Qualities of a pure heart - 5

Contentment  “To be sufficient, to be possessed of sufficient strength, to be strong, to be enough for a thing.” (Vine’s)

Contentment  Satisfied, moderation, sufficient, enough.  The opposite of covetous or dissatisfied.  An attitude of mind. How do you view your current state of affair!

Contentment  Does NOT mean laziness or complacency.  Laziness is refusal to act (Prov. 6:10-11, 20:13, 2 Thess. 3:6-7, 10, Heb. 6:12) Complacency – Rom. 12:11, Rev. 3:15-18, Jas. 4:17

Contentment  Discontent leads to…  Jealousy, envy, debt, worldliness, bitterness, etc.

Contentment  Philippians 4:10-13  In whatever state I am - sufficient with what he has.  “Not that I speak in regard to need.”  WHEN needed – both in want AND abundance! Eccl. 5:10

Contentment  1 Tim. 6:6-8  “godliness with contentment is great gain.”  We brought nothing into this world…( 1 Jn. 2:17, Matt. 6: )  Content with food and clothing – Do we really need everything we have?

Contentment  Heb. 13:5  “Let your conduct be without covetousness. Be content with such things that you have.”

Contentment  2 Cor. 9:8, “sufficiency” same word as content!  Matt. 16:26, “What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world…”  Luke 3:14, “Be content with your wages…”

Contentment  Prov. 30:7-9, “Give me neither poverty nor riches – Feed me with the food allotted to me; 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.”

Contentment  Prov. 24:19-20, “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked; For there will be no prospect for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out.”

Contentment  Prov. 15:16, “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.”

Contentment Developing a content heart  It is something that is learned – Phil. 4:11-13  Count your blessings  Realize what is really important  Give thanks

Contentment Developing a content heart  Learn to trust God and appreciate Him – Phil. 4:13  Live within your means!

Unselfish!  Selfishness is placing one’s own interests over that of others. Vanity, greed, hatred, lust, etc.  Unselfishness is placing the interest of others above your own. Willing to share!

Unselfish!  Problems with selfishness – we think about ourselves, even in helping others ( cf. Lk. 18:12, Ac. 5:1-11, 1 Cor. 13:3 ) Tearing down others, division, stagnation in a congregation. Hindered prayers. Adversity in relationships. Lack of self-control, entitlement attitude, Gal. 5:19- 21, Jas. 3:13-16, 4:1

Unselfish Examples  God, the ultimate example - John 3:16  Jesus, John 15:13  Paul, Phil. 3:7-9, 2 Cor. 12:15

Unselfish Examples  Barnabas – Acts 4:36-37  Macedonian brethren – 2 Cor. 8:1-5

Unselfish  Phil. 2:3-4, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition...”  James 3:17, The wisdom from above is, “willing to yield”  1 Cor. 13:4, Love, “does not seek its own”

Unselfish  Rom. 15:1-2, “bear with the scruples of the weak...”  Heb. 13:16, “Do good and share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased”  1 Tim. 6:18  Luke 14:12-14

Unselfish Developing an unselfish heart  Consider the greatest giver – God! We can never outgive Him!  Strive to think about others!  Realize the true value of stuff!

Unselfish Developing an unselfish heart  Start giving and sharing!  Is there a sense in which we do think about ourselves? Phil. 2:12, Rom. 12:3 – we are to save ourselves, but to do so requires we think of others!

Are you content of heart? Do you think of others?