The Mystery of Contentment Part 1

Last time, I gave you some of my gleanings from Jeremiah Burrough’s work on Contentment.  In this post, I want to share with you some gleanings from Burrough’s “The Mystery of Contentment.”  There are 9 points that I gleaned from this work that are really challenging and encouraging.  I want to share a portion of them with you today and give you the remainder of them in the coming days, so stay tuned.

The Mystery of Contentment

1.  You never learned the mystery of contentment unless it may be said of you that, just as you are the most contented man, so you are also the most unsatisfied man in the world. A man who has learned the art of contentment is the most contented with any low condition that he has in the world, and yet he cannot be satisfied with the enjoyment of all the world. The only thing that will satisfy His soul is God. 

Phil 4:7-9  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

2.  A Christian makes his way to contentment, not so much by adding to what he has, not by adding more to his condition, but rather by subtracting from his desires, to make his desires and his circumstances even and equal.  A carnal heart knows no way to be contented but this: I have such and such possessions, and if I had this added to them, then I should be contented.  But true contentment comes by subtracting from your desires, not adding to your possessions.

3.  The way of contentment to a carnal heart is only the removing of the affliction.  He must have his situation and circumstances changed in order to be “happy” or “satisfied” or “content.”  But for the believer, there is a power of grace to turn his affliction into good.  This outlook takes away the sting of the trial, affliction, circumstance, or lack.  For the believer knows that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.  Christianity will teach you how to turn your poverty to spiritual riches. 

4.  A carnal heart thinks, I must have what I want or I will never be content.  But a gracious heart asks, What is my duty in these circumstances God has put me into?  What does the Bible say I should be doing during this lack?  My duty is not to pout until my circumstances change, but be obedient to God in the circumstances He has put me in.  Others spend their thoughts on things that disturb and disquiet them, and so they grow more and more discontented.  Let me spend my thoughts in thinking what my duty is.

5.  It is not by having his own desires satisfied that the Christian is content, but by melting his will and desires into God’s will.

Stay tuned for part 2.  It only gets better!

Content or Not Content, that is the Question.

                Recently I picked up an old booklet on contentment by a Puritan named Jeremiah Burroughs.  It is providential that I have it in my possession since 98% of my books are in storage, we are between homes, and since I am prone to discontentment.  I have gleaned much from the pages of his work and thought that you might benefit from those gleanings as well.  Here are some thoughts on contentment.             

                The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11 , “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” (ESV).  The word translated content, in its most literal sense, can only be attributed to God, for God alone is all sufficient.  He rests fully satisfied in and with Himself alone.  He is perfectly content.  So, Paul is saying I have a self-sufficiency that enables me to be content in whatever situation I find myself in.  In 2 Corinthians 3:5 he wrote that we are not sufficient (or content) in ourselves, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” (ESV).  Paul denied any sufficiency of his own, but declared that his sufficiency was from God. Therefore, true Christian contentment is a sufficiency or satisfaction in our own hearts, through the grace of Christ that is in us. 

             In other words, the Christian’s contentment is not rooted in self, but in Christ.  According to Hebrews 13:5, “Be content with what you have, for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you” (ESV).  We can (and should) be content that Christ has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  But often we are not content.

            Discontentment can be evidenced by an anxious spirit.  Contentment is not just the ability to control our words or expressions so that others think we are content.  Many may sit silently, refraining from discontented expressions, yet inwardly they are bursting with a discontented spirit.  That is not contentment.  How often it is that I know the right words to say, Scriptures to quote, and expressions to make, yet within I am in turmoil. 

                We could also be discontent if we are distracted from what we know God wants us to do.  For example, if I find myself so consumed with (fill in the blank) that I am distracted from my personal devotions, family devotions, the ministry of the church, and the Great Commission (those things that I know God expects of me) then I am giving evidence that I am discontent.  Contentment is not characterized by an unsettled and unstable spirit that distracts the heart from the present duty that God requires in our relationships—towards God, others, and ourselves. 

                Finally, discontentment is evidenced by sinking discouragements.  Often (not always) our deep discouragements and depression can be traced to the root of discontentment.  We are unhappy with the place God has us in and find ourselves discontent.  That discontentment takes root and grows until it begins to bear the fruits of deep discouragement, internal darkness, and even depression.  So what does it mean to be content?

                Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.  Contentment is a matter of the heart.  It is an inward contentment.  The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 62:1, “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation” (ESV).  Again in Psalm 62:5, “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him” (ESV).  Not only does the Psalmist hold his tongue, but his soul is silent as well.  His contentment is a matter of the heart.  Contentment is an inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit.  The contentment of a man or woman who is rightly content does not come so much from outward arguments or help, as from the disposition of their own hearts. 

                Contentment is freely submitting to and taking pleasure in God’s disposal.  It is the understanding that the Lord knows how to order things better than we do.  I only see things at present, but the Lord sees a great while from now.  That is how Paul could write in 2 Corinthians 6:10, “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything” (ESV).  True contentment is content in sorrow, poverty, and lack because it knows God is in control.  We are usually apt to think that any condition is better than that condition in which God has placed us.  No one has it as difficult as we do.  This is not contentment.  We are not potters.  We are the clay. Therefore, we must not attempt to be our own carvers.  Whatever particular afflictions God may place us in, we must be content in them knowing that they are not coincidental, but exactly where God wants us at this time.  Would it not be great if it could be said of us that though our circumstances are changed, yet we are the same.  This is how we are to submit to the disposal of God in every condition.

                Contentment is not merely one act—just a flash in a good mood.  You find many men and women who, if they are in a good mood, will be very quiet.  Contentment is not a mood, it is a character trait that can only be given by God’s grace through the power of His Spirit working through the written Word of God.  Are you content?  Really content?  If not, get into the Word of God dependent upon the Spirit of God to pour out the grace of God upon you.  Find your joy, satisfaction, and sufficiency in Christ.  Rest in His Sovereignty, wisdom, omniscience, power, and providence and get ready to fight the same battle tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that.  “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” 1 Tim 6:6-8 ESV.

February Update

Dear Friends of Mission Surge,

I want to take a moment to update you on a few things, since it has been a couple of months since I last updated you.  First of all, if you did not read get my last update, it would be highly beneficial for you to go to kevinivy.com and read it because where we are today is directly related to where we were in the last update.  In case you didn’t get the last update and will not be able to go to kevinivy.com and read the last post, I am going to give you the “cliff notes.”

I ended the last update with these words:  I already know of one thing that I can’t share now that I will be sharing in the next newsletter that will really get your attention, so stay tuned!!  Most of you likely know by now, but just in case you don’t, Mandy and I are expecting baby 5 in May…another boy.  We are grateful for a healthy pregnancy thus far and covet your prayers for our family as another blessing makes his way into our lives.  Here are more highlights from the last update.

1.  More than 2 years ago, we began to feel impressed that we should continue remodeling our home (which was a foreclosure when we bought it in 2007) and put it on the market so that we could get out of debt and hopefully have some equity to purchase another smaller home.  God provided materials and manpower over and over again (often in amazing ways) until finally all the projects were complete and we were able to put our home up for sale (by owner) in May. 

               

2.  I felt compelled by God to resign as pastor of Cleary on July 8, and I did so.  We received an offer on our home 3 hours later. 

3.  We signed the contract on our home the following Thursday not knowing where we would move.  We received a phone call informing us of a home that was available to our family temporarily.  We began “house sitting” temporarily in this home back in August.  It was another answer to prayer that came right on time. 

4.  I traveled and preached virtually non-stop in October and helped to start a new church in Clinton, MS in November.      

5.  I continued to work to get the church established in Clinton.  Morrison Heights Baptist Church came along side us and allowed us to utilize their old campus for our place of worship.  Another blessing.

6.  Our house sitting opportunity came to a close at the end of January and we had to move out.  We still had not found a place to buy and had no available options.  We moved all of our things into storage and are currently staying with family in Jones County and driving to Clinton each weekend.  Please pray that God would lead us to the home he has for us before Mandy has baby Silas in May. 

The good news is, we are thoroughly convinced that God has led us every step of the way to this place.  We do not pretend to know why He seems to be tarrying when it comes to a house, but we know that He is in control.  Maybe He is waiting on me, more than I am waiting on Him…maybe He is trying to get something through my thick skull…maybe He is trying to teach me contentment and gratitude…maybe it is all of the above and more.  Whatever the case may be, none of our life or lives are coincidental.  God is the grand conductor of this orchestra called life and His music is sweet in the end, even if the individual parts sound unimpressive.  He has promised that all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, so we wait.  And we appeal to you to pray for us.

We wait, but as we wait, we work.  3 weeks ago, I began our first discipleship group based on 2 Peter 1:5-10 (that I wrote about last time).  We have 15 or 16 people in Jones County who have agreed to meet each Monday night as kind of a pilot group for the first tier of this study.  We are discussing the biblical gospel.  Please pray for this group and for me as I attempt to prepare and teach. 

I will be preaching a Harvest Day on Easter Sunday in Atmore, AL.  The following weekend, I will be in McDavid, FL leading a family conference.  Then Monday, April 29, I will be preaching at a Missions Conference at Macedonia Baptist Church in Petal, MS.  The other Sundays I will be preaching at the church plant in Clinton, on Mondays continuing the Bible study in Jones County, and hopefully leading another one on Wednesdays in the Jackson area and possibly another at some point soon in the Clarke county area.  Pray that God would give me opportunities to preach and to teach as He sees fit. 

Please pray for Bro. Gene Pickern.  He is on his way to the Dominican Republic today for a 2 week visit.  He is going to be meeting with pastors, leaders, and church planters.  We continue to take a step forward and a step back in our efforts to put a Dominican Missionary on the ground in Latin America.  Pray that Gene will make some headway in this endeavor while he is in the DR.  He will also be meeting with one of our contacts who is attempting to reach a group of 1000+ Lebanese Muslims who are living in the DR.  Pray for this pastor and for this work that God would lead, guide, direct and bless.  I will update you on Bro. Gene’s trip next month.  Until then, please pray for him as he travels, works, and returns in March. 

Finally, if you have not already done so, go to www.missionsurge.com and look on the home page for a link to an article in Missions Mosaic about Bro. Gene’s wife, Julie.  Take time to read that article and learn more about the journey God has had them on the last few years.

In Conclusion, through all of the transitions in our life over the last 7 months, I have been prone to discontentment.  It is really nothing new, but it has been more evident to me lately.  The other day, I picked up an old booklet on contentment by a Puritan named Jeremiah Burroughs.  It is providential that I have it in my possession since 98% of my books are in storage.  I have gleaned much from the pages of his work and thought that you might benefit from those gleanings as well, so I will be posting to this blog brief excerpts and gleaning from Jeremiah Burrough’s work on contentment as well as from Thomas Watson’s “The Art of  Divine Contentment.”  If you are interested in reading these highlights come back often over the next few weeks OR follow my blog if you don’t already do so.

Thank you for faithfully praying for me and for Mission Surge.  Please lift us up in prayer regularly.  Also, please share this email with your contacts who will pray.  If you did not receive this email directly from me, please email me your email address so that I can add you to the newsletter list.  If you want to be removed, let me know that as well.  You can contact me at kevin@missionsurge.com  If you have not liked us on Facebook, please do that and share it with your friends on FB.  Go here:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mission-Surge/145423062144598?fref=ts 

In Christ,

Kevin