Contentment in all circumstances is possible through faith in Christ (Philippians 4:11). To be content is to enjoy a state of peaceful happiness and satisfaction. We are given the capacity for contentment through being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul learned in all situations to be content, and therefore we too can and should embrace this learning as well. Being content begins with knowledge of God's perfect character and confidence in His goodness towards us as His children. We are to lay aside all fleshly ambition and any worldly sense of entitlement, and refuse to compare ourselves with others. Recognising all we have is a gracious gift from God and thanking Him for all things is also key.
There are many instructive examples from the scriptures which provide insights into the pitfalls which keep us from contentment, and here are a few concerning the Israelites and their water supply - and for our purpose can represent the necessities of life. The first which came to mind is from a text in Isaiah I preached from on Sunday at Calvary Chapel Sydney. Isaiah 8:5-7 reads, "The LORD also spoke to me again, saying: 6 "Inasmuch as these people refused the waters of Shiloah that flow softly, and rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah's son; 7 now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them the waters of the River, strong and mighty-- the king of Assyria and all his glory; he will go up over all his channels and go over all his banks." God had promised to protect His people, yet they wanted something more tangible. Seeking aid, King Ahaz made a treaty with the Assyrians, a nation mighty and strong. God used the water source of Jerusalem as symbolism by Isaiah. God provided His people the gentle waters of Shiloah which filled a reservoir, sufficient for all their needs. Nevertheless, they refused the gentle waters and sought to increase their might by harnessing the Euphrates. They refused the God's provision and sought to enrich and protect themselves without faith in God, and this lead to devastating destruction - like when villages were inundated with floodwaters from the Euphrates when it overflowed their banks.
Another water illustration is seen in Jeremiah 2:12-13: "Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate," says the LORD. 13 "For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns--broken cisterns that can hold no water." God was the source of life for His people. He protected, provided for, and sustained His people, even as a natural spring supplies clean water for a village in a desert. Though God did everything for His people, they wickedly forsook God and dug for themselves cisterns in the rock. This was a significant downgrade. Instead of drinking from the pure water supply God provided, they chipped away wells in the rock which had cracks. All the muddy water which flowed into them would slowly drain dry and the people would be left empty. Their spiritual dry season, having forsaken God, moved them to seek to slake their thirst through efforts of the flesh.
Exodus 15:22-24 tells of a highly significant event. After God delivered the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt with a mighty hand the passage reads, "So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" For three days the children of Israel were unable to find water. When they did find water, they were devastated to find it bitter and undrinkable. There was water enough, but none could drink it! They despaired of their circumstances and complained against Moses. Isn't it true when we find ourselves in bitter, difficult situations we naturally complain? But God had a plan all along, to test His people and make sure promises to them. He wanted the people to learn to trust His ability to redeem even seemingly hopeless situations into life-sustaining good.
Exodus 15:25-27 says, "So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them, 26 and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters." God took bitter, undrinkable water and supernaturally made it sweet so His people, their wives and little ones, flocks and herds could drink and be satisfied. Even as He healed the waters, He desired to heal His people. Their pain, griefs, and sorrows He would wash away as their pure source of life. Marah led to Elim, and there the people found shade, comfort, and rest for their weary feet and souls.
We find contentment when we choose the gentle streams of Shiloah God graciously provides. Seeking larger income streams or help apart from faith in God leads to grave trouble. Contentment is not found in efforts of the flesh, digging out cisterns from the rock when God has already provided living streams of water. Even the most bitter disappointments of life can be made sweet and refreshing when we cry out to God and obey Him, choosing to trust and heed God's commands. When Jesus was confronted by a man who demanded His help to secure part of an inheritance, Jesus refused. Luke 12:15 reads, "And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." If we covet or compare our lives with others it is impossible for us to be content. But those who trust God will supply all our needs and even make bitter circumstances sweet in the end, the same discover lasting contentment through Him.
There are many instructive examples from the scriptures which provide insights into the pitfalls which keep us from contentment, and here are a few concerning the Israelites and their water supply - and for our purpose can represent the necessities of life. The first which came to mind is from a text in Isaiah I preached from on Sunday at Calvary Chapel Sydney. Isaiah 8:5-7 reads, "The LORD also spoke to me again, saying: 6 "Inasmuch as these people refused the waters of Shiloah that flow softly, and rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah's son; 7 now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them the waters of the River, strong and mighty-- the king of Assyria and all his glory; he will go up over all his channels and go over all his banks." God had promised to protect His people, yet they wanted something more tangible. Seeking aid, King Ahaz made a treaty with the Assyrians, a nation mighty and strong. God used the water source of Jerusalem as symbolism by Isaiah. God provided His people the gentle waters of Shiloah which filled a reservoir, sufficient for all their needs. Nevertheless, they refused the gentle waters and sought to increase their might by harnessing the Euphrates. They refused the God's provision and sought to enrich and protect themselves without faith in God, and this lead to devastating destruction - like when villages were inundated with floodwaters from the Euphrates when it overflowed their banks.
Another water illustration is seen in Jeremiah 2:12-13: "Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate," says the LORD. 13 "For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns--broken cisterns that can hold no water." God was the source of life for His people. He protected, provided for, and sustained His people, even as a natural spring supplies clean water for a village in a desert. Though God did everything for His people, they wickedly forsook God and dug for themselves cisterns in the rock. This was a significant downgrade. Instead of drinking from the pure water supply God provided, they chipped away wells in the rock which had cracks. All the muddy water which flowed into them would slowly drain dry and the people would be left empty. Their spiritual dry season, having forsaken God, moved them to seek to slake their thirst through efforts of the flesh.
Exodus 15:22-24 tells of a highly significant event. After God delivered the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt with a mighty hand the passage reads, "So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" For three days the children of Israel were unable to find water. When they did find water, they were devastated to find it bitter and undrinkable. There was water enough, but none could drink it! They despaired of their circumstances and complained against Moses. Isn't it true when we find ourselves in bitter, difficult situations we naturally complain? But God had a plan all along, to test His people and make sure promises to them. He wanted the people to learn to trust His ability to redeem even seemingly hopeless situations into life-sustaining good.
Exodus 15:25-27 says, "So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them, 26 and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters." God took bitter, undrinkable water and supernaturally made it sweet so His people, their wives and little ones, flocks and herds could drink and be satisfied. Even as He healed the waters, He desired to heal His people. Their pain, griefs, and sorrows He would wash away as their pure source of life. Marah led to Elim, and there the people found shade, comfort, and rest for their weary feet and souls.
We find contentment when we choose the gentle streams of Shiloah God graciously provides. Seeking larger income streams or help apart from faith in God leads to grave trouble. Contentment is not found in efforts of the flesh, digging out cisterns from the rock when God has already provided living streams of water. Even the most bitter disappointments of life can be made sweet and refreshing when we cry out to God and obey Him, choosing to trust and heed God's commands. When Jesus was confronted by a man who demanded His help to secure part of an inheritance, Jesus refused. Luke 12:15 reads, "And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." If we covet or compare our lives with others it is impossible for us to be content. But those who trust God will supply all our needs and even make bitter circumstances sweet in the end, the same discover lasting contentment through Him.
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