The Good Side of Discontent

This is a message from leading the way with Dr. Michael.

You sat we pray that it will encourage you in your walk of faith.

If you would like to learn more about Dr. you Seth for leading the way, please visit LTW.or listen to this poem. For a moment, it will spread butter for someone I want the warm days grid outdoors. It was summer, but it was all I want the colorful leaves and cool, dry air. It was fall all but it was winter, I wanted the beautiful snow. The joy of the holiday season was winter, but all it was spring I wanted the warmth of the blossoming of nature I was a child all but it was also told that I wanted the freedom and the respect I was 20. But it was fairly I wanted to be mature and sophisticated I was middle-aged all but it was 20. I wanted the youth and the free spirit I was retired all but it was little angel on the presence of mind without limitation, my life is over and I never got what I wanted. Probably everyone of us can identify with this poem at some level at some stages of our lives. Other everyone of us can identify with this.

I think everyone of us got hit somehow by this spirit of discontent. Don't get me wrong, not all discontentment is bad.

There is good side to discontent.

It is discontentment with your prayer life that causes you to do something about it. It is discontentment about the level of your commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ that causes you to reorder your priorities.

It is discontentment with the level of your faithfulness with the Lord that compels you to rethink your motives in life, but there is also a dark side to discontentment the dark side of discontentment is found in the 10 Commandments and the particular the 10th commandment.

The 10th commandment, Exodus chapter 20 what does God call this dark side of discontentment God calls his dark side of discontentment.

He calls it covetousness, covetousness, covetousness is not a word that we often use is not part of our everyday language today but covetousness is simply that craving for what somebody else has. If I only get what they have. I'll be happy. Covetousness is the craving of somebody else's circumstances if I were her, if I were him I would be happy. Covetousness is the craving of what somebody else is.

If I were him follow her covetousness is that the longing that says if only if only, if only I wanted to review things about covetousness before I stop preaching okay. Covetousness is always always shortsighted covetousness can never see the big picture covetousness is always concerning itself with the immediate needs. I'm not dismissing the immediate needs. Covetousness is always anxious for instant gratification. Covetousness will always make you be un-ungrateful and unthankful person throughout life. No matter what you it always causes you pouting in life. Mother do it physically, but you do it on the inside pouting feeling sorry for yourself from self-pity and unhappy as what covetousness does listen to what God said, you shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his manservant may or made servant on his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. I know some of you probably thinking I'm off the hook because I have never covered my neighbors donkey. I don't want to stink and docket reminder of the good doctor that was found in front of a funeral parlor and the funeral director got on the phone and call the city Council and he said I got a deadlock in front of my building in the city Council will you in a funeral probably is that I will. I just wanted first to inform the first of King listed God new that is going to be some smart person in the 21st century. Who's going to say I did not covet anybody's dog urine about his ox, or has gone wanted to close that loop. You know how he did it. The last sentence in the 10th commandment, he said, or anything that belongs to your neighbor that closes all loopholes. Some commentators bless her heart, said that the 10th commandment is really superfluous. Everything that needed to be set is already been set in the first nine this 10th commandment is just an anticlimax is really just summarizing what everything else is already been said there were wrong. In fact they missed the whole point, because I can tell you that the 10th commandment truly stands hours, above all the other nine. The 10th commandment stands in distinction to the rest of the nine the 10th commandment is very different from the first nine the 10th commandment is clearly distinguished and I'm going to show you how because it deals with the matter of the heart. It deals with the matter of the heart. The other first nine Commandments. They openly condemn outward actions. In fact it's only Jesus who explained to us that there are any would desires that causes that outward breaking of the commandment. It was only Jesus was telling us to guard against our inward thoughts that trigger the outward action and that we need to care of that but without Jesus's warning if you lived in the Old Testament, and you have just the commandments, and you do not have Jesus's explanation. You gonna see that the first nine are all to do with our production. Everyone on do not make idols do not work on the Sabbath, do not kill innocent people do not still do not commit adultery. Subjective. They all begin from the outside and their work their way on the inside of us and what distinguishes the 10th commandment from the other nine is this mission carefully.

What distinguishes the 10th commandment is that it begins from the inside and works its way out. What brought me about that. I could be secretly the most covetous person on the face of the earth, and nobody will note that dearest and nearest to me will not know it can be. You know what else so you are less convenient and that is why the 10th commandment makes explicit what the other non-implied that things commandment spells out what God is really after you say what does God want from me what is God really have to hear I tell you exactly what is after. And that is why he comes in with the 10th commandment what God is after not just outward obedience. But inward obedience as it is looking for he's looking for anyone obedience.

I will make a statement.

I wanted to listen to very carefully outward obedience is very dangerous. Can you say that with me.

Outward obedience is very dangerous. The reason churches are full of Pharisees and legalists is because they focusing on the outward obedience. Now that would obedience absolute obedience only can be disastrous and that is why God has to seal his 10 Commandments with the last one talking about inward obedience without the 10th commandment, we could easily all of us be tempted to become like the Pharisees.

We could focus on outward obedience, but our hearts are far from God and then we become hypocrites like they were.

And that's why Jesus condemned them so much of the Gospels is that why is he so hard on the Pharisees because he saw that all that concerned about is absolute obedience not anyone obedience. They set the limits and you like her to the Middle East to build beautiful buildings for tombs and they painted every now and again in the next going outside but inside there a dead corpse whose rotten inside beautiful on the outside, that's not what God is after that is why when the rich young ruler came to Jesus is not Jesus.

How do I inherit eternal life.

How to make it to heaven and Jesus knew exactly everything about this man he knew that he is breaking the 10th commandment over and over and over, and he looks at him with those piercing eyes, and he said will keep the commandments of Jesus knew the nobody can keep the commandments without the power of God and aggressive.

Oh yeah I done this up. That's basically coming on them that kept his commandments and never killed anybody nervous Jesus and okay with regard to the 10th commandment to ghostwriting. The 10th commandment. And he said give all that you have and then come and follow me as no way what you talk about.

He said he kept the commandments of you breaking the 10th one over and over and over in your heart. You see that's why Jesus condemned the hypocrisy so much that is why only Jesus can deliver us from sin and that is why only Jesus can empower us to obey him outwardly and inwardly. That's why only the Holy Spirit of God can empower us to keep the commandments anybody without God can say keep the 10 Commandments. They basically lying through their teeth or they just don't understand without the Holy Spirit's empowerment, we could never keep in obey any of the 10 Commandments in all that is out of love and out of compassion and out of grace and out of mercy that God gave us all of the 10 Commandments but more specifically it's out of love and out of compassion and out of mercy, not of his grace that he gave us the 10th commandment. You know why two reasons is what I call him the CDs I want to give you two CDs to take home with you and I don't want to just play those CDs in your mind today.

I wanted to play those CDs in your life for the rest of the week. The rest of the months. The rest of your life to CDs is a first CD covetousness is deceptive. Covetousness is deceptive. Secondly, contentment is delightful. Contentment is delightful is a second CD it because God knew and God knows that covetousness is deceptive that he told us and he gave us the 10th commandment, listen to of the Lord Jesus Christ said in Luke chapter 12 verse 15 listen carefully is what Jesus said watch out this and when Jesus is watch out you better watch out, watch out. Be on your guard against all kinds of greed man's life does not consist in the dispossession, the beloved friends. I wanted tell you something. This is totally contrary to every fiber of our culture. This is a true contradiction to every fiber of our society and I wanted tell you something else if believers and unbelievers really believe the words of Jesus. I promise you that would radically change the lifestyle they would radically reorder the priorities that will radically change so many of the choices marketers spend billions and billions of dollars and untold hours. Anything you something I know these guys work hard and if you in the marketing business. Please forgive me.

I don't need to step on your toes, but only to you about the philosophy of if not the working out of it because is good marketing and is bad marketing but most markings spend untold millions and they spent untold hours working hard for one purpose to know what it is they, working hard for one purpose and one purpose only, and it is to make you feel unhappy. They really know that's the purpose for which they work. They want you to feel unhappy. They want to make you unhappy and discontented unhappy with who you are unhappy with the way you know unhappy with what you have unhappy with what you do.

They really do want you to feel miserable and unhappy until you buy whatever they're selling. So you buy whatever it is that you think is going to make you happy. Wait a few weeks few months have made you happy now know why I want to give you phone is your value is dependent on your title. If your value is dependent on your net worth. They feel value is dependent on what you wear. If you value is dependent on where you live. If you value is dependent on what you drive. I wanted tell you right now. Take it from me, it will never, never, never bring you contentment because if your values are wrapped up in these things. I can assure you there's always something better is always something you there's always something nice there's always someone better, there's always someone more successful. There's always someone more attractive. There's always someone richer.

There's always someone that is why covetousness is deceptive, deceptive, if you play this comparison game is a lot of people do use of said game. You'll be in a constant misery.

Listen to what Paul said in second Corinthians chapter 10 verse 12 are just reading couple days ago and my own personal devotion an early morning I was reading this passage jumped out to me is what Paul said the day measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves they are not wise.

They're not wise walking around with her measuring tape and say well you know he she is more successful, the plenty of them. If you want to see how much success the more successful somebody else. If you are trying to measure and seek out more articulate somebody else in your emergency how more intellectual somebody else and you are somebody more wealthy than your somebody more beautiful than you. Somebody more popular than you.

If you go around the measuring tape with me assure you it will make you miserable every time it will make you unhappy every day now to tell you something else that I have learned about the deceptiveness of covetousness, covetousness has very little to do with what you have nothing to do. In fact with what you have not many years ago I was in the presence of a man who's a billionaire in the Third World country and think about this at a billionaire in 1/3 world country and I'm talking about billions of dollars in US standards in the Third World country.

I tell you I walked out of there and neither wanted to weep because he was the most miserable man I've ever met in my life.

By the same token I have met people who barely have enough for anything and yet they are rejoicing in the Lord every day, which is something else single people listen to me single folks. If you are unhappy as a single person and think that marriage is going to bring you happiness you are deceived, my friend, you really are. If you are not satisfied with who you are. If you not contented in your own situation. If you are not fulfilled and who you are in Jesus Christ. Changes in your circumstances are not your ticket to your Joy Lin covetousness is deceptive is a second CD contentment is delightful. Contentment is delightful till the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 411 is that I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances and all the read you actually JB Phillips paraphrasing of that verse.

Okay this would JB Phillips paraphrase the verse.

He said I know now how to live when things are difficult and I know how to live when things are prosperous in general and in particular I have learned the secret of facing either plenty of poverty I am ready for anything through the strength of the one who lives within me. I was thinking about how contentment operates and God somehow has a sense of humor always gonna teach me firsthand. He knows I'm a little thick and I got a get it in the somehow in my head and I already thought about what I meant Seneca something happened just last week I was driving my car in peace, singing that none of you in the car is singing now is joyful and somebody cut in front of me and I lost my joy is what I think about contentment here. You are going along life's highway going and everything seemed to be fine. The sun is shining skies blue and everything is just fine and then hit a roadblock.

Whatever you roadblock might be in everybody's roadblock might be different from the other. Somebody thinks will theirs is worse than the other but look whatever it is it's meant for you. Whether it is health roadblock.

Whether it is relationship roadblock was on his financial roadblock.

Maybe it's it's a roadblock for you.

There are two ways to react to that. Let me give you first. The reaction of the person who been enrolled in the school of contentment, of which the apostle Paul said he learned I honestly cannot say that I can say that I am learning that I'm progressing that I've come a long way. I don't think I could say maybe to addendum my life I could say in all valve loans visit action of a person who's going through the school of contentment is going to see this as an opportunity for double blessing while there's an opportunity here to blessings number one blessing number one. I'm going to see it as an opportunity to practice trusting God afresh to see it as an opportunity to see God use this roadblock for his glory and for my good blessing number two. Gonna say I'm gonna see this is an opportunity for God to show me once again that he and he alone can fill the empty void in my life.

Listen to what Hebrews 13 five said be contented with whatever you have. Why, because he will never leave you nor forsake you. For those who have not begun to enroll in the school of contentment. I can tell you you don't have to tell me from right or wrong you figure out at home, but I can promise you this is what's going on in your life right now is it how do you know that all that will be a secret between the two of us is what you doing you going around around around around around around around the ranch. This the children of Israel when they got out of Egypt. They refuse to learn this lesson. Apostle of Lent. So what's the 40s when around a recount and wrapping the rep for Browner without looking at the same stinking brushes and rocks and saying that over and over and over and over again is like the guy was complaining from not getting the promotion.

He said I have 25 years experience in his boss said no you don't. You have one years experience repeated 25 times.

This I often tell folks when they come and talk to us and look. Do not waste your pain. Do not waste your suffering. Do not wasted doing on your site got so I can teach me, Lord, I want to learn the lesson I want to say with the apostle Paul that I've learned.

But you know those words of Paul tell me it tells me that the apostle Paul was not a contented fella by nature, but he had to learn it. It does mean that Paul was not patient by nature he had to learn it and that brings me a lot of comfort that through the painful and the crushing experiences in his life. He began to moan that contentment is delightful and that contentment delights itself and trusting God. In fact, on some my favorite verses the ones immediately before trip before the chapter 3 verses seven and eight and I truly can say those words with the apostle Paul is what he said he said so many things I thought were really important. But now I have learned this lesson of contentment. Now that I have my eyes fixed on the prize. They have become rubbish.

Some of you say Michael Michael Michael, do you mean to tell me that's success and seeking success is wrong. Read my lips, I did not say that I believe with all my heart. God wants you to be successful. I believe that with every fiber of my being, God wants you to be successful. I am not preaching that at all. Listen to me, but I'm going to tell you something else that if success is your only aim in life.

I can tell you was shucking. I can tell you from first-hand experience that when you get there you will not be contented. You will not be contented. I can testify to you and I know in my own life the close walk with the Lord.

The more I am able to experience contentment in the midst of turmoil you say is it easy.

No.

Is it easier, yes.

She wants her enrolled in the school. It gets easier at the folks I work harder in my first year in seminary.

Then I worked for my entire PhD program you see as you grow a new mature gets easier. Never easy, but gets easier, but the one thing I want to tell you is this for you and me to experience contentment when there is smooth sailing is one thing but the experience contentment when the waters are rough when the going is tough when the wind is blowing in your face is a whole different experience and today you can begin to move from covetousness to contentment.

Today, you can begin enrolling in the school of contentment. Psalm 73 has been an enormous comfort to me through the years and I have done what the author of the song has done many times I cried out to God with the age-old question why all the wicked seem to be prospering and the righteous are suffering. That's a question that this worship leader in the temple assess who was appointed by David to lead worship in the temple this very question that he asked God he said God if the wicked seem to be healthy and well safe and free from pain and powerful and I have no problems. That means that I've wasted my godliness. Then he begins to see things from God's perspective, not from by his own eyes, but from God's perspective and when he sees the eternal torment of the wicked when he sees the eternal agony of the wicked when he sees the eternal horror that the very people that he was covered thing are going to be going through. He reprints on his face before God and he said Lord I was like a donkey in the state of covetousness in Semitic language doing so. Melissa's eyes like a donkey it's it's really an illustration that is a donkey is a creature whose only concern is for the moment, we can see only in a very short distance and saw assets it holds like a donkey the way I was behaving in blood. I want to tell you when you move from covetousness to contentment. When you move from worldly thinking. The godly thinking God will bless you in double portion because contentment is delightful, and the delights itself in God father. This is your word and it is committed to your Holy Spirit, your Holy Spirit off of these words in your Holy Spirit is working in us, and therefore he alone can take those simple words and print them deep into hearts, deep in our minds, deep on the seats of our will. Only he can change us and therefore we commit ourselves a fresh teachers to move from covetousness to contentment. For Jesus sake