Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | The Contented Man | Heb 13:5 | DocTrinsograce | 157183 | ||
"Instead of complaining at his lot, a contented man is thankful that his condition and circumstances are no worse than they are. Instead of greedily desiring something more than the supply of his present need, he rejoices that God still cares for him. Such an one is 'content' with such as he has." --Arthur W. Pink | ||||||
2 | The Contented Man | Heb 13:5 | Wild Olive Shoot | 157217 | ||
Doc, How fine is the line, do you think, between contentment (with what we have) and complacency (with what we should desire spiritually)? How often do you think one takes contentment in the worldly realm and transforms it into complacency, spiritually speaking? Just thought it would be interesting to get some perspectives from the forum on that. WOS |
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3 | The Contented Man | Heb 13:5 | DocTrinsograce | 157226 | ||
Dear Brother WOS, That's a good point. We ought to compare and contrast contentment and complacency. A lack of contentment is rooted in the sin of covetousness, a violation of the tenth commandment. It is a continual desire for possessions beyond what we now have. We tend to think of covetousness as avarice or cupidity. However, I think that we tend to think of violations of the commands of God as only being such if they are "extreme." We know, of course, that the holiness of God brooks no such rationalizations. On the other hand, we tend to get confused because we don't properly distinguish between the temporal and eternal. Is it right for me to be content with the things I own in this world? Yes. Is it right for me to be content with the degree to which I am walking in obedience to the Lord, loving Him, and striving to be like Him? No. We should have a continuous hunger for the things of God (Psalm 42:1). We should be willing to give up everything, to obtain the Kingdom of God (Matthew 13:44). Indeed, we should be "violent" in the pursuit of it (Matthew 11:12). Complacency, in my opinion, is often a cover for laziness. I even sense this in myself! To the degree that we understand what God has given us, to that degree we will desire Him (Luke 7:40-50). Consequently, we do well to meditate on our own desperate depravity and the incredible holiness of God. There's my two cents. :-) In Him, Doc |
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4 | The Contented Man | Heb 13:5 | Wild Olive Shoot | 157263 | ||
Doc, Thank you for the response Brother. So you say; “Complacency, in my opinion, is often a cover for laziness.” Isn’t that the truth! That was I for so long and even to an extent now. I had contentment in my salvation in that mere fact that I had it. I had no commitment or desire to know God beyond that. Malachi was a wake up call for me. Thank God he placed a desire within me to know Him and His word and to put forth the effort to do so. I am content with what I have. Knowing it all comes from God anyhow and is His to take should He desire. (Job 1:21) I’m satisfied being a caretaker. My desire for more, however covetousness, is directed toward my children. I have within me the want for them to have an easier life than I. That is something I personally deal with. I am grateful that I’ll have the opportunity to provide spiritual guidance, so to speak, something I did not have when I was young. That is more than I could ever provide them within and from a worldly perspective and I know that will suffice, but yet the drive is to give them a head start on what the world will throw at them. I thank you again for your response. You say; “We should have a continuous hunger for the things of God (Psalm 42:1). We should be willing to give up everything, to obtain the Kingdom of God (Matthew 13:44). Indeed, we should be "violent" in the pursuit of it (Matthew 11:12).” I say; Amen! I do hope there are others who will take a moment and share their view as well. WOS |
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