Content or Complacent

If there is one thing I have learned as I get older is that life is going to happen. Time functions with or without my involvement and with or without my approval. As Christ followers we must be in change mode our entire lives, if we are not we'll experience complacency and never connect to Godly contentment.

 

1.     If we don't deal with the past, the past will follow us to our present.

1.     This is why it's imperative that we not only hear, read, and study scripture but that we respond to it.

1.     Our pasts can be liberating or captivating but one things for sure I make the decision which.

Luke 3:4-14 NLT [4] Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, "He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the LORD's coming! Clear the road for Him! [5] The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. [6] And then all people will see the salvation sent from God.'" [7] When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, "You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God's coming wrath? [8] Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don't just say to each other, 'We're safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.' That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. [9] Even now the ax of God's judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire." [10] The crowds asked, "What should we do?" [11] John replied, "If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry." [12] Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, "Teacher, what should we do?" [13] He replied, "Collect no more taxes than the government requires." [14] "What should we do?" asked some soldiers. John replied, "Don't extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay."

2.     vs. 4 Before a King would take a trip, messengers would tell those he was planning to visit to prepare the roads for him.

1.     John was telling his listeners to make their lives ready so Jesus could make His way to them.

2.     Can't you see how important this is?

1.     It would cost time, money, energy, resources, and effort to get the King to us.

2.     We will either be content or complacent.

3.     Content to say no I don't think I want the King coming our way.

1.     I refuse to do the work to receive Him.

2.     I refuse to make changes.

3.     I refuse to level myself up that I might enjoy His presence, His company, or His gifts.

4.     If we refuse to make our selves ready for His coming we hold the gospel of Christ, we hold the salvation of God within and others do not get to see, others never get to experience it, most importantly others don't get to receive it.

1.     This is a crime of epic proportion.

2.     The good news of the gospel is that you get Jesus regardless of circumstances.

3.     God made the way ready for us all, we just have to accept it, and believe it.

Proverbs 3:5-9 "5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. (He will make your paths straight) 7 Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce."

2.     Content or complacent?

1.     Many people are satisfied with their current conditions whatever they may be.

2.     They never, for whatever horrible reason or excuse, see themselves out of their current predicament.

3.     Thus leaving them in the bondage of contentment.

1.     Contentment can either be bondage or Godly.

1.     Complacency is being pleased with one's self or one's current scenario.

2.     This is good information to those seeking change in God, seeking sincere change in character, and seeking a sincere relationship with Christ.

1.     But to so, so, so many contentment is a walled prison with the key of escape in their pocket.

2.     Choosing to stay rather than to change.

1.     Content in their marriage.

2.     Content in their career.

3.     Content in their financial earning power.

4.     Content in their God relationship.

5.     Content to be alone.

6.     Content to be selfish.

7.     Content to be careless.

8.     Content to be compassionless.

9.     Content to be unchanged, unscathed, and unrelenting of their ways.

4.     Christianity invites you to not be complacent.

1.     I love that!

2.     I love that change is forever in my future.

3.     Are you content or complacent?

1.     Look back at Luke 3:7 John had such harsh words for people only wanting to be baptized so they could escape eternal punishment but refusing to change their internal hearts.

2.     He knew that God values reformation above ritual.

1.     Is your faith motivated by a desire for a new, changed life, or is it only a vaccination or insurance policy against possible disaster?

5.     We are God's representatives in this earth.

1.     Where righteousness is not legislated by Christians unbelief stands, untruths reside, and Hell rules.

John 17:22-26 NLT [22] "I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. [23] I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. [24] Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! [25] "O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. [26] I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them."

6.     God has given us His stuff to operate in this world.

1.     His resources, His power, from heaven.

3.     God's changing, loving power is relentless, it's reassuring, and it's resilient.

1.     He is continually revealing that to us, if you can not see that, feel that, understand that, or connect to that then you don't know Him.

2.     And I desperately want you to know Him.

1.     Many Christians and even those from the bible could not see themselves doing, operating and executing the vision, plan, and purposes of God.

2.     Though God has called and equipped them.

3.     We need to see ourselves in and through the eyes of God.

3.     Luke 3:8,9 Jesus' harshest words were to the respectable religious leaders, who lacked the desire for real change.

1.     Wanting to be known as religious authorities, but they didn't want to change their hearts and minds.

1.     Thus, their lives were unproductive.

2.     If you as a leader, as a Christian refuse to change your heart and mind you too will be unproductive.

3.     Turning from sin must be tied to action, or it isn't real.

4.     Following Jesus means more than saying the right words, it means acting on what He says.

1.     Jesus never defined Himself by the way others defined Him.

2.     This is bondage.

Philippians 4:11-14 NLT "[11] Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. [12] I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. [13] For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. [14] Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty."

4.     Are you in pursuit of more?

5.     Can you find satisfaction in God alone?

6.     How do you achieve godly contentment?

1.     Contentment is an interesting concept in our world, since all are looking for more business, more customers, more fame, more fortune, more resources, more, more, more. 

2.     How do I remain content in a world that rewards the pursuit of more and views being content with less as defeat and failure? 

1.     Finding ourselves in a marketplace environment that not only rewards the pursuit of more but does not care about the methods of that pursuit. 

2.     The reality is that in order for me to understand godly contentment I must first change my paradigm of life. 

1.     It is impossible for me to be content and maintain the world’s approach toward life, because the worldly approach uses discontentment as a tool for motivating people to be innovative and productive.

2.     Advertisements are full of images that are designed to make us discontent with our current circumstances and want more.

3.     Contentment is not something we are born with, nor does it come automatically with salvation. 

1.     It is a learned behavior. 

2.     Many of us claim to be content, but we do so while seeking more.

4.     What does it really mean to be content? 

1.     Contentment is the spirit led ability to accept God’s will for my life no matter what my circumstances.

1.     It is a learned behavior that allows me to achieve great gain in Christ. 

1.     I love Ray C. Stedman’s definition for contentment: “only wanting what you have.”

1.     The beauty of this definition is that it forces us to reverse our perspective and focus on what we have rather than what we want. 

2.     Luke 3:11-14 Christ's message demanded at least three specific responses:

1.     Share what you have with those who need it.

2.     Whatever your job is, do it well and with fairness.

3.     Be content with your earnings.

2.     If you’re not content with what you have, you will not appreciate it; if you do not appreciate what you have, you will not take care of it; and if you do not take care of it, then you may eventually lose it.

1.     On the other hand, if you want what you have, you will appreciate it, and, as a result, will also take care of it and may eventually have more.

2.     So, how do you achieve godly contentment?

1.     How do we get to the point where we only want what we have and no longer focus on trying to keep up with the Jones's, the Gates, or the Kardashians?

1.     Recognize that you have brought nothing into this world, and you will carry nothing out. (1Tim. 6:7, Job 1:21)

2.     Recognize that both riches and poverty are from God. (1 Sam. 2:7, Prov. 22:2)

3.     Learn the lessons God is teaching you when you are lacking. (James 1:2-4)

4.     Master the art of stewardship. (1Cor. 4:2, Luke 16:1-13)

5.     Learn to appreciate every blessing, no matter how great or small. (I Thess. 5:18)

6.     Put your trust in Christ and not in your resources. (Matt. 6:33, I Tim. 6:17 -19, Col. 3:1-11)

7.     Guard against the love of money. (1 Tim. 6:10, Luke 12:15-21)

2.     Realize that implementing these things can not be done by might, but must be done by the Spirit. 

1.     You can not will yourself to be content; Christ must empower you and give you the grace to achieve contentment.

3.     Therefore pursue contentment and godliness, and you are sure to avoid great failure and attain great gain in Christ.

1.     Let us never be content with life change.

2.     Let us never be content with salvations.

1.     "It's never been about the name of a church it's always been about the name of Jesus."

3.     Let us never be content with people being filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

4.     Let us never be content about baptisms.

5.     Let us never be content with populating heaven and destroying hells initiatives.

6.     Let us never, ever be content with our relationship to Jesus Christ. 

1.     Little is much when God is in it.