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Discontented?

Man!  If I had some extra money - say about $1,000 - I’d be set! ... Hmmmmm .... come to think of it, $5,000 would be much better! .... $10,000?  Well, now that’d be best of all! ... unless, of course, I just had all the money I needed, and then I’d just be so happy!!!  Oh, and did you see that house?!  Oh, I love that house!  Mine is just too ... too .... not right!  ... and that car! ...no, come to think of it, I’d really be happy if I had that other car!  But I’d have to have a different job to afford that car.  And speaking of jobs, what’s-her-name has that job I think I would be much better at than she is!  Oh, and man!  I wish I had that other thing than the one I bought ... you know, the black one instead of this red one!  And WOW! ... look at that outfit!  If I had on that one instead of this one, well I’d be styling!  And I’d definitely have to do some traveling just to show it off!  But you know, I never go anywhere, do anything, have many things!  Boo-hoo-hoo!  Unhappy!  So unhappy!! ......

Ever have a season of discontentment? .... a lifetime of discontentment? ... always wishing for something else or something different?

PRESENT TENSE
    By- Jason Lehman [said to have been Age 14 when he wrote it]

It was Spring, but it was Summer I wanted;
It was Summer, but it was Fall I wanted; the colorful leaves, and the cool dry air.
It was Fall, but it was Winter I wanted; the beautiful snow, and all the joy of the holiday season.
It was Winter, but it was Spring I wanted; the warmth, and the blossoming of nature.

I was a child, but it was adulthood I wanted; the freedom and the respect.
I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted; to be mature, and sophisticated.
I was middle-aged, but it was 20 I wanted; the youth, and the free spirit.
I was retired, but it was middle-age I wanted; the presence of mind without limitations.

My life was over, but I never got what I wanted!

content >adjective in a state of peaceful happiness or satisfaction. >verb  1 satisfy; please.  2 (content oneself with) accept (something) as adequate despite wanting something more or better. >noun 1 a state of happiness or satisfaction.

We can’t get no ... satisfaction! ... is that our motto?  Are we ever content?  ....

Acrostic:

C - COVET ... do not, to be content!

Romans 7:7-8 "What shall we say then?  Is the Law sin?  May it never be!  On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, 'You shall not covet.'  But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind ...."

Romans 13:9 "For this, 'You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' "

O - OURS ... or theirs, to be content?

Exodus 20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

N - NOPE ... not always what we think we need, to be content!

Philippians 4:11-12 "Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  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."

T - THINGS ... not necessary, to be content!

Matthew 6:25-30 "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, that they do not
sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not worth much more than they?  And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span?  And why are you anxious about clothing?  Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these.  But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith?"

E - EMPTY ... ourselves, to be content!

Luke 12:29-34 "And do not seek what you shall eat, and what you shall drink, and do not keep worrying.  For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you.  Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

N - NOW ... is the time, to be content!

1 Peter 5:6-9 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.  Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion,
seeking someone to devour.  But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world."

T - THE ... things we need, to be content!

Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."

1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 "And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men.  See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men.  Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
 

CONTENT!   "But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.  For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.  And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.  But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.  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 a pang. But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.  Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:6-12
  

I heard a preacher once say, “Contentment is independent of circumstance, but dependent on Christ!”

... and with that said ....

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

... especially, being content! 

Amen? 

Amen and Amen!!

Praying many more blessings your way! 

Kelli