How to Be Content

Bible Study: How to be content

Foundational Scripture: Philippians 4:11

Scriptures: Philippians 4:11, Matthew 17:20, Philippians 3:17 – 18, Philippians 3:19, Philippians 4:11, Philippians 4:6-7, Colossians 3:15, 2 Corinthians 10, Romans 8:28, Philippians 4:11, Philippians 4:8, 1 Peter 5:6-7, Colossians 3:1

Bible Study Notes:

Philippians 4:11 – I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. The secrets to the cure of worry. Meditate on scripture to overcome worry. Worrying doesn’t solve anything in our lives.

We have overcome the world. We can’t define contentment apart from the behavior it produces. Some live in denial. Denial will always reject correction. Get out of denial.

You can’t correct a problem if you’re in denial. When you condone other bad behavior you’re in denial as well. We arrive at the place of contentment by making a decision, become established in the decision and meditate on it. Confessing God’s word gives us the power to change our focus.

Faith coupled with confession empowers believers. Matthew 17:20 – He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” We enter into this area of having faith with this scripture in mind. Making a faith confession and I won’t be moved by circumstances and situations in my life. I’m going to meditate on the word of God day and night.

I’m not going to speak about my circumstances. I’m going to talk about the answer. If I keep talking about the problem, I’m giving life to the problem, not to the word of God.

Never allow your circumstances to create the vision for you. Don’t allow your problems to prophesize to you.

When I do that I move out of the place of contentment. It requires a disciplined effort. The thoughts, emotions and actions of the flesh will have you investing in everything else, but the word of God.

There are 5 things that will pull you from your place of contentment:

1.     Problems – If I’m focusing on the problem, I’m not focusing on the answer.

2.     Persecution – comes to discourage you and try to get you to give up.

3.     Passions – threatens the focus of your faith. If we allow them to become dominant in our lives it threatens our focus and purpose. It threatens how we function and how we respond to things.

4.     Pleasures that lead to sinful distractions – there are pleasures that aren’t sinful but our participation in it leads to sinful distractions.  

5.     Situations, circumstances and associates – those who are not living godly lives aren’t good for us because those relationships lead to sinful distractions. Philippians 3:17 – 18 – Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. ¹⁸ For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. They only want to satisfy their flesh. Their minds aren’t on living godly lives. Philippians 3:19 – Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. We should mark them and live godly lives before them to that I can continue to let my light shine.

Don’t participate in it, no matter what it is. It’s not that you don’t have a relationship with them, we must set an example.

If you’re not careful, you can be in the spirit of contentment and relapse back into the old lifestyle. You must discipline yourself. When relapses occur, we forget about the price that was paid for us. Christ died for us. He suffered and died for us.

Relapse occurs when we forget the misery and pain that occurred before we were saved. The old life has no joy, peace or contentment. You don’t want to relive that. If I forget about that completely, relapse will occur.

When we think we can live independent of God’s word, we deceive ourselves.

Philippians 4:11 – I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Contentment is a learned procedure. It’s not automatic. We learn to be content through the daily problems and situations in life. It must be taught.

When we are content – we won’t be covetous. It doesn’t matter what everyone else has. We don’t covet that.

When I’m content – I won’t be tested to be competitive with my brothers and sisters. If you get something new I’m not envious or jealous.

Before salvation we received information about what’s right and wrong. You must ask yourself the question of who did you receive the understanding of who you are? What was their motive in telling you who you were?

Some who tell you who you are, don’t know who they are because they follow the worlds standards. That says in order to be important you need stuff (cars, houses) It’s false though, because you can have all of the stuff in the world, and not be content.

To whoever you surrender the right to define who you are, controls your destiny. They will define who you are and what you can do.

You must know who you are. Knowing who you are gives you the keys to the kingdom.

God made us and it’s up to God to define how we function in life. We have a purpose – for every purpose there’s an assignment. In order to get to contentment we must take the definition of our worth and value out of the hands of people.

People may think they know you but they don’t really know you. God has a plan for us.

Cure for worry:

1.     Philippians 4:6-7 – Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Verse 6 is a command. Just like though shalt not…In order to get to that place of being careful for nothing, I must be content. In everything I must pray. From the smallest issue to the serious, I must pray. I can’t worry because it solves nothing. If you worry you are borrowing troubles that can’t be paid back.

Worrying is sinful – worry produces fear which is counter-productive  to the word of God. Every time you worry – verbalize the scripture. Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Peace of God – in verse 6 we see the command – verse 7 we see the promise.

2.     Colossians 3:15 – And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the peace of God rule in your heart. This verse tells us that the peace of God ruling in our heart is a choice. It is up to me. If I’m worrying – I’m not letting the peace of God rule.

I’m focusing on the problem if I’m worrying. Renounce all worry by thanksgiving. Let your requests be known.

Set your mind to be content. As a man thinketh, so is he.

When the thoughts come, use your spiritual weapon. 2 Corinthians 10 – (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) - you have a weapon.

We must stand on the word. Since this is a spiritual battle going on. It’s a war between flesh and spirit. Circumstances and situations want you to worry and focus only on it.

Our weapons aren’t carnal. Worry, if you allow it to be a focus it will build a stronghold in your life. Tormenting over something that will likely be a blessing if it comes. There are times when blessings come disguised as a problem.

It may look, feel and smell like a problem, but Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

So even when you’re experiencing tough times, it’s working for my good. Words are spirit and life. Speak peace and life into circumstances. When you’re lead by the spirit you can’t allow circumstances to lead. You must believe in God’s word. Philippians 4:11 – Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. That’s what I learned through experiences and trials. Cast down imaginations.

Don’t allow your mind to wander. Take control of your thought life. Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Notice that nothing negative is there. Only think on the good things. Cast down those thoughts.

Don’t worry about tomorrow. Those who aren’t saved, worry about tomorrow.

There are birds and animals that wake every morning and they’re not worried. Why should I be in fear?

If it snows to the door, not one sparrow will starve. That’s the God we serve.

Do you ever see a dead bird? You are a royal priesthood. A holy nation. Why are you worried.

1 Peter 5:6-7 – Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: ⁷ Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Don’t hold back anything. Cast all cares upon God. When I submit it to God – no matter what happens. He cares.

When the thought comes to mind, remind it that you gave it to Jesus.

It takes faith. We walk by faith and not by sight. Put on the whole armor of God.

Colossians 3:1 – If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Seek those things above. Set your affections on things above. Don’t worry about the stuff on earth. There is no lack in our lives. There is no inefficiency in the God we serve.