*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT (6)*
*Scripture Treasure.*
1 Cor 4:7 *For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?*
*Insight and Highlight.*
Be content with what you have received from God. You should not live as if you have not received what is enough to make your content.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
Yesterday, we looked at a killer of contentment: entitlement.
We looked at how entitled we are to food and raiment, yet we have people who lack these.
Contentment tells us that, though we are entitled to the best of clothes and raiment, we should be satisfied with them in moderation.
While contentment says, “I have more than I deserve," our sense of entitlement tells us that 'we deserve more than we have or that we could have more'.
We must be careful to check with God before we say, "I deserve more than I have.”
Given the above illustrations, we will look at the second illustration from yesterday of entitlement, a killer of contentment as relating to life.
Life is a right. God created us, and He gave us life to live.
It has, however, become a privilege to live.
Not everyone lives long. Not everyone enjoys life.
Godliness with contentment will make life bearable and enjoyable but when we see life as a thing that we deserve more than we have it, we could just as those who want to be rich at all cost *".......fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.*, 1 Tim 6:9.
In addition to pursuing ungodly wealth, people do ungodly things to live longer.
Not that we should accept unfairness and injustice, but people have died fighting to stay alive.
People have died trying to fight for their right and entitlement to life.
They have died fighting for rights that belong to them but are denied thereof.
People have abused other people's lives to good living and basic human needs they have rights to.
There are people who are not content with God's gift of life.
They see themselves as entitled to more life, so they do fettish things to elongate their lives.
Just as the Christian will pray for longer lives, those in the world do abominable things to increase their life span, life expectancy, in age, reign, power, and military exploits, 2 Kings 3:26–27.
Only God has an inelianable right to all things without exceptions. It is impossible to take life away or give God life or anything.
We may promise ourselves inalienable rights that can not be taken away from us or deprived us or can not be violated, but they can be.
A king in 2 Kings 3:26–27 had a right to his son's life.
The same nation's constitution that prescribes inalienable rights take them away from the people through
human rights violations.
This makes entitlement to life alienable.
To live life as if we are entitled to it rather than be contented with what God gives us is to be out of knowledge that all things are under God and He will only give them to whosoever He wishes.
If we fail to realize this, we will only be striving with our maker instead of walking with Him.
Though we are entitled to life and all in it, life will not give us what we deserve.
The Christian is admonished by Paul that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him, but there are some things we can not have if God is not willing to give it.
Entitlement in life will tell us we can have them even in rebellion against God.
Contentment makes us realize that God allows some poor and some rich in order that His word to give and show love may have an expressed meaning.
He may allow some to be in good health while some are in bad health so that His word on healing might have an expressed meaning.
To Him, all things work together to achieve His redemptive purpose.
It pleased God to bruise Jesus, Isa 53:10.
It is all to accomplish His goodwill.
At the end of it all, whether you are rich or poor, materially will not determine eternal destiny. Only your belief in Jesus will determine your eternal destination.
He does not want to make anyone poor or rich. We made this happen because of our sins. People make other people poor, Judg 6:6.
People steal, cheat to enrich themselves, and make others poor, Prov 22:16.
Let us be encouraged.
Though we must all settle with contentment, entitlement will eventually have its place in our lives at the end of age for those who have Christ.
The rights to everything we need without struggle. We will have what we deserve. We will not have to be content with what comes our way but what we deserve, Rev 21, 22.
For now, let us have godliness with contentment!
*Remorse corner.*
Entitlement can destroy contentment.
Do not do above what God wants you to be contented with.
1 Cor 4:6 *"......that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.*
*Call to Word action.*
Entitlement puffs up.
Romans 12:3 *For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Godliness with contentment is great gain.
*Prayer.*
Lord, help me to be content with what God wants for me rather than deserve more than l have, in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.
Kommentare