Feb. 11, 2024

Being Content in a Complex World

Ecclesiastes 6:9 (NLT) Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT) ²¹ For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

JOHN 21:18-23 (NLT) ¹⁸ “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” ²⁰ Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” ²¹ Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” ²² Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” ²³ So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

HOW TO BE CONTENT IN A COMPLEX WORLD:

1. Respond differently to disappointment. 

James 3:15-16 (NLT) ¹⁵ For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶ For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

2. Quit comparing.

Proverbs 14:30 (NIV) A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

3. View things from a “heavenly” perspective not a “human” perspective.

1 Timothy 6:6-7 (NLT) ⁶ Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. ⁷ After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.