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The following is part of a chapter
taken from the book entitled
Chapter 2
CONTENTMENT
A person who shows contentment in his life has a habit of being satisfied with what is given to him or with what is taken from him; he is also at peace through the tests and trials of life. A contented person does not want what he can't have or shouldn't have, nor does he complain about circumstances in his life.
Contentment in your life will come only through a trust in and dependence upon the Lord to provide all that you need in life. Some of these needs will be the unpleasant experiences of discipline and trials planned by the Lord. Sometimes you will need to do without something that you want to have. Pray that the Lord will help you to be content with all that He knows that you need in your daily life.
It is wrong to have the attitude of, “I am content with my spiritual growth and with my service for the Lord.” This is not contentment, but rather self-satisfaction felt as a result of pride. Constantly strive to grow spiritually (2 Peter 3:18) and to do more for the Lord each day. Luke 17:10
Student Exercise 2.1
In what areas of your life does God expect you to be contented? Look up each verse and write the reference in front of the proper explanation for the verse.
Phil. 4:11 1 Tim. 6:6 Phil. 4:13
Ec. 6:9 Rom. 8:28 Phil. 4:6
Heb. 13:5
1.__________________ I should be content and worry about nothing. I should ask the Lord for anything that I need.
2.__________________ I should be content with what God has provided for me; my parents, house, friends, food, etc. I should not allow myself to want that which I see others have.
3.__________________ My words should not show that I want what others have. I should be content with what I already have, because the Lord carefully watches over me to take care of me.
4.__________________ I should be content in whatever condition that I am in and through whatever circumstances that I must live through.
5.__________________ To the world the greatest gain is money and things. My greatest gain is to seek and to work to become more Godly, and to be content with the things and circumstances of my life.
6.__________________ The things that I have, the circumstances that I live with, the school that I attend, and the problems that I face are all part of God's plan as He shapes my life to be used by Him as His servant.
7.__________________ My contentment depends upon the promise of God to provide for all of my needs- physical, emotional, and spiritual.
Student Exercise 2.2
The sin of discontentment begins in your thoughts, and it is often shown by what you say to others. Read each quote below and decide whether the person is showing contentment or discontentment. Label each as “contented” or “discontented.” Be ready to explain your answers.
1.___________________ "Whatever happens today will somehow work together for good in my life."
2.___________________ "I'm so upset because our trip has been canceled because of rain!"
3.___________________ "I don't like the dress standards of our school."
4.___________________ "This job is boring; I think that I'll finish it later."
5.___________________ "Why can't we take a longer vacation?"
6.___________________ "I'm thankful for the few things that the Lord has allowed me to have."
7.___________________ "Do I have to do it now?"
8.___________________ "I know that the more hardships I have while I'm young, the more prepared I will be for the future."
9.___________________ "It was all their fault that we lost the game - they didn't play fairly."
10.___________________ "I deserved and am glad for the correction and discipline that I got for my disobedience."
11.___________________ "I don't want to do that because I want to please Jesus Christ."
12.___________________ "I'll be glad if the Lord can use me even though I'll never be able to walk again."
13.___________________ "I wish that I didn't have a sister (or brother)."
14.___________________ "It just isn't the right time yet for the Lord to provide that for us."
15.___________________ "When I grow up I'm going to have all of the things that we are not able to have now."
16.___________________ "I just don't want to move to Africa. All of my friends are here and all of the places that I like to go to are here."
17.___________________ "When I go to their house I plan to eat whatever they give me - without complaining."
18.___________________ "I just don't understand why it's wrong to do that."
19.___________________ "I know that I really don't need to have that now."
20.___________________ "It's not much of a house, but it's all that we have."
21.___________________ "Why do I have to go with you?"
22.___________________ "I wish that we could have a car as nice as the one our neighbors have."
23.___________________ "I know that the Lord has a good reason for allowing me to break my arm."
24.___________________ "Why can't I do that?"
25.___________________ "I wish that we could get a different kind of cereal."
26.___________________ "For some good reason the Lord has allowed my bike to be stolen."
27.___________________ "I wish that accident hadn't happened."
28.___________________ "I'm glad that the Lord has given us just what we need."
29.___________________ "But all of my friends are allowed to do it!"
30.___________________ "Do I have to eat this stuff?"
31.___________________ "I'm thankful that I couldn't get it, because I see that it wasn't God's will."
32.___________________ "I'm glad for the extra work; it will help me in some way."
33.___________________ "My parents never let me do what I want to do."
34.___________________ "Isn't there any dessert tonight?"
35.___________________ "Why can't we buy that?"
36.___________________ "I like this old car because it is the exact car that the Lord wants us to have now."
37.___________________ "I'll try to understand what the Lord wants me to learn from this problem that I'm having with my friend."
38.___________________ "I'm tired of having eggs every morning."
39.___________________ "I think that the teacher gave us too much homework."
40.___________________ "Is this all that we are having for supper?"
Personal Evaluation 2.3
Contentment will show in your life through your attitudes, speech, and behavior. Do you show contentment in your life? Check only those statements that are true for your life.
1.____ I am content when I am told that I cannot have something that I want.
2.____ I am content with the teachers that the Lord has placed over me.
3.____ “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to
dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Ps. 84:11
4.____ I am content with the kinds of foods that I am given each day; I do not complain or show dissatisfaction.
5.____ I am content with the house that I live in.
6.____ I am content with the brothers and sisters that I have (or don't have).
7.____ I am content with the rules that I have to follow in my family.
8.____ I am content with the parents that I have (biological parents,
adoptive parents, a single parent, kind or unkind parents, a step-parent,
grandparents, foster parents, houseparents, etc.).
9.____ I am content with the work that I am asked to do at school.
10.____ I am content with the work that I am asked to do at home.
11.____ I am content with the growth of my body, my present height, and weight.
12.____ I am content with the appearance of my face as God has fashioned it. Ps. 139:14
13.____ I am content to know that I may lack certain abilities or skills that others might have.
14.____ I am content when corrected or disciplined, knowing that the Lord is shaping my life through adults.
15.____ I am content in going wherever my parents ask me to go to.
16.____ I am content with the circumstances of my life.
17.____ I am content with the things that my family does (or doesn't do) during the summer.
18.____ I am content with the neighborhood that I live in.
19.____ I am content knowing that I cannot have some of the things that others might have.
20.____ I am content when my parents tell me that I can't go to a friend's house.
21.____ I am content when told that I cannot watch a certain T.V.
program. I am content with all of he restrictions that I may be given for
T.V. watching.
22.____ I am content with the restrictions that I am given about what I can listen to on the radio.
23.____ I am content in knowing that the Lord has specifically planned all of my future - my ministries for Him, my job, my family, the places that I will live, etc. Prov. 3:6 Phil. 2:13
24.____ I try to avoid listening to things or looking at things that I know will cause me to be discontented.
Goal Setting
Contentment depends upon your trust in the Lord and a belief in the promises of His Word. On the next page, set a specific goal for yourself to practice a habit of contentment. Along with your goal, write down a verse that you will memorize and think of whenever you are discontented.
Date _______________ ___________________________
_________________________________________________
(missing picture)
"Not that I speak in respect
of want: for I have learned,
in whatsoever state I am,
therewith to be content."
Philippians 4:11