Contentment Lesson 4

Overview

Contentment: Resting in the Person and Work of Christ

Contentment is not a mood we manufacture; it is a gift God cultivates as we rest in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the heart of contentment is peace, and at the heart of peace is forgiveness. Peace with God required the shedding of blood—not the blood of bulls and goats, which could never finally take away sin, but the blood of the Lamb of God. As Romans 6:23 reminds us, "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus." Because we are justified by faith, "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" Romans 5:1-2, and through the cross God was pleased to reconcile all things to himself, "making peace by the blood of his cross" Colossians 1:15-20. Peace is also listed among the fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23—it is God's work in us, not our own achievement.

A Portrait from a Prison Cell

Paul's words in Philippians 4:4-7 paint contentment from the most unlikely setting—a prison. Notice the double command: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." When circumstances dictate our joy, we live like a yo-yo. But joy anchored "in the Lord" is walled off from circumstance. Paul then calls us to gentleness—a word richer than it first appears, carrying the sense of sweet reasonableness, generosity, charity toward the faults of others, leniency, and unselfishness. The power source for such gentleness is not willpower but the indwelling Christ: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" Galatians 2:19-20. There are three "yous": the you that you were, the you that you are, and the you God is making you. We are all under construction—and so is the brother or sister beside us.

Praying with Thanksgiving, Not Worrying

Paul replaces anxiety with prayer offered "with thanksgiving." When we pray this way, the focus is not on the answer we want but on the sovereignty of the God who answers. To say, "I will keep you in my worries" would be no comfort at all; yet how often worry is what we actually carry. Thanksgiving in prayer frees us because we trust that however God answers, it will be for his glory and our good. This is the joy that defies circumstance pictured in Habakkuk 3:17-18: though the fig tree fails, the fields yield no food, and the stalls are empty, "yet I will rejoice in the Lord." It echoes Psalm 23:1—"I shall not want"—and Romans 8:28—"all things work together for good to those who love God." Happiness is tied to happenstance; biblical joy is not.

Walking Attentively, Yoked to Jesus

Micah 6:8 calls us to "walk humbly"—or attentively—with God, listening closely to his Word. And Jesus extends the most tender invitation in Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you... for I am gentle and lowly in heart." Mosaic law forbade yoking a young animal with an older one, because the younger could not carry the load. Jesus, the stronger, takes the weight; our role is simply to walk beside him. Wherever God exhorts, he also empowers. So we live in today's contentment as God transforms us through Word and Sacrament—not who we were, not yet who we will be, but resting in Christ who is sovereign over all.

Transcript

And a good morning. 0s

Let's pray, please. 3s

Gracious God, we give you thanks for today, 5s

the word that you place upon our lips and in our heart 8s

that word of proclamation. 11s

We ask Father that as we study today 14s

and we see in Scripture a picture of contentment. 16s

We thank you for the fact that contentment is your gift. 21s

It is brought about by your action. 25s

So bless we pray. 29s

This time of study, and indeed, may your promises 30s

be that source of joy for us in Jesus' name, Amen. 35s

Well, we talked about last time causes and patterns 41s

of discontentment and just to review where we were. 45s

We talked about causes of discontentment can be coveting, 49s

doubting the character of God, 54s

especially we examine doubting the sovereignty of God 56s

and the goodness of God. 59s

We talked about how discontentment can come 62s

when we forget where our true home is. 65s

And this, of course, is not our true home. 67s

Our true home is in heaven. 70s

And we talked about how comparing our purpose 73s

with someone else's purpose can give rise to discontent 76s

instead of embracing the God-given purpose 81s

that he is given to each one of us and bringing him glory. 85s

We examined a pattern of discontentment 91s

that how discontentment is manifest, 94s

a pattern of seeing, coveting, taking, and hiding. 97s

And we talked about our confession and repentance 100s

receiving absolution and living in the strength of God. 103s

Well, today's we bring our contentment series to a close. 108s

I'd like to look with you at examples of contentment 111s

and the cultivation of contentment, 115s

examples of contentment and the cultivation of contentment. 118s

Let's start, please, in Galatians the fifth chapter. 123s

New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, 127s

Acts and Romans, first and second Corinthians, 129s

and then Galatians, Galatians chapter five. 134s

And we'll pick up in verse 22. 139s

Galatians five, verse 22. 142s

And here we have what are called the fruit of the Spirit. 149s

And we read by contrast, the fruit of the Spirit 154s

is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, 157s

generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 163s

There is no law against such things. 168s

Notice one of the fruit of the Spirit is joy. 173s

Excuse me, is peace. 179s

Peace is at the heart of contentment. 181s

Peace is at the heart of contentment. 186s

And at the heart of peace is forgiveness. 190s

So peace is at the heart of contentment. 195s

And at the heart of peace, we see scripturely, is forgiveness. 198s

Peace between God and humankind required a blood sacrifice. 204s

Let's go to Romans, the sixth chapter, please. 210s

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts and then Romans. 212s

Romans chapter six, verse 23. 216s

There we read for the wages of sin is death. 233s

But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ. 238s

Jesus. 245s

We saw under the old covenant in the Old Testament, 246s

the sacrifice of animals pointing ahead, as scripture says, 250s

to the ultimate sacrifice, the greatest event, 254s

which is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 257s

But associated with forgiveness is the sacrifice 261s

involving of blood. 266s

Scripture tells us that all of those sacrifices of old, 270s

they couldn't take away the sin. 273s

Notice only the Lamb of God, Jesus, who dies in our place, 276s

who sheds his blood, that takes away our sin. 279s

We have peace with God through the cross. 283s

When you're in Romans, let's just stay there 288s

and let's go to Romans five, verses one to two. 289s

Romans five, verses one to two. 299s

Therefore, since we are justified, 306s

may just as if we never sinned by faith, 309s

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 313s

through whom we have obtained access to this grace 318s

in which we stand and we boast in our hope 322s

of sharing the glory of God. 325s

Let's go to Colossians, the first chapter. 330s

Colossians chapter one, verse 15, 334s

first and second Corinthians, 338s

Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and then Colossians. 339s

Colossians chapter one, verse 15. 345s

We read there, he is the image of the invisible God, 357s

the firstborn of all creation. 361s

For in him, all things in heaven and on earth 363s

were created, things visible and invisible. 367s

Whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers, 370s

all things have been created through him 374s

and for him. 377s

He himself is before all things. 378s

And in him, all things hold together. 381s

He's the head of the body, the church. 385s

He's the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, 388s

so that he might come to have first place in everything. 392s

For in him, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell 396s

and through him, God was pleased to reconcile to himself 401s

all things, whether on earth or in heaven, 406s

by making blood, by making peace through the blood 410s

of his cross. 414s

Remember the definition that I offered 418s

on the very first time together, 420s

that contentment is resting in the person 423s

and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. 427s

At the heart of contentment is peace 432s

and at the heart of peace is forgiveness. 435s

So we are right at the gospel as we rest 440s

in the person and work of Jesus. 443s

Let's look at an example of contentment 446s

and let's go to Philippians chapter four, please. 450s

All right in front of Colossians, 454s

Philippians chapter four will pick up in verse four. 456s

And there, Paul writing under the inspiration 469s

of the Holy Spirit writes this, 472s

rejoice in the Lord always. 475s

Again, I will say rejoice. 479s

Let your gentleness be known to everyone. 482s

The Lord is near. 485s

Do not worry about anything, but in everything, 487s

by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, 490s

let your requests be made known to God. 494s

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 496s

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ. 501s

Jesus, when you consider all that Paul went through, 505s

when you consider the fact that as he's writing this, 509s

he's in a prison cell. 511s

This is a picture of contentment. 512s

Let's break this down. 515s

Notice the double emphasis to rejoice. 517s

Rejoice in the Lord always. 521s

Again, I will say rejoice. 522s

When is it the most challenging for you to rejoice? 526s

I'm sorry. 532s

When you're down and what are you down over, 535s

but circumstances, right? 538s

That's the most difficult time to rejoice. 540s

But let's circumstances define one's joy 545s

and we will be like a yo-yo. 549s

We will be up and down. 552s

We will just be all over the place. 553s

If the circumstances are good, then we're happy. 556s

And if the circumstances are bad, then we're not happy. 559s

We're at the winds of the blow of the wind 562s

of circumstances. 565s

Instead, the call, the double emphasis, 568s

is to rejoice in the Lord, 571s

and always, again, I will say rejoice, verse 5. 573s

Let your gentleness be known to everyone, 579s

the Lord is near. 584s

Let's look at that word gentleness. 586s

It means more than one English word. 589s

So let me give you some of the breadth of this word. 593s

You can translate this sweet reasonableness, 597s

sweet reasonableness. 602s

It can be translated generosity over generosity, 604s

charity toward the faults of others, 609s

leniency, graciousness of humility, 614s

umselfishness, not being demanding. 620s

That's a lot, isn't it? 625s

We say gentleness, but what's underneath that word? 627s

Sweet reasonableness, generosity over generosity, 631s

charity toward the faults of others, leniency, 635s

graciousness of humility. 638s

Well, that's quite a list, isn't it? 642s

Where's the power source for the gentleness? 645s

Let's go back to the text again. 649s

Rejoice, here it comes. 651s

In the Lord, always, there's the power source. 654s

Again, I will say rejoice. 657s

Let your gentleness be known to everyone. 659s

Here comes the power source. 662s

The Lord is near. 664s

The Lord is near. 668s

You see, there are three use. 672s

There's the you that you used to be, 675s

the you that you are, 678s

and the you that God is making you. 680s

It's three use, right? 683s

Take a look at Galatians, the second chapter. 686s

Keep going to your left. 693s

You're going to cross over Ephesians 694s

and you bump into Galatians. 695s

Galatians chapter two, picking up in verse 19. 697s

We'll start halfway through. 704s

I have been crucified with Christ. 712s

It is no longer I who live, 716s

but it is Christ who lives in me. 719s

And the life I now live in the flesh, 723s

I live by faith in the Son of God 725s

who loved me and gave himself up for me. 729s

The power source then of gentleness 734s

is the one who dwells and lives inside of you. 737s

And so when you were brought to faith 743s

in the Lord Jesus Christ, 745s

that old you died. 747s

Die. 751s

You are dead. 753s

And now you haven't raised a new life, 757s

not only eternally, but also for the moment. 759s

As Christ dwells in you, 761s

you have the you of today, 763s

that you is being shaped by the word. 765s

It is being shaped by that tool that God uses to mold us. 769s

So we are not who we were, right? 775s

And we are not who we are going to be. 777s

We are who we are now, 780s

but we are all under construction, right? 782s

And so that's helpful, isn't it? 786s

When we look at each other, 788s

when we deal with each other, 790s

to remind ourselves that just as we are under construction, 792s

so also is that other person. 798s

They're under construction too. 801s

And not who they were, not who they'll be, 803s

but they're under construction at the moment. 808s

And do we ever arrive this side of heaven? 811s

No. 814s

There's never a point where we say, 815s

Lord, I thank You, you have brought me to perfection 817s

this side of heaven, how glorious. 820s

No, that day never comes, right? 822s

We are always under construction. 825s

So gentleness then, we see the call to rejoice, 828s

the power source is God, and God is in work. 832s

God dwells in us. 836s

God uses his word, and God is changing us. 838s

Let's go back now to Philippians chapter four. 842s

Galatians, Ephesians, then Philippians. 848s

We go back to this picture of contentment 853s

that's manifest by rejoicing, 855s

manifest by gentleness, then verse six, 858s

do not worry about anything, 863s

but in everything by prayer and supplication, 865s

with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 870s

It's a beautiful phrase, is it not, 877s

when you hear, I will keep you in my prayers. 879s

That's a beautiful phrase to hear. 882s

Let me offer you this phrase. 886s

What would you think if someone came up to you 889s

and said, I just want you to know, 892s

I will keep you in my worries. 895s

I'll keep you in my worries. 898s

I want you to know that I am committed 901s

to worrying about this. 903s

I'm committed to worrying about this. 906s

Now, is that a good word? 909s

Is it a good word? 911s

No, no. 912s

We had it so often what we do, right? 914s

So often we will worry about the other person, 916s

we'll worry about the situation, 919s

instead of the gracious word, 922s

and meaning that word, I will keep you in my prayers. 924s

Let's go further into verse six again. 929s

Not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, 931s

with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 934s

So when we pray with thanksgiving, 940s

the focus is not on the answer. 944s

Focus is not on the answer. 948s

The focus is on the sovereignty of God. 950s

So when we turn to Him and we say, 953s

Lord, I lay this petition before you, 955s

I pray it in Jesus' name, 958s

your will be done. 961s

When we are praying with thankfulness, 962s

we say, and thank you, Lord, that your will will be done. 964s

So we're not focusing on what it is that we want. 968s

What it is that we want is we want the will to be done, 973s

and we know He's sovereign. 975s

And so when there's freedom that happens in prayer, 977s

it comes with thanksgiving when we turn and we say, 981s

the focus of my prayer is not the answer. 986s

The focus of my prayer is thankfulness that God is sovereign 990s

over whatever answer He desires. 994s

And there's freedom. 999s

There is contentment. 1001s

You see, if the thanksgiving is focused and is linked 1003s

to our getting the answer that we think we desire or need 1007s

or has to be or whatever, there will be discontent, right? 1011s

Until how we've worked it out becomes manifest then 1016s

in the situation or our life or in the life of the other person. 1019s

Instead of saying, Lord, I lay this petition before you. 1023s

You know all about me. 1027s

You know when I rise, when I sit down, 1028s

you know my laughter, you know my tears. 1030s

You know all about that. 1032s

So I lay this situation out and I come to you with thanksgiving 1033s

for your sovereign will and in that I rest. 1038s

There's contentment. 1041s

There's contentment. 1042s

Because it's not linked to however God in His will 1043s

decides to answer that prayer. 1049s

It's linked to the God who indeed has us and is sovereign overall. 1052s

So it's thankfulness at the heart of it, verse 7. 1061s

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 1066s

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 1070s

So we say that we thank you Lord that however you choose to answer this, 1077s

it will be to your glory and my ultimate growth. 1082s

And so there then is the peace. 1087s

This picture of contentment, isn't it, from somebody who's in prison? 1090s

For all that He has gone through, rejoice how in the Lord. 1093s

Gently list how the Lord is near. 1098s

Peace, how because we can pray with thankfulness. 1101s

Remember the principle, whenever you see it in Scripture, 1104s

whenever God exhorts you to do something, He always empowers it. 1106s

He always does. 1111s

So always look for the exotation. 1112s

And so you see here in Philippians 4 to 7, 1115s

you see all of the exhortations and then all around it 1119s

is God's action and God's empowerment of the very thing that He is exhorting. 1122s

God doesn't say, okay, I have redeemed you, you are mine. 1128s

And now that you are mine, now that you are heaven bound, 1134s

here's the list of stuff. 1137s

Now get about doing it. 1140s

Right? 1142s

No, that's just the heaping of the law. 1143s

But God in His grace who redeemed us, now His grace is involved in our sanctification 1145s

as He makes us more and more like Christ. 1151s

How He takes the you we are today to make us more and more to be like Christ tomorrow. 1154s

And the more we grow in Christ, the more we will realize that we are not like Christ. 1164s

Right? 1173s

In His perfection and His holiness. 1174s

We realize how much we have to grow. 1176s

But as we also reflect, we can see how God grows us, 1179s

where we look back and we say, I remember that year. 1185s

Remember how I was, you know, and by God's grace I can see change in my life. 1192s

Are we where we are going to be? 1200s

Nope. 1201s

Are we who we were? 1202s

Nope. 1204s

So we live in the contentment of today as God changes us and how He brings about what He exhorts 1204s

and that is a picture of contentment. 1213s

Let's take a look at Habakkuk. 1217s

Habakkuk. 1220s

A good way to find Habakkuk is perhaps to turn to the pages that haven't been turned much. 1222s

That might be one way. 1228s

Because there are some of those books there that we don't often turn to. 1230s

But it's so rich. 1235s

A good way to find a back at. 1236s

Go to the last book in the Old Testament, which is Malachi. 1237s

Now start working your way left. 1243s

You're going to cross over Zechariah, Hagai, Zefeniah, and then you bump into Habakkuk. 1244s

Habakkuk chapter 3, verse 17. 1254s

Habakkuk chapter 3, verse 17. 1260s

Though the fig tree does not blossom and no fruit is on the vines, 1274s

though the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food. 1282s

Though the flock is cut off from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls. 1290s

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. 1300s

I will exalt in the God of my salvation. 1303s

That is someone whose circumstances are or whose joy rather is walled off from circumstances. 1311s

Though the fig tree is not blossoming, no fruit on the vines, the produce of the olive fails, 1323s

the fields yield no food. 1330s

The flock is cut off from the fold. 1332s

There is no herd in the stall. 1335s

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. 1338s

I will exalt in the God of my salvation. 1339s

Psalm 23. 1346s

I shall not want. 1349s

There is joy walled off from circumstances. 1351s

Romans 8, chapter 5, all things work together for good to those who love the Lord who are called according to His purpose. 1357s

All things work together. 1366s

There is a picture of contentment. 1368s

What do we want to do in our sinfulness? 1373s

We want to say the fig tree is really blossoming. 1376s

There is a lot of fruit on the vines. 1383s

The field is yielding all of this food. 1385s

The flocks just running and there is herd in the stalls. 1390s

Therefore I am content. 1395s

Therefore I am at peace. 1401s

Therefore I have joy. 1404s

Therefore I am happy. 1408s

Have you ever been asked a question? 1411s

What are you happy about today? 1414s

If you are smiling or laughing about something, 1416s

what are you happy about today? 1418s

What is the logical assumption that there is something that has caused the happiness? 1421s

What an incredible response it would be. 1429s

Somebody says, what are you happy about today? 1432s

Well, it has really been kind of a lousy day. 1437s

It has been kind of a lousy day. 1441s

Start out lousy and have a flat tire. 1443s

And then it has the tire change and the car broke down. 1445s

It has that in. 1448s

It will be $2000. 1449s

Then it has to work. 1451s

They are not happy here with this project. 1454s

They shoved it back on my... 1457s

You just catalog it. 1459s

No, I asked you where you are happy today. 1462s

Instead of no art joy, our contentment, our peace, 1465s

it is world-off for our circumstances. 1472s

Where we say, we have Jesus. 1477s

And that is enough. 1482s

We have Jesus. 1484s

And that is enough. 1486s

There is contentment, right? 1489s

It is what is contentment. 1491s

It is resting in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ 1492s

and trusting in His sovereignty. 1499s

So if at the heart of contentment is peace 1506s

and at the heart of peace is forgiveness, 1509s

that is right at the gospel. 1511s

I have Jesus and Jesus is on His throne. 1514s

And that is enough. 1517s

That is what I am joyful about. 1522s

Because happiness, the word, of course, as we studied, 1526s

is happenstance, right? 1530s

Just the happenings that come. 1532s

That is what the world bases happiness on. 1534s

It is the happenstance. 1537s

Whether it is a good day or a bad day or that type of thing. 1538s

And the scripture calls us, what is Paul call us to, twice, 1541s

but rejoice, rejoice. 1544s

The sermon on the mount, we are going to get to that next week 1549s

because we transition to a new topic in class. 1553s

When Jesus says, blessed, 1557s

a literal translation of that is, more than happy art. 1560s

It is more than happy art. 1566s

It is beyond happiness. 1568s

It is rolled off from circumstance. 1570s

Let us go to Micah chapter 6. 1577s

We are in a hebacic now. 1579s

So keep turning to your left. 1581s

Keep turning to your left. 1583s

You are going to cross over, naim, 1584s

and you bump into Micah. 1586s

Micah chapter 6. 1589s

Verse 8. 1597s

Micah chapter 6. 1600s

Verse 8. 1603s

He has told you, immortal, what is good? 1608s

What does the Lord require of you? 1611s

But to do justice and to love kindness, 1614s

and to walk humbly with your God. 1616s

The Hebrew there, you can translate humbly attentively, 1621s

to walk attentively with God. 1626s

As we then immerse ourselves in the Word, 1630s

as we listen to the Word, we are attentive to what God has to say to us. 1633s

Let us go to Matthew chapter 11, 1640s

verse 28. 1644s

Matthew 11, verse 28. 1648s

Jesus says, come to me, all you that are weary 1663s

and are carrying heavy burdens, 1666s

and I will give you rest. 1669s

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 1671s

for I am gentle, 1675s

and think of all the meaning of gentle there, right? 1678s

For I am gentle and humble in heart, 1681s

you'll find rest for your souls. 1684s

My yoke is easy. 1688s

My burden is light. 1690s

The image of all is the yoke. 1692s

The yoke is a mosaic law forbid an older animal to be yoke 1697s

with a younger animal. 1701s

It was absolutely forbidden in mosaic law. 1704s

The younger animal would have to wear what was called a training yoke. 1709s

And the reason why it was forbidden is because the younger animal 1713s

couldn't carry its weight. 1717s

So when Jesus says, take my yoke upon you, 1721s

he's saying, I know I'm the carry's alone here. 1727s

I know I'm the carry's alone. 1730s

What your role is, since you're in the yoke, 1732s

just to be next to me. 1738s

Just to be next to me. 1739s

See, there's contentment. 1741s

As Jesus says, here's the empowerment for your contentment. 1743s

Here's the yoke. 1749s

I place it upon you. 1751s

And I carry now the yoke. 1753s

I carry below. 1758s

Well, we have talked about resting in the person and work of Jesus 1762s

and resting in his sovereignty, the definition of contentment. 1766s

We've talked about what contentment is not over these weeks. 1770s

We've talked about the characteristics of God as being the source of our contentment. 1774s

We've talked about causes and patterns of discontentment. 1779s

And today we've talked about examples in the cultivation of contentment. 1783s

As God cultivates that in our life through word and sacrament. 1789s

Let's pray together. 1796s

Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for these weeks. 1798s

And we thank you for the gift of contentment. 1800s

Lord, we thank you. 1804s

We're not who we were. 1806s

We're not who we will be. 1807s

You are constantly at work through word and sacrament, 1809s

transforming us to be more and more like your Son. 1812s

We praise you for your goodness. 1817s

We praise you, Lord, for the finished work of the cross and the empty tomb. 1820s

We praise you, Lord. 1826s

We can rest in that. 1829s

We praise you, that you are sovereign overall. 1831s

And with joy, walled off from circumstance. 1837s

We can live and move and have our being confident that indeed we walk with you in Jesus name. 1841s

Amen. 1853s

Next Sunday, I want to start a four week series called On the Cermin on the Mount. 1854s

And I've entitled it Blessings and Disguise. 1859s

We're going to take a look at what Jesus says on the Cermin on the on the Mount. 1863s

And we're going to say, that's blessing. 1868s

Indeed it is. 1872s

In fact, more than happy are they. 1874s

And we're going to take a look at how blessings can take many shapes. 1877s

And how blessings often come, just as the Lord Jesus reveals in the Cermin on the Mount. 1880s

How they often come in disguise. 1887s

We'll start that next Sunday. 1890s

And we'll start that next Sunday. 1910s