PROVERBS 30:8-9 – Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for 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.”
THEME OF THE DAY: A NEEDED PRAYER. We need the prayer of today’s scripture in our lives on a regular basis. It is a prayer for contentment. The reason why we need this prayer is because we are easily the opposite – discontented in life, yes, even Christians may commit the sin of discontent. And yes, discontentment is a sin. It is rebellion against the sovereignty of God in our lives. Are we guilty of such? Well, let’s test ourselves – Have we complained about anything in our lives? Circumstances, situations, relationships, weather, living conditions, even where we live? If we answer “yes” to any, and I think all of us will, then we are guilty of the sin of discontent and desperately need today’s prayer.
As for the substance of this prayer, we find within it the exposition of the Apostle Paul’s instruction to Timothy in his first letter – But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content (1 Timothy 6:6-8).
The keys to living a life of God-honoring contentment are two; the awareness of what we truly deserve in this life and eternity and the willingness to be taught to live contented.
First, contentment is founded upon the truth that God in His love, mercy, and grace does not give us what we deserve. He provides us with everything we don’t deserve in this life and the next. And what do we deserve? God’s wrath. Separation from Him. Condemnation. We are law-breakers of His holy law by birth and volition, deserving only His frown and just punishment. Yet, we receive grace, forgiveness, reconciliation. Such expressions of His love should make us absolutely content in any situation in this life for we are showered daily with unmerited blessings physically and spiritually silencing the voice of complaining about anything!
Another key to a life of God-honoring contentment is putting ourselves in a teachable spirit to be taught contentment. No Christian is “divinely zapped” into a lifestyle of contentment. The greatest Christian ever to live stated this of himself, “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 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” (Philippians 4:10-13) . God will place us in difficult situations to teach us that our contentment and satisfaction is not in people, possessions, and circumstances but in Him alone. Will this be painful? For sure, but God is patient and we will learn to go from complaining in our discontent to praise in our contentment found in Him.
PRAYER: “Father, help me live in glad submission for Your provision and providence in my life.”
QUOTE: “Learn to be content in all things for this is not only a sign of maturity but a delight to God.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim