Practice Contentment

Following with the themes that I started in this blog (Wander Wednesday and Throwback Thursday) I will start with my regular Sunday postings which will be called Sunday Service. Our church usually provides Discussion Questions after every church service where we will discuss it with our family or our D-Group members. With the Covid-19 situation and the temporary closures of churches, it paved way for churches to shift to digital media for the time being, our church being one to maximize the online platform in order to share the gospel and hold Sunday Services. Thus I will use this platform to answer the Discussion Questions which are asked at the end of the message.

Following with the series Joy in The Crisis, today’s topic is Practice Contentment. Contentment is from the word autarkes, a word used by the Stoics for the virtue of self-sufficiency — auto means self, arkeo means sufficient. Contentment is the state if being at peace, rested and satisfied whatever circumstances you are in because you know God is sovereign and He cares for you and has your best interest. But know that contentment is not being complacent or being lazy. Don’t get confused between these two different acts.

The Three C’s of Contentment:

Centered on Christ

Count your Blessings

Confidence in God’s Promise.

The core message and reminder today is JESUS CHRIST IS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Nothing in this world will satisfy you except from having a relationship to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. No amount of material things can ever take the place of God. NO HUMAN RELATIONSHIP will ever satisfy you because only GOD can fill the emptiness in your heart. JESUS CHRIST IS THE INFINITE SOURCE OF JOY.

Contentment is only possible when you have Jesus Christ.

Contentment is only found in Him, in Jesus Christ.

Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” -Psalm 73:25-26

Discussion Questions:
1. What is the key to contentment?
2. Are you content? (For example, do you compare? Are you always thankful?) Share at least 5 blessings you can thank the Lord.
3. What promises of God are you claiming for you and your family. How has God fulfilled these promises?

1.  What is the key to contentment?

The key to contentment is putting our focus on Christ alone. Having an everlasting and eternal relationship with Jesus Christ is the key to contentment.

2a. Are you content?

I would say, yes, I am content right where I am now. I may be lacking in a lot of things, materially or even human relationship, but knowing that I have Jesus Christ, it keeps my focus on Him alone. Though sometimes I would grumble and can’t help but compare to other people, but I also have Christ-centered people within my circles that reminds me to just focus on Christ. I am always thankful because looking back where I was at my lowest point and remembering how Jesus saved me keeps my focus back to Him.  Looking back, I would never imagine that I would be at this place right now and that’s all because of Jesus Christ. All the glory to Him alone.

2b. Share at least 5 blessings you can thank the Lord

i. My life.

ii. My family and having great relationship with them. And our family having prayer time every Saturday.

iii. Opportunities and projects where I can help my family financially.

iv. Good health, not only for me, but my family and all the important people around me.

v. My significant other who supports me and always uplifts me.

3. What promises of God are you claiming for you and your family. How has God fulfilled these promises?

For the Covid-19 to be over. I would hear news about God’s miracles and healing during the Covid-19 situation. This is a great reminder that God is always in control no matter what circumstances we are in. But we also cannot just not mention that lives are lost because of this pandemic, but know that God is still in control and he has the best interest in the lives of the families with members who are affected with this sickness.