Fight Discontentment

- Illustration – house with 10 people + goats + chicken + pigs

Have you ever thought or said to yourself, "If only..."?
o "If only I had 10,000 more ..."
o "If only I had a bigger house..."
o "If only I had children..."
o "If only I had hair..."

Philippians 4:11-121

11
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be
content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know
what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every
situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

- Every one of us at some time in our lives have said "if only." Our "if onlys"
can turn into discontentment.
- Discontentment is a restless craving for something one does not have.
(syn. Covetousness)
- Exodus 20:17

- 17
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s
wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to
your neighbor.
- Colossians 3:5

- 5
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual
immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

- “Lack of contentment is idolatry.”

 “ You can be satisfied with what you have, but never be satisfied with what
you are.”
- Autarkes – (contentment)
- Auto – self Arkeo – sufficient
- It is being appreciative of what you have and not focus on what you
don’t have. – keep improving
- Discontentment is one of those sins that are often excused as normal
reactions to everyday problems, but discontentment can easily grow into
resentment or bitterness towards God or others.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12
10
Whoever loves money never has enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.
11
As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
except to feast their eyes on them?
12
The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
permits them no sleep.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 describes people who struggle with discontentment. A

discontented person has feelings of dissatisfaction, restlessness, and
unhappiness.
A Feeling of Dissatisfaction
- A person who loves money never has enough of it and is never satisfied
(Ecclesiastes 5:10).
- A person who is discontent always wants more. The Rolling Stones sang it this
way:
"I can't get no satisfaction cause I try, and I try, and I try, and I try, I can't get no
satisfaction."
- What happens when you get something new? A few months go by, and
you're already looking for the next thing. It could be a car, clothes, latest
gadget, etc.
City fiesta – paligid ug jolen, (When I was 21, I went with my father to Las Vegas
to attend the Academy of Country Music Awards Show. I remember walking in to
a casino, and I was shocked at what all I saw. I played a 5 cent gambling
machine, and on my second try, I got 3 in a row, and I won $80! I was so excited
and the thrill got to me. I ended up wanting more, and after moving up to the
dollar machine, I ended up losing $45.) I don't recommend gambling. The lesson
I learned was that even though I got more, I wanted more. How true is that when
it comes to life?

1 Timothy 6:6-10
6
But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we
can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with
that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and
harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root
of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced
themselves with many griefs.

The second feeling of discontentment is restlessness.

The Feeling of Restlessness
Ecclesiastes 5:11-12 mentions that the more money and possessions you get,
the more you have to maintain and the more people are around. There's an
axiom that says:
"More money, more people. More people, more worries. More worries, less
sleep."
When you are discontent, you stay awake at night because of all the things you
have to maintain and all the people who are relying on you. Because you want
more, you often times get more, and then your life turns restless. When you get
little sleep, it affects everything else. There are things you desire that you don't
yet have that consume you so much that you literally lose sleep over.

What is causing you to feel restless? You might be battling the sin of
discontentment.

The third feeling of discontentment is unhappiness.

The Feeling of Unhappiness
Ecclesiastes 5:13-17 describes people who either hoarded their money or lost
their money due to a bad investment and were unable to leave money behind for
their children. These people who live only for more, come to the end of their lives
as naked and empty-handed as on the day they were born. They come into this
world with nothing and leave this world with nothing.
They live in an unhappy and joyless world. They live in a world that seems to be
without purpose and meaning.

A discontented person lacks passion and purpose in life.

Our sinful nature (the flesh) is telling us to be discontent. So, how do we fight
discontentment?
I propose 4 things.
1. Repent of our Discontentment.
In order to fight the enemy, we must know the enemy well. Discontentment is a
feeling of dissatisfaction, restlessness, and unhappiness. If you are struggling
with any of these feelings, take ownership of them and confess it to the Lord. Ask
Him to forgive you of your discontentment and to help you find contentment in all
circumstances.
2. Thank God for Every Gift.
Ecclessiastes 5 finishes by telling us to find contentment in our jobs and our lives
because every good thing we have is from God. God has given us life,
possessions, and our work, and all good things are gifts from Him (James 1:17).
When was the last time you thanked God for all the food in your pantry? The heat
in your home? The car that got you from Point A to Point B? The job you have
that pays the bills?
A heart of thanksgiving will kill a heart of discontentment.

3. Acceptance.
Accepting an unchanging circumstance is one of the hardest things a person can
do. If you are dealing with a major health issue or singleness or infertility, this is
very difficult for you to accept.
When it comes to unchanging circumstances, we could become more bitter
towards God or others, or we could accept our situation and trust that God knows
what is best for us. You can ask God to use your difficult situation for His glory
and to help others.
Jerry Bridges says:
"In this way (having an attitude of acceptance) you have moved from the attitude
of a victim to an attitude of a steward. You begin to ask, 'God, how can I use my
disability (or whatever circumstance it may be) to serve You and glorify You?'"
(Respectable Sins)
Two times in Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 the writer tells us the man who is content has
accepted his lot. As hard as acceptance is, it is in acceptance where we find
healing and hope.
4. Find Joy in Jesus Christ.
The result of the flesh is discontentment. The result of the Holy Spirit is joy.
Joy is the emotion of great delight caused by something or Someone
exceptionally good. Jesus is exceptionally good. If you believe in Him, you will
find joy. This does not mean you will always be happy and have a smile on your
face. It means that you will have your needs and longings met. You can be
satisfied in Jesus, and only in Jesus. Jesus promises to give us peace, rest, and
strength to make it through each day.
We also find joy in the life to come. Christians have joy in knowing that this life is
not all there is, but there is great joy awaiting them in Heaven to come.

Matthew 13:44

44
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid
it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Discontentment is a temptation for all of us. Let's fight it by repenting, thanking

God for all He has done, accepting our circumstances while knowing God is at
work, and finding joy in Jesus Christ.
Contentment on the other hand, is a Christ - centered living that gives us the
ability to live with joy and peace in any circumstances, all because of the strength
of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 73:25-26
25
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside
thee.

26
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for
ever.

Take everything, but give me Jesus!!!