TITLE: How to Find Contentment

TEXT: 1 Timothy 6:6-8

INTRODUCTION:

          1. Was the writer of Psalm 23 content?

          2. How can I be content with my life?

1. What Contentment is NOT:

          A. Apathy and Indifference

          B. Self-satisfaction

          C. Insensibility to events around you

2. What Contentment IS:

          A. Freedom from discomfort

          B. Not being anxious about outward features of life

          C. Quiet, Restful Peace amid changing events

3. What the Scriptures say about contentment

          A. Luke 3:14 "Be content with your wages"

          B. Phil. 4:11 "I have learned to be content"

          C. Text "Godliness with contentment is great gain"

          D. Heb. 13:5 "Be content with what things as you have"

4. Enemies of Contentment

          A. Covetousness Eph. 5:3; Col. 3:5; Lk. 12:15

          B. Unbelief

                    [1] Will God provide for us? Matt. 6:24-34

                    [2] Will God never forsake us? Heb. 13:5-6

          C. Envy

                    [1] Elder brother Lk. 15:25-32

                    [2] Saul I Sam. 18:8-9

          D. Pessimism

          E. Self-pity - Many think that life has cheated them.

5. How to improve in Contentment

          A. Work at it. "I have LEARNED"

          B. Count your blessings

          C. Give attention to heavenly matters

          D. Keep busy

          E. Learn that happiness is not tied to things.

          F. Appreciate simple things.

                    [1] I Tim. 6:8 food and raiment

                    [2] Psalm 37:16 little of righteous is better

                    [3] Prov. 15:16 Little with fear of the Lord

6. Be content with what you HAVE; not what you ARE!

          A. Heb. 13:5 "Such things as you have"

          B. Don't be content with spiritual growth

                    [1] Phil. 3:13 I have not attained, not perfect

                    [2] Heb. 6:1 Let us go in unto perfection

                    [3] 2 Pet. 3:18 Grow in grace and knowledge