A. In Jack Hyles book on The Science Of The Christian Life, Vol.2, there is a chapter on “appetites” which I found fascinating and which sets forth some principles which I have somewhat modified for this message on contentment. In our text the writer admonishes us to “be content with such things as ye have” and thereby gives us a formula for “THE SECRET OF CONTENTMENT.”
B. It is not a sin to want things, but being content is when your “haves” equal your “wants.” There are two ways to deal with this. Either 1️⃣you can trim your “haves” to equal your wants, or 2️⃣you can trim your wants to equal your “haves.” ▶For example Paul, though in prison, wrote: “Not that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Phil.4:11 ▶Paul had learned to trim his wants to equal his haves. ▶You too can learn this secret…
I. LEARN THE 3 BASIC CONCEPTS OF WANTING and HAVING:
ILLUS: There are threethings in this world: there are 1️⃣the things I have, 2️⃣the things I do not have that I can have and 3️⃣the things I cannot have.
A. To Want What I Have = Contentment
1. This is the secret to contentment. 2. The tragedy is that most people do not enjoy what they have because they are always looking to have what they do not have. 3. All unhappiness comes from wanting something you don’t have.
ILLUS: I am not just talking about things. 🔸It may be you want attention and when you don’t get it you are unhappy. Learn to be content with the measure of attention you get. 🔸Maybe you want to have your own way. You become unhappy when you don’t get it. Learn to be happy even when you don’t get your way by not always wanting your own way.
B. To Want What I Can Have = Acceptable
1. There are some things it would not be wrong to have. 2. The wrong comes when we begin to crave those things which are alright to have but may not be God’s timing or His will right now. 3. Unhappiness or lack of contentment comes when we must have all we can have. 4. The happiest people are those who are content with what they have. 5. Those who are neither happy nor unhappy are those who want what they can have, but do not yet possess it.
ILLUS: There are some things I do not have that I could have, but I must not crave them or I will be discontent. If I get them, I will enjoy and appreciate them, but I am content without them. Ex: It might be nice to have a new suit, and it would not be wrong for me to have it, but I do not crave it. If I get it I will appreciate it, but I am content without it.
C. To Want What I Cannot Have = Unhappiness
1. Wanting what you cannot or should not have will make you discontented. 2. Getting what you cannot or should not have will make you miserable.
ILLUS: The commandment not to covet is designed to keep us from being miserable. ▶God doesn’t want us to have what belongs to someone else. ▶America has adopted the “keep up with the Joneses” mentality and is constantly discontented. ▶They have coveted things they should not have and when they get them they are miserable. ▶That’s why the divorce rate is so high! ▶God said not to covet your neighbor’s wife. ▶Hollywood, TV and Nashville have turned this into a billion dollar industry and have driven people to lust, fornication and adultery ▶▶and the result is misery!
II. LEARN THE 3 BASIC GOALS OF WANTING and HAVING:
A. Don’t Allow Objects To Create Your Desire:
Ps.37:4 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
1. This does not mean God will give you whatever you want, but that God will Give you a desire for what you should want. 2. If you make Him the center of your focus in life, He will give you the right desires.
ILLUS: 😣We get mad at our kids for wanting things they do not have and not being happy with what they don’t have; 🤔yet we allow them to watch TV programs and commercials designed to make them want the objects they see. 👼We need to teach them early on to delight themselves in the things of the Lord and diminish outside influences which cause them to covet and desire things which they should not have and would not otherwise want or crave. 🎁Too many Christians spend too much time “window shopping” to find out what they don’t have or even need. 👋Then when they see an object they don’t have they chase after it because of a false sense of need the object has created, outside of the will of God.
B. Allow God To Decide Your Desire:
Phil.4:19 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
1. We need to be careful that we content ourselves with His will and then we will have what He decides we need. 2. We have to be careful that we do not place ourselves in a position of wanting something we should not have or something God doesn’t want us to have.
ILLUS: Likes should associate with likes, otherwise you will become discontented with what you have by becoming too familiar with what you cannot have. 🔸Married people should not socialize with single people because there is a certain liberty that comes from being single that a married person cannot have (and vice-versa). Since you should not have something you shouldn’t have it is best to not know about it. This principle is not only wise for sinful things, but for anything you should not have. – Jack Hyles
1.Decide to be around what you already have. 2.Don’t flee from what you can have. 3.Avoid anything you cannot or should not have.
a. It is dangerous to be around what you cannot have. b. It is dangerous to be around people who have what you cannot have. c. It is dangerous to be made aware of what you cannot have.
C. Make Your Wants Equal To Your Haves:
ILLUS: If your mate will not give you what you want, then decrease your wants to what your mate will give you.
1. If I have all I want, I am content with what I have. 2. Wanting what you ought to have is “THE SECRET TO CONTENTMENT.” 3. I am more contented than those who have more, but still want more. 4. You will always be discontent if you do not enjoy what you have because you are always looking for something else you want. 5.“Christians ought to avoid the temptation of wants and live in the richness of haves.” –Hyles
ILLUS: 🔸Someone has said if the grass looks greener elsewhere it is because someone has painted it. 🔸If the grass looks greener you will find when you go over the fence that the green was due to your greed for something you didn’t have which you shouldn’t have. 🔹If you are where God has placed you then nothing else should look more attractive to you; not a house, church, job, salary, etc. Jesus said: “Exact no more than that which is appointed you…and be content with your wages.” Lk.3:13b,14b
6. Instead of setting goals which you may not or should not have, determine to learn “THE SECRET OF CONTENTMENT” and make your wants equal to your haves.
WARNING: Don’t expect others to live this way. Don’t expect others not to want anything, just control your own wants and get joy by providing for the wants of others.
CONCL: This simple formula could change your life. “THE SECRET OF CONTENTMENT” is to be found here. Decide to learn it, as did the Apostle Paul. Of course this only works for the believer. It can have only limited success for the unsaved, for the secret to contentment for them is to trust Christ as Savior.