Wisdom for Living: “Contentment,” #9 | Mac Hammond
 
 
Recap
 
Pastor Mac introduced us to another word with regard to his series on “Wisdom for Living.” It’s the word “contentment.” It may seem kind of milquetoast at first, but if you think about it, contentment has the greatest impact on your life. Ask yourself this question: Are you content in your life? Or are you discontent with how your life is being played out? In this ninth installment of his wisdom series, Pastor Mac teaches about contentment and how to attain it in your life no matter what life brings.
 
Dive Deeper
 
The greatest impact on the quality of your life is contentment. Conversely, discontentment is the foundation of the things you don’t want.
 
We’re called to be one heart, one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel. If you’re an island standing alone, you’re nothing. You’re to be part of a larger body. 
 
Discontent in a relationship will grow into anger or animosity or resentment; even hatred and division will occur. 
 
Discontentment is the foundation of any failure that you experience, both in the body of Christ and as a Christian. 
 
Discontentment says, “I can’t be happy unless this situation changes or that situation changes.” 
 
If you’re discontent with your job or with your level of income, the Lord says that’s not okay. The Lord wants you to do what you do as unto the Lord. You give it your best shot. That’s the only way God can promote or graduate you in that arena of life’s endeavor.
 
Discontent can touch just about every part of our lives because we are carnal beings. We have a carnal nature, and we live in a body of flesh that makes a lot of demands. 
 
The reason discontentment is so dangerous is because it alters your motive; even when you’re doing the right thing, your motive in doing it is wrong. Your motive is self-gratification.
 
Discontentment sets you up to go in the exact opposite direction that you want to go in. 
 
What does the apostle Paul say about this matter? He said, “I have learned to be content in whatsoever state I’m in.” He experienced many adverse “states.” He was stoned, beaten, whipped, shipwrecked! In all of that, he said he learned to be content!
 
What is the definition of content? The Greek word means “inward sufficiency.” The definition in Strong’s Concordance says, “separated or independent of natural circumstance.” Another definition given by W.E. Vines is “without covetousness.” When you covet something, you’re saying you can’t be happy unless you have that. 
 
Read About It
 
2 Corinthians 4:18, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 
 
Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
 
Philippians 3:13, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…” 
 
Discussion Questions
 
What about you? Overall, are you content or discontent in your life? 
 
Are you overall content with your life but just feel discontent in an area of your life? 
 
What area or areas do you feel discontent and how can you turn your attention in that area back to the Lord and find contentment in Him?

Recent Sermon Notes

Bread for the Soul | Jim Hammond

Pastor Jim wished all the mothers in the congregation and online a very happy Mother’s Day. It was a day dedicated to the celebration of motherhood, acknowledging the great devotion mothers have toward their families. He pointed out there was one specific thing at which mothers are very good—how to feed their children the Bread of Life like no one else can.

The Accuser of Brethren | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac taught a message entitled, “The Accuser of Brethren.” “This message is important,” he said, “because it encapsulates our challenge in this life and summarizes things in a significant way.” His subject? How to avoid deception! The basic truth of this message is this: If the enemy can’t deceive you, he can’t defeat you!

GRACE UNVEILED, #33, “The Holy Spirit Leads You Out of the Dominion of Sin” | Jim Hammond

Pastor Jim preached a message subtitled, “The Holy Spirit Leads You Out of the Dominion of Sin.” This is his 33rd message in his teaching series on the book of Romans called “Unveiled Grace.” The message was based on Romans 8:13, “For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.” (Amp.) This verse tells us that through the Holy Spirit, we have the power to put to death the evil deeds of the body.

Portal of Power | Mac Hammond

Pastor Mac taught a message on the celebration of Easter. He said, “The kingdom of God is based upon the Word of God. In fact, the kingdom of God is a manifestation of the Word of God and His purposes on the earth.” The celebration of Easter is a centerpiece of all that He’s done to enable humanity to rise to the level only possible in Him—and to escape the realm of death!

GRACE UNVEILED: “From Condemnation to Fulfillment” #31

Pastor Jim taught the 31st message in his series on Romans: “Unveiling Grace.” The Bible is clear, under the New Covenant, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Yet many believers are walking around under the weight of condemnation. Pastor Jim explains these believers are trying to absolve themselves of their sins through their own self-effort, which is another way of saying “through their flesh.” What they’re trying to do is live under Old Covenant laws. There’s a word for Christians like that—miserable!