Thoughts from the Sermon, “The Contented Life”

Thoughts from the Sermon, “The Contented Life”

by Vermon Pierre, Lead Pastor

1. Contentment is being satisfied with God and his stuff rather than being satisfied in yourself and your stuff.

2. People tend to be discontent whether things are going well for them (they still want more) or things are going bad for them (they are painfully aware that they don't have more). Philippians 4:11-13 however points us to a contentment that exists no matter the situation. It is a satisfaction and sufficiency that is independent of surrounding circumstances.

3. This type of contentment can exist because it is based in the Lord (Philippians 4:13). It is an ongoing satisfaction and happiness that flows out of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:19-20).

4. How does this contentment look like in the life of the believer? 17th century Puritan preacher Jeremiah Burroughs describes it well for us in his book, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment:

A gracious heart is contented by the melting of his will and desires into God’s will and desires; by this means he gets contentment…It is by this that a gracious heart gets contentment; he melts his will into God’s, for he says, ‘If God has glory, I have glory; God’s glory is my glory, and therefore God’s will is mine; if God has riches, then I have riches; if God is magnified, then I am magnified; if God is satisfied, then I am satisfied…This is the art of a Christian’s contentment.

What this suggests to us is that we will find contentment the more we are satisfied and happy in the things that bring God satisfaction and happiness. And what brings God the most satisfaction and the most happiness? It is his saving work through his Son Jesus! Thus, the more we are involved in proclaiming, displaying, and living out the gospel, the more content we will be.

5. Contentment like this will naturally lead to generosity. In 1 Timothy 6:17-21, we are encouraged to not hope in riches which are uncertain and unstable but to hope in God, the one who can richly provide us with all that we need for our joy and contentment. From such a place we will be eager "to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share" (1 Timothy 6:18).

6. How then will you live your life? You can travel down the wide lane of life, the one that encourages you to hoard and accumulate and spend on yourself for your contentment. This lane will slowly kill and eventually destroy your soul? Or, you can travel down the narrow lane of life, the one where you can't hoard for yourself and instead are encouraged to give of yourself for the benefit of others. This lane eventually leads into an eternal city where you will live in the presence of God, enjoying him and being contented with him forever. The decisions we make now will determine which lane we travel and where we eventually will end up.