin in his life that had caused his suffering. Job 31:6 says, “Let Him weigh me with accurate scales, and let God know my integrity.” Can you say that? I sure cannot most days.

I want my life to be weighed and found not lacking. I want my deeds and words to be always just right on God’s scales. I trust His scales to be accurate and true. If He says I am lacking, I am lacking. If He says I am okay, I am okay. He sees me as righteous because of His Son. Jesus has tipped the scales in my favor.

We have a bathroom scale in our home. Most mornings I weigh myself. It is interesting, though. I can weigh myself and then go to the doctor and weigh five more pounds. I think they set their scales five pounds heavier so they can tell us to lose some weight, lol. Truth is my scales are off five pounds. What really matters is my spiritual weight. With Jesus, I will always weigh correctly spiritually. Is that true for you today?

I am forever grateful for the blood that washed away the weight of my sin and made me righteous in Your eyes, Lord.

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Appeasement, Bible, Blessing, Commands, Commitment, Contentment, Humility, Judgment, Mercy

WHAT DO YOU WANT, GOD?

MICAH 6:8

“He has told you, mortal one, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

It is hard to please someone if you do not know what they want. I remember going through the Five and Dime store in my hometown of Pelham, GA trying to find the perfect Mothers’ Day gift for my mom. In the end I got this “very pretty” sand sculpture in this glass vase. My mom probably hated it, but she kept it the rest of her life. It was not about the gift to her. It was all about the giver – me.

God has told us exactly what He wants from us. Three things – to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with Him. Now, if you have not seen this verse before, you can’t say that anymore. You have been told what He wants. It is the same thing He wanted from His children so long ago. And just like us, they spurned Him. They wanted their own thing and their own way.

APPLICATION

So, what do you need to do? To do justice. What does that mean? It means for you to judge appropriately, correctly, righteously rather than based on your own desires or prejudices. But Micah quickly adds “to love kindness.” Some versions say “to love mercy. This is the flip side of justice. Both are necessary and both are a part of God’s character.

Finally, Micah tells us “to walk humbly with our God.” That’s the hard part. The old country song said, “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way.” We all think we are doing okay. True humility requires us to put others before ourselves. That is just not the American way.

These things God required then and required now will give us a balanced approach as we seek to serve our King. Will you trust Him in this? If He tells us to do something, we can be sure it is for our good. We may not see it as good at the beginning, but we will eventually. God is going for the long play. Can you?

I place my life in Your hands, Lord, to do with as You please.

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Belief, Bible, Blessing, Christ's Return, Confidence, Contentment, Encouragement, Eternity, Fear, Promises, Rest

I AM NOT AFRAID

MICAH 4:4

“Instead, each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, because the mouth of the LORD of armies has spoken.”

When I was growing up, my friends and I would often dare each other to do something. Sometimes it was approaching a scary looking house and knocking on the door. We had a few houses like that in my hometown. Other times it was to do some stupid physical challenge. We always said, “I’m not afraid.” Of course, inside we were trembling.

Finally, one day we can all say with confidence that we are not afraid. Just like Micah describes here in today’s verse, we can sit under our vine or fig tree (I don’t have either of these, lol) and rest. The LORD of armies has spoken. When God speaks, all is settled.

APPLICATION

Won’t that be great? No more worries. No more problems. All is at rest. That is hard to imagine, isn’t it? We live with issues and problems every day. Some of those are big, like dealing with cancer or the loss of a loved one. Other things are small, like paying that bill or a challenging child. We all have to deal with these kinds of things now.

But one day soon we will have perfect rest. I love to fish (as you who read my blogs regularly or who know me personally can attest). I love to be on the lake or at a pond early in the morning when the water is calm. It is like glass. That kind of peaceful scene will be forever. No more disturbances.

I choose to live in that peace today. I choose to believe my heavenly Father wants me to live that way. He does not desire troubles for me. Just the opposite, He desires peace. Only His peace can provide this for me. His peace gives me peace. Are you living in His peace today?

Thank You for giving me peace today, Lord. I choose to live in it.

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