Learning To Be Content

[hldude33]

[SIZE=medium]“Learning To Be Content”[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]By Zach Wood[/SIZE]
[SIZE=medium]Philippians 4:11-12[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I really appreciate what the Apostle Paul shares here from his heart. The key word here is “learned”. It’s obvious that being content is not something natural for us. We have to indeed learn to be content. We all deal with many situations in which we must choose to be content or to be in want. Now, wanting things is not necessarily wrong, but when we become so focused on the wants, it’s quite easy to forget and neglect the needs that God has given to us and has blessed us with. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Every time I come across this passage, it reminds me how I need to be thankful and appreciative for all that God has given to me. Many times I try to make my wants become needs. I’m sure many of you probably have struggled with that in your life as well. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The Apostle Paul really did learn what it means to be content. He went through a lot of struggles and hardships. He went through more than most of us would probably ever endure. I’m always amazed to read his life experiences and about how he learned to be strong in the Lord and become content with what God gave him. It’s truly a lesson for all of us to learn and to keep learning each day of our lives. Let us never stop learning and strive to be content with what we have.[/SIZE]

 

[afaithfulone4u]

We must always be content with however God puts us as He is molding and shaping us for a purpose in His kingdom. But the end result should be one of honor and wealth as that is the blessing of God that maketh us rich and adds no sorry to it.
If we claim to be a child of THE KING of the universe... then we shall be as Christ is when we meet face to face as one's image LOOKING IN A MIRROR(image as in attributes) and who's Father owns it all.

Seek, as Solomon did.. the WISDOM of God and God will add all other things unto you, as Solomon was given. God made Abraham rich for he walked by faith and called upon the LORD making him righteous(not holy) in God's eyes, for he did not hide from God as Adam and Eve did and lost their covering of the Spirit. Adam and Eve came under the curse.. they now had to MAKE their own clothes sewing fig leaves and work by the sweat of their brow and pain in child birth and totally provide for themselves. We have been redeemed from that when we walk by faith in God BY THE SPIRIT to take care of us, for faith without works is Dead faith. To show works of faith, we must step out on God's Word in faith that God is not a man that He should lie and His promises are for us WHO CAN BELIEVE AND RECIEVE as TRUTH.

Gen 28:5
4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.
KJV
Gal 3:13-14
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
KJV
Prov 10:22
22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
KJV
What land was Abraham promised? It was the far country who's maker is God. It is heavenly Jerusalem, our mother of the Spirit that will come down to earth once all wickedness has been removed after the 1,000 yrs.
Heb 11:8-10
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
KJV
Isa 13:5
5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
KJV
Heb 12:22
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
KJV
Gal 4:26-28
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
KJV
Rev 21:1-2
21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
KJV

 

[FHII]

Amen Hldude.... I've read this chapter many times before, but just reread it after reading your post. Man.... God has a way with words and blessed Paul to write what he did! Beautiful chapter! Also, this comes after the Phillipeans sent him an offering, which was very timely in that Paul had a need. I find this chapter to be a great one in support of the notion that we should always support the spreading of the Gospel with our giving! It's a way how we can participate in God's greatness even as sheep.

Paul was always content and rarely if ever asked for an offering. He did say he had the right to ask for it, but rarely did.... Although the notion that he paid for his travels through "tent making" I believe to be false. I've done my research on it, and I think that he didn't. He lived on the giving for the preaching he did, yet still rarely asked for it. With that in mind, there's still nothing wrong with a preacher asking for or preaching on the virtues of giving for the ministry (Paul does a lot of that -- speaking of the latter-- in this chapter). However, Paul took the sermon on the mount (Speaking of Matt chapter 6, specifically) seriously.

We have been redeemed from that when we walk by faith in God BY THE SPIRIT to take care of us, for faith without works is Dead faith. To show works of faith, we must step out on God's Word in faith that God is not a man that He should lie and His promises are for us WHO CAN BELIEVE AND RECIEVE as TRUTH.

\

I've come to absolutely despise the phrase "faith without works is dead" as James told us in chapter one of his epistle. I'm pretty hard on James for a lot of reasons, but I never deny that the book of James was inspired by God. The ONLY way James was correct in what he wrote in chapters 1 and 2 is if it is what you say it is... Good show!!!!

 

[horsecamp]

yup your right good post ---on being content..

paul teaches its not what you have.. its who you have ..

thats why paul could be content even while being beaten and thrown in Jail.

he still had his Jesus.. :)

Amen Hldude.... I've read this chapter many times before, but just reread it after reading your post. Man.... God has a way with words and blessed Paul to write what he did! Beautiful chapter! Also, this comes after the Phillipeans sent him an offering, which was very timely in that Paul had a need. I find this chapter to be a great one in support of the notion that we should always support the spreading of the Gospel with our giving! It's a way how we can participate in God's greatness even as sheep.

Paul was always content and rarely if ever asked for an offering. He did say he had the right to ask for it, but rarely did.... Although the notion that he paid for his travels through "tent making" I believe to be false. I've done my research on it, and I think that he didn't. He lived on the giving for the preaching he did, yet still rarely asked for it. With that in mind, there's still nothing wrong with a preacher asking for or preaching on the virtues of giving for the ministry (Paul does a lot of that -- speaking of the latter-- in this chapter). However, Paul took the sermon on the mount (Speaking of Matt chapter 6, specifically) seriously.





I've come to absolutely despise the phrase "faith without works is dead" as James told us in chapter one of his epistle. I'm pretty hard on James for a lot of reasons, but I never deny that the book of James was inspired by God. The ONLY way James was correct in what he wrote in chapters 1 and 2 is if it is what you say it is... Good show!!!!

IF YOU READ what James said carefuly you will see he was saying men justfy men by the good works they see .

in fact James even says show "me'

MAKING IT CLEAR he also can only justfy men by what he sees .

God how ever justifys the ungodly
and their are many passages about that..

 

[Dodo_David]

Philippians 4:11-13 (ESV) : "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV): "...they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

When we rely on the Lord for strength to endure any situation, He will give us the strength to endure any situation.

 

[horsecamp]

its not what you have its who you have
http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/t/t/w/ttwbgmej.htm

Take the world, but give me Jesus,
All its joys are but a name;
But His love abideth ever,
Through eternal years the same.

a Fanny May quote :)

 

[Dodo_David]

its not what you have its who you have
http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/t/t/w/ttwbgmej.htm

Take the world, but give me Jesus,
All its joys are but a name;
But His love abideth ever,
Through eternal years the same.

a Fanny May quote :)

If I am not mistaken, Fanny May was blind. So, she understood Philippians 4:11-13.