Affluenza! - It's Cure - Part A

Contentment means containment life I live in the container. God has given you, and what he has put in. It is enough now here's the rub, you live in a culture that is spending billions of dollars to make look outside of the fence.

The advertising world market research is working overtime with one goal to make you discontented. Gotta have more stuff for the commercials are all about their ultimate goal is to impair your self-control to get you to come but Siegel gotta have that. Thanks for joining us to use his Kodak was appointed weekend division survey will contribute to look at the disease called affluenza part of a dynamic look at the 10 Commandments called God's thought to get to that here just a bit right now past miscue points to invite you to connect with him on social media take Pastor Skip here if you want to stay up-to-date on the latest from this ministry follow at Skip Heitzig sick on Facebook, twitter and Instagram that Skip HEITZIG thanks for now, let's get indoor teacher.

Exodus chapter 20 is where you find God's doctrine. So if you have a Bible or Bible out by local travelers would begin.

Here's your project with her short anecdote to start off well. There was a man who went to tour a mental institution. He was a little bit surprised when he went by one of the cells that was padded and there was a gentleman in their calling out a woman's name Linda Linda Linda. He was saying how could you, how could you, how could you beating his head against the padded wall. This disturb the visitor. He asked his guide.

Who's that simple. That's a guy who dated a gal named Linda they were engaged to be married.

She dumped him. It was too much and he went nuts in areas so they kept walking through the hall and in the very next cell.

There was another man calling out the same name Linda Linda why did this happen.

Why did this happen. He does not. Who's that God said that's the man who married Linda when you love to have met Linda what's all that about. It's the myth of the greener grass folks, grass is always greener somewhere else.

Whatever happiness is wherever happiness is it's not where I am presently and for me to attain happiness.

I have to have something else some more stuff I need another job or another spouse or more status.

Whatever it might be in second Timothy chapter 3 I'm been a reader short verse is very poignant because it says that one of the marks of the last days on earth is this very attitude. Paul writes to Timothy in the last days men will be lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud. Last week the name of our message was affluenza.

It was a take off from the word influenza and as we said that influenza is highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory system so affluenza is a highly contagious social and even spiritual disorder that comes from overabundance will this is part two and this is the cure and were doing it in part two, because quite literally affluenza is affecting our health and I mean it literally being an affluent nation seems to be affecting our physical well-being. Listen to this. This comes from the American Journal of respiratory and critical care medicine.

Just last month, allergy induced asthma. It says is more common in affluent countries. The link between atopic sensitization and asthma symptoms in children differs strongly between populations and increases with economic development. Some experts suggest the rise and asthma may be related to more sterile homes and the use of antibiotics. Some believe the human immune system is beginning to respond to harmless substances like animal dander, causing allergy and asthma symptoms. In one study, it was reported that kids in affluent countries with allergic sensitization's are four times as likely to have asthma. In other words, if I can paraphrase it in layman's language, our affluence is making us sick, literally not just physically in this case but also mentally. It would seem based on World Health Organization data British psychologist Oliver James has shown that in English-speaking nations. The United States, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. They have twice as much mental illness as other nations in probing them find the answers to why he states same scientist, it's because we're placing a high value on money and possessions of appearances, both physical and social as well as fame see all of these says this expert and others are the stuff that build neuroses in human beings.

Affluenza well that's not to say that riches in themselves are evil are certainly not Abraham was wealthy. We know Job was wealthy and God blessed them even more. At the end of his life, and at the beginning of their several examples and it's not like that car that you want that new car is satanic or that bigger paycheck is of the devil, not at all. There's nothing inherently wrong with it. It's not that it's what it does to us and what it does to us is two things it binds us to the temporal and blinds us from the eternal. It binds us to the temporal. The here and now and blinds us from the eternal last time we were together we looked at affluenza and we noted two things it's because which was covetousness, and we defined that and then it's curse and what we said is that it reveals a discontentment with God's provision.

It also can ruin relationships with other people and finally it can ripen into other forms of sin, so that was the cause and that was the curse tonight. We want to look at the cure. So I take it back to the 10th commandment, and I'd like you to look at it with me again in verse 17 of Exodus chapter 20 the 10th of the 10 Commandments, you shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's. We've been told in that verse.

What not to do, what not to want what not to strongly desire that doesn't belong to us. That's what we should not to tonight however I went to look at the very opposite of that. If that's what were not to do.

What are we to do what are we to be doing and by the way that's the reason for next week's's final installment on the 10 Commandments because all of these commandments, though they say you shall not do this, this, this and that it springboards into the other side of the coin things we ought to be doing rather than these things. So what I want you to do now is turn with me to the New Testament book of Philippians as I like to say flip over to Philippians chapter 4. Let's look at the cure tonight. I want to show you that the cure must be identified and it is in Philippians 4, the cure must be learned. Paul says he's had has learned that, and then the cure must be practice what you learn something you gotta do it over and over again to make it your own.

So must be identified, learned in practice go with me to Philippians chapter 4 beginning in verse 10 it will paint the picture and give the setting but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care for me has flourished again though, you surely didn't care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full to be hungry to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well and that you have shared my distress. Now you Philippians no. Also that in the beginning of the gospel.

When I departed from Macedonia. No church shared with me concerning giving and receiving. But you only for even in Thessalonica, you did send aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed, I have all and abound I am full, having received from a pampered diet is the things sent from you a sweet smelling aroma and acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God. Now here's the setting.

This church at Philippi had been previously financially supporting Paul as a missionary while he was in Macedonia and when he left, there was a period of time where Paul heard nothing at all from them and then one day a guy named a pampered diet. As we just read about them came with more financial help for Paul at a very difficult time. No pulses that he's not complaining about that lag, not at all. He saying my joy is in the Lord, not in the offering and the keyword I want to draw your attention to is in verse 11. Here's the cure content its contentedness.

That is the cure that Paul brings and identifies to our attention, contentment, now want to tell you what it means contentment literally means containment. Containment given the Greek word out our case out our case, a fascinating word. Here's why.

It means self-sufficient. It means satisfied, but maybe the best translation is a means contained contain it's actually a word that the ancient Greek pagan Stoics. Have you heard of the Stoics.

It was up form of philosophy founded by a philosopher named Zeno and the Stoics believed the ultimate aim in life is to be free from needing anything they call that their central goal op costs we get the term apathy from it path us without deep emotion without needing anything in other words, I'm gonna take whatever life gives me and I'm to learn to accept or that was their highest goal. Paul uses this word not as a pagan Greek would, but as a Christian would saying whatever God prescribes for me in my life.

That's going to be enough by his sovereign will. So the cure for affluenza is in one word, contentedness, which means you live a contained life. You learn to take whatever is in your container. The God is putting your container and go that's enough.

Whatever's in my container.

Now we do this with with animals. We put them in containers. We put fish aquarium, not enough one fish turns to the other fish and says let's get out of here. I know there's an ocean out there somewhere, and I do not want this 1 x 2 box you know now I don't know if they do that. Probably not. They learn to adapt in their container. Same with dogs. They have a yard. Now I have a dog in he loves to find out what's outside of his container, and if he can see through the fence which he up to this week has been able to. He's very mad at what he doesn't have in the container itself. There and help Mark and Bart so we put up this coyote fence so he can see it's amazing how it's cured his barking. She now has to live with what he sees in his little container, so contentment means containment. II live in the container. God is given you, and what he has put in it is enough now here's the rub, you live in a culture that is spending billions of dollars to make you look outside of the fence.

The advertising world market research is working overtime with one goal to make you discontented. You gotta have more stuff that's what the commercials are all about their ultimate goal is to impair your self-control to get you to covet Siegel gotta have that several years ago in Panama, an American company had a real problem.

They were hiring local people but they couldn't keep people working for him.

People would work a while. Then they quit and this was happening so often. And here's why they discovered because Panama had been a barter society economically. The trade stuff. The American company was paying cash for their wages while in one weeks time the average Panamanian worker had more cash in hand and he had seen in a lifetime. He was satisfied he quit so they couldn't keep workers.

So what was the solution.

True story. They got each of their workers. A Sears catalog.

Nobody quit. They all suddenly wanted all of the things they never knew existed that were in this catalog previously undreamed of stuff and they kept their jobs several years ago I told you of a cat that I had in this cat was 25 pounds may be more. All I remember is that when this cat would walk the belly would drag across the floor touching it all the way meowing like a siren all day long wanting more, wanting more, wanting more. Never satisfy. That's how this cat went through life.

Contentment is containment and Paul would say if we go through all of these verses and probe their depth what Paul would say to us is contentment does not come from what you have but whom you have whom you have got a relationship with God knowing that God is giving you both the container and the stuff that's in that container. So contentment which is the cure means containment. It also means to be independent now look at verse 12 of Philippians chapter 4 I know how to be abased, I know how to abound everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Here's a guy who is independent of high living and low living. Paul says, honestly, truly, it doesn't matter how he uses the word soul in the text, which means to feed like my cat to feed an animal tell it's fat. No, Paul had lived the fat life at one time he went to private schools. He came from a very well-to-do background. It would seem he knew it was like to have it all but he also says I know how to be abased think just for a moment. He was a prisoner several times he was on a grain ship as a slave on the way to Rome and he seemed in any of those situations higher low to be the same person. Now most people get very very depressed when they lose status or wealth or significance. We know how to abound, but not to a base back in 1929 when the stock market crash story after story of executives jumping out of the windows committing suicide. The just could not handle the idea that they wouldn't have what they had up to that day.

Paul said I I'm independent I'm contained in I'm independent and that's what it means to be content. So that's that's the cure were not done yet. The cure has to be learned. According to verse 11. Notice the Paul says not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be intent. I am so glad that verses in the Bible because I am still learning in the fact that Paul said I had to go through a process I'm done he said with a process. I've learned it is encouraging to me that even the great apostle Paul. There was a learning curve seek contentment isn't just genetic contentment isn't just a temperament type, it can be learned over time. Think about it, you learn discontentment in this culture we all did.

By virtue of the fact of where we grew up and I don't think one sermons can magically fix that but I think this is a step forward and I do think that there are certain things we can learn about contentment that will help us learn contentment to be content. I want to show you what I mean, I know you turn here, but I want you to turn to another passage to a first Timothy chapter 6, first Timothy chapter 6 more on the cure contentment first Timothy chapter 6 what can we learn about contentment that we might be content just a few short versus beginning in first Timothy chapter 6 verse six.

First Timothy 66 now godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into this world and it's certain we can carry nothing out and having food and clothing with these we shall be content, but those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

What can we learn to just those few verses about contentment. Number one contentment is related to godliness, and if you're taking notes. Write that down. Contentment is related to godliness. He says godliness with contentment is great gain. See the problem with being content or discontent truly is not our it's truly an inward problem is the Skip pointed out reprogramming her thoughts and habits is a vital part of the treatment for affluenza will have more that next time here and correctly Skip weekend edition with part two of this teaching.

Affluenza, the cure are teaching today was part of the series, God stopped to which focuses on the 10 Commandments, and specifically the 10th commandment not to covet. If you'd like to obtain a personal copy of the series. All 17 messages are available as an audio CD package for only $39 plus shipping.

You can learn more in order today from connectwithskip.com while you're there, check out this great November resource. A recent study to the cultural research center velvet Christians are almost just as likely to reject the idea of absolute moral truth. Except for American adults believe in absolute moral truth is eroding across all age groups and political ideologies with other church or unchurched. What that means is that over 75% of Christ followers are those who purport to be Christ followers are saying that nothing can be known for certain.

There is no absolute truth about you.

We want to help you understand the nature of true you can pursue God's true and apply it in your life to brand-new booklets, but*why truth matters in guidance suicide if you fall under that category. What you do with the claims of Christ Jesus, that I am the way, the truth, the life.

No one comes to the father except through me. These booklets are our thanks for your gift of $35 or more today don't keep this ministry on the air, connecting more people to God's word to give. Call 800-922-1888 moment securely connectwithskip.com/the treatment for affluenza it's dramatic it's difficult and it's effective it will diving the more that next time we passed the Skip fund connect with Skip weekend division. So flavor joys was weekend division of presentation of connection so you guys never change and ever-changing time