Are You Content

Happy Sunday. Once upon a time, there was a monk who had taken a vow of silence. Every 5 years, he was allowed two words. After his first five years without speaking, he was summoned to the Head Monk's office at the monastery. He spoke these two words: bed hard. The next day, he received a new mattress.

5 years passed, and on his 10th anniversary he was allowed two more words. Back to the Head Monk's office, he said, room cold. The next day, a small heater was installed in his room. After five more years, his two words were food bad. The next day, the cafeteria had a salad bar and fresh fruit.

On his 20th anniversary, he was summoned to the office, and before he could speak, he was told that he was to leave immediately. He was banished from the order, and he asked why. The answer given was, all you have done since you've been here is complain.

In the book of First Kings, chapter 21, we find the story of a man who owned owned a beautiful Vineyard. His name was Naboth. His Vineyard was located right beside the Palace of King Ahab of Samaria. Ahab the king went to Naboth and told him he wanted to buy his land. Naboth refused to sell his land.

Actually, Naboth could not sell the land. It was Inherited property, and he was forbidden to sell it according to Old Testament laws. Ahab had a fit. He went home and pouted, and his wife, Queen Jezebel, asked him what the problem was. He explained to her about the real estate deal that was not to be.

Before we continue with the rest of the story, let me ask you this question: are you content? Think about it for a moment. Are you content, or are you complainer? King Ahab certainly was not content. This story is a perfect illustration of being discontent.

Here's a great truth from this story. It should help all of us: we will not be content when we focus on what we do not have. Ahab was the king of Samaria. He had great wealth, he had a palace, he had more than most everyone on the planet, yet he was not content. He was so focused on what he did not have that he forgot what he did have.

Benjamin Franklin said, contentment makes poor men rich, and discontent makes rich men poor. Do you think that we live in a world filled with content or discontent? And our society, we're bombarded with advertising about many things that we do not have. Research on the exact number of ads the average person sees each day varies, but estimat suggest that we are exposed to anywhere between 4,000 and 10,000 ads a day. We're under attack.

King Ahab's difficulties were not the result of an ad campaign. He had a problem with his heart that still exists today. Listen to these words from James chapter 4: "What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires that war within you? You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You're jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them."

The scripture is dead on about many in our society, and about King Ahab as well. "You want what you don't have, so you scheme and you kill to get it. You're jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them."

Back to First Kings. Jezebel, Ahab's wife, was a wicked woman. She arranged to have Naboth falsely accused and killed so Ahab could have the vineyard that he coveted. Ahab got the land. And remember what I said earlier about a great truth from this story that should help all of us: we will not be content if we focus on what what we do not have.

Do you think Ahab was content now? I doubt it. His heart was not in the right place. To be content, your heart must be right. If God is not our priority, our priorities will be wrong, and if God is not our priority, we'll never be content.

Listen to this from 1 Timothy chapter 6: 6, 7, and 8. There we are told, "True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into this world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content."

In order to be content, we must live Godly lives. You'll never have contentment without godliness. It's not possible. If you have a problem with being content, let me remind you to count your blessings. Focus on what you already have, not what you think you need.

Let me close with these words from Warren W. Weby. He said, real contentment must come from within. You and I cannot change or control the world around us, but we can change and control the world within us.

Pray with me. Lord, help us to look at what we should look at. If we know you, we are rich beyond measure. Thank you this day if we have a roof over our head and something to eat and clothes to wear. Forgive us if we've ever tried to keep up with the Joneses, or even care what they have. Let us be so in tune with you that we're always content, no matter what. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

God bless. Thanks for joining me today.