Biblical Contentment Lesson 5 What Causes Discontentment By Melissa Kruger

back on trials differently once they have passed? Have you ever questioned something God was doing in your life? Do you look back on trials differently once they have passed?

How could Christ’s death on the cross affect the way you strive for contentment?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. —Proverbs 3:5–8

How does our estimation of our own wisdom affect our contentment?

is worse than distress.” Thomas Watson, The Art of Divine Contentment “Discontent is nothing else but the echo of unbelief. Remember, distrust  is worse than distress.” Thomas Watson, The Art of Divine Contentment

His Sovereignty & His Goodness 3 Areas We Struggle in with Unbelief Unbelief in the character of God His Sovereignty & His Goodness John Piper “Have you ever considered that the Ten Commandments begin and end with virtually the same commandment? “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex 20:3) and “You shall not covet” (Ex 20:17) are almost equivalent commands. Coveting is desiring anything other than God in a way that betrays a loss of contentment and satisfaction in him. Covetousness is a heart divided between two gods.”

Unbelief in our true home 3 Areas We Struggle in with Unbelief Unbelief in our true home For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. Hebrews 13:14 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20

Unbelief in our true purpose 3 Areas We Struggle in with Unbelief Unbelief in our true purpose

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of -

throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” CS Lewis

For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:29 Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

“The goal of the Christian life is not fairness, the goal of the Christian life is holiness.” Melissa Kruger

What does unbelief, ingratitude, discontentment say to God about the cross?