Like most of us I have wondered if being content is something you have seen in others. I have not. Some people appear so, but only on the surface. In Job 36:11 NIV or NKJV, it sounds like if you obey and serve God, you will have it made, contentment and prosperity. I have over the years talked to people in church about problems in their life. I mean, between a worship service and the parking lot, two very different views on life, one very positive, the other, life is hell. I would really like to hear other views on this topic.
Is Being Content A Real Possibility.
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Subsonic, less than the speed of sound. Interesting how that was chosen as a moniker. Good I would say.
I had in the past wondered often the contradiction in promise and personal experience. Too much emphasis on a feel-good gospel, ignoring the true state of the individual as hopeless and powerless without God, has led to the extremes you and I see. The "I'm always happy" kind of believer is not engaged in warfare but welfare. The powers and principalities and wicked spiritual forces that abound in our own lives, and the need to be transformed in order to usurp them, requires much care and excercise. Sorrow, grief, reproach, and other responses to spiritual warfare are the norm, not the exception. If these things do not accompany a believer's life, then there is something missing. The Father is seeking sons to share in His glory, and part of that glory is subduing the Adversary, and bringing his operations into subjection under His Son's feet. Should we not also be partakers of that affair? Is that not also what we are promised? That those who live devoutly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution? For Americans, and the lackadaisical attitude toward God, that never really amounts to much. But it is certain that there are brothers and sisters in Christ who are being attacked and even killed for their faith in other lands.
Paul, our Apostle, died in poverty, yet he would defend himself as being beyond wealthy and content due to his knowledge and understanding of the Christ. He considered it all refuse, the religious ideology of his forefathers, and sacrificed everything to know the power of the resurrection found in Christ Jesus. He also said, Be ye imitators of me as I am of Christ. Few there are that will compare themselves to Paul, yet that is his prescription to us and most of us reject him. This is to our own detriment.
fivesense
I had in the past wondered often the contradiction in promise and personal experience. Too much emphasis on a feel-good gospel, ignoring the true state of the individual as hopeless and powerless without God, has led to the extremes you and I see. The "I'm always happy" kind of believer is not engaged in warfare but welfare. The powers and principalities and wicked spiritual forces that abound in our own lives, and the need to be transformed in order to usurp them, requires much care and excercise. Sorrow, grief, reproach, and other responses to spiritual warfare are the norm, not the exception. If these things do not accompany a believer's life, then there is something missing. The Father is seeking sons to share in His glory, and part of that glory is subduing the Adversary, and bringing his operations into subjection under His Son's feet. Should we not also be partakers of that affair? Is that not also what we are promised? That those who live devoutly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution? For Americans, and the lackadaisical attitude toward God, that never really amounts to much. But it is certain that there are brothers and sisters in Christ who are being attacked and even killed for their faith in other lands.
Paul, our Apostle, died in poverty, yet he would defend himself as being beyond wealthy and content due to his knowledge and understanding of the Christ. He considered it all refuse, the religious ideology of his forefathers, and sacrificed everything to know the power of the resurrection found in Christ Jesus. He also said, Be ye imitators of me as I am of Christ. Few there are that will compare themselves to Paul, yet that is his prescription to us and most of us reject him. This is to our own detriment.
fivesense
contentment only comes by faith and patience-if you keep your car in good runing shape then your content its going to crank every morning but if you neglect her and she don't crank you tend to blame the car when all along it was your fault. if we truely trust god then we know his words work in our lives if we have patience than we will have results.seeds of faith are destroyed by seeds of doubt and you can hear them.contentment- 
being one with the word of god-in love- being a doer keeping your faith in good runing order.
being one with the word of god-in love- being a doer keeping your faith in good runing order.contentment only comes by faith and patience-if you keep your car in good runing shape then your content its going to crank every morning but if you neglect her and she don't crank you tend to blame the car when all along it was your fault. if we truely trust god then we know his words work in our lives if we have patience than we will have results.seeds of faith are destroyed by seeds of doubt and you can hear them.contentment-being one with the word of god-in love- being a doer keeping your faith in good runing order.
Nothing comes without effort, not even breathing, and what you are saying, gregg, is truth in the spirit realm. It is a true parable. Thank you for putting this forth to us to see. I am sure you could add more to it, supplying depth that we have come to appreciate from you. But short and sweet are your posts, with wisdom.
fivesense
sub, just wonder if you realize that you are quoting someone that God says is giving, "counsel by words without knowledge?" God is calling Elihu illiterate.
Following Jesus is not a recipe for getting everything you want in this world. Thats a cargo cult mentality and has nothing to do with the Gospel.
Jesus told us that following Him would lead to tribulation in this world. Not prosperity.
But following Jesus and believing Him does bring one assurance that no matter how bad things get in this life we who believe Jesus will have eternal joy with Jesus in eternity. Believing this brings us contentment. Having Jesus in our lives gives us peace of mind and the strength to face what ever the worldly throw at us.
In this life one who has believed God cannot truly have joy in this world, because we know how far short this world falls compared to what we await for in eternity. We can have moments of Joy but the over all picture of life is not good. Life is a kind of Hell. But with Jesus we can have the assurance and joy of knowing that life as it is now is temporary. Eternity with God is.... well forever.
All Praise The Ancient Of Days
If we truly act like Christ the world will treat us like Christ was treated. This is not our home, but a place filled with opportunities. There is contentment in being part of something wonderful, having a huge purpose and helping others.
There is no time in our short life to sit back, even our resting has meaning.
Well said bling. Being occupied with what great riches we have, and the purposes of God being carried out personally by us, and the ability to offer ourselves to others willingly and joyfully is a rare experience. We are blessed indeed.
fivesense
Following Jesus is not a recipe for getting everything you want in this world. Thats a cargo cult mentality and has nothing to do with the Gospel.
Jesus told us that following Him would lead to tribulation in this world. Not prosperity.
But following Jesus and believing Him does bring one assurance that no matter how bad things get in this life we who believe Jesus will have eternal joy with Jesus in eternity. Believing this brings us contentment. Having Jesus in our lives gives us peace of mind and the strength to face what ever the worldly throw at us.
In this life one who has believed God cannot truly have joy in this world, because we know how far short this world falls compared to what we await for in eternity. We can have moments of Joy but the over all picture of life is not good. Life is a kind of Hell. But with Jesus we can have the assurance and joy of knowing that life as it is now is temporary. Eternity with God is.... well forever.
adstar- can you supply scripture for these statements or is this your walk in life and how you are trying to get me to believe that he didn't -forsake all that i MIGHT have all- owe no man nothing but to love him-by his stripes i am healed of every sickness and disease- be of good cheer he has overcome the world-he left me his joy and peace- give and it SHALL be given-ask and you shall receive -seek and you will find- etc whose world are you living in? in love son of great joy.
the one who has believed god will never have joy he must continue
All Praise The Ancient Of Days
Can you please read this and correct it. It looks like you rushed your reply, i cannot make most of it out.
As for scripture:
Do you believe this:
1 Timothy 6
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
Or do you believe the preachers who preach that following Jesus is the path to monetary and material gain.
1 Timothy 6
5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
These men of corrupt minds suppose that godliness is a means of gain and it is sure that the type of gain they suppose it to be is not contentment with just food and clothing but gain of money and riches.
Now Paul who was guided by the Holy Spirit was content with food and cloths, He was provided for what He needed. His Joy and peace came not from lavish mansions or being carried around from place to place in a golden chariot but from the knowledge of Gods Salvation through the Messiah Jesus.
All Praise The Ancient Of Days
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