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?
Share
Share
Share

Recent Sermon Notes

THY KINGDOM COME, #2, “Seek First the Kingdom of God” | Mac Hammond

Jul 23, 2024

Pastor Mac delivered the second installment of his series entitled, “Thy Kingdom Come.” The book of Hebrews says that in the end times, God is going to shake the world systems. Some things will be removed by the shaking. Things that cannot be shaken will survive. And what survives the shaking will be transformed. Regarding the world’s systems, Pastor Mac says, “If our dependence is more grounded in these worldly systems than our dependence on God, we too will be shaken.” We are in the midst of the world being shaken. It’s important we understand why the shaking is happening and what we are to do in the midst of it.

THY KINGDOM COME: There Is a Shaking Going On | Mac Hammond

Jul 14, 2024

Pastor Mac began his new series, “Thy Kingdom Come,” by addressing the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Calling the event one of the saddest days in our nation’s history, Pastor Mac went on to say the event, interestingly enough, fit into the subject of his message subtitled, “There’s a Shaking Going On.” He said, “A lot of us were truly shaken by what happened. But we must keep the perspective of the Bible in mind; He is not shaking things by having someone take a shot at President Trump that killed someone else.” He cautioned, “We’re going to see more and more of these things in the immediate future because we are living at the end of an age.” He continued to address the coming shaking of the world.

GRACE UNVEILED, #14, “Revelation Grace” | Jim Hammond

Jul 7, 2024

Pastor Jim shared the 14th installment of his series on the book of Romans, entitled “Grace Unveiled.” Revelation 5:3 was the text for the message: “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” It goes against our flesh nature, but this verse is telling us to jump for joy when you experience tribulation.

Spiritual Warfare and the Imagination | Jim Hammond and James Tan

Jun 30, 2024

Guest Minister James Tan joined together with Pastor Jim to tag team preach the message, “Spiritual Warfare and the Imagination.” Their message was based on 2nd Corinthians 10:3–5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” Pastor Jim and Guest Minister James took us step by step on how to cast down and take captive any thoughts that do not exalt the knowledge of God.

GRACE UNVEILED, #13, See Jesus in His Grace | Jim Hammond

Jun 23, 2024

, Pastor Jim gave his 13th installment of his series “Grace Unveiled.” Still in Romans chapter 4, Pastor Jim says if you don’t understand the message of this chapter, you will not be able to understand the rest of Romans. Chapter four makes the case that you are made righteous by His grace, not by your good works or by your good deeds. It is through faith in His grace. One must understand that His righteousness is a gift. It can’t be earned. Pastor Jim went through the chapter and carefully laid out the understanding of each verse.