How a Christian Maintains the Balance between Desires
and Contentment
Joshua 14:6-12
2 Nov, 2014
Pastor
Craig Ledbetter
Bible
Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I.
Introduction (Heb 10:36)
A.
There is a remarkable balance
in the Christian life that every Christian needs
B.
One that lies between Desire
(what you want), and Contentment (what you already have)
C.
They seem so opposite, and
yet, in Christ, they are perfectly matched
D.
Here is how we normally view
the Christian’s life: Boring, un-ambitious, poor, restrained, limited, no fun –
all in the name of “being content”
E.
Yet, here is how we view the
life of the world: exciting, challenging, striving for success, prosperity,
reaching for the stars – all in the name of “being happy”
F.
Hmmmm. Neither is right by
themselves!
G.
There is another way - a
better way – Caleb is our example!
II.
Message
A.
Contentment is Our First Need (Josh 14:6-12)
1.
Contentment is a deep, sense
of rest, and satisfaction with yourself and your accomplishments right now
2.
Desire is a deep unrest due to
a need
3.
Believe me, BOTH are normal
feelings of the human heart.
4.
Neither is ever obtained
outside of a growing relationship with Jesus Christ
5.
So, the world rushes headlong
into…
a.
Marrying the wrong person –
thinking it will bring satisfaction
b.
Changing jobs – to seek
satisfaction in doing something different
c.
Buying more stuff – a woman’s
delight many times – just leads to immense debt
6.
Contentment HAS to be the
first priority
a.
Isaac had to wait 40 years for
his wife – and notice how that he was not stressed out but quite restful in his
father’s care of his situation
b.
Joseph had to put up with over
13 years in slavery and then prison before his dream (his desire) came true – it
was a passionate dream too
c.
Caleb was content with the
promise of God for a piece of property - Caleb was promised a rather large
mountain
1)
But he had to endure 45 years
of battles, and waiting and doing without
2)
He was content to wait, but at
the same time, PASSIONATE about obtaining that promise of God
7.
A Christian’s Contentment is
the priority throughout the entire Bible!
a.
Content with wages FIRST (Luke
3:14)
b.
Content with who you are, what
you have and what you don’t have (Philp 4:11)
c.
Content with whatever
possessions you currently have (1Tim 6:3-10; Prov 30:8,9; Heb 13:5)
1)
That includes Your Clothes and
Food (1Tim 6:8)
2)
When was the last time you
were just simply thankful for the clothes you have and the food you have? Start
there, and then you will have the right foundation for expanding your wardrobe
without getting immodest and carnal!
d.
In Your Marital State (1Cor
7:27)
1)
Married? Praise God
2)
Unmarried? Praise God
3)
God will accept our praise
more than our complaining spirit
e.
In Your Salvation – aren’t you
glad you are saved?
1)
You cannot be MORE saved than
you are now!
2)
None of this “seeking for a
second and third blessing”
3)
Praise God for GREAT
forgiveness – the mercy and grace of God
f.
In whatever state you are in –
be content, and find lasting joy and peace that passes all understanding (Philp
4:11-13)
B.
Contentment is More Important Than Success
(Ps 37:16; 1Tim 6:6)
1.
All the success in the world
will never satisfy – Solomon proved this, and the whole book of Ecclesiastes is
a record of all that he accomplished, and how empty he still felt – “all is
vanity”
2.
To the Christian, the goal is
NOT success, prosperity, or even your happiness
a.
The goal in life is finding
all you need in your walk with Jesus Christ (Col 2:6)
b.
Learning about resting in
Christ, is the first step – most important step to sanity
c.
It’s amazing to bit by bit
discover that all we need has already been supplied by Jesus Christ – not in our
religious acts, or going to religious places – but in the Person of Jesus
Christ!
1)
In Christ is Real Life (John
1:3,4)
2)
In Christ is Eternal Life –
abundant eternal life (1 John 5:11)
3)
Righteousness (2Cor 5:21)
4)
In Christ is every spiritual
blessing (Eph 1:3)
5)
In Christ is every spiritual
need met (1Cor 1:29,30)
6)
Even the whole Trinity of God
is IN HIM (Col 2:9)
7)
Our own completeness (Col
2:10)
8)
All the fullness of everything
there is, is IN HIM (Col 1:16-19)
9)
Not IN anything else!
3.
That’s why the fundamentals of
Christianity start with developing your personal walk with Jesus Christ
a.
Daily Bible reading –
consistent, systematic reading and learning it
b.
Daily, persistent praying
about everything, every need, every worry, every hurt and sorrow, every thrill –
not on and off praying
c.
Assembling together with other
believers in church and Bible Studies
d.
Doing the little things that
are God’s will (Mt 6:33)
4.
All of these things
are designed by the Lord to
help ANYBODY find their rest in Christ – you are NOT going to find it anywhere
else! And there is no other way (friends, drink, drug, hypnosis, philosophy,
theory – only following the life of Jesus Christ)!
5.
But Contentment is only one
half of the way to live!