Qualities of a pure heart - 5

1. Qualities of a pure heart - 5

2. Contentment • “To be sufficient, to be possessed of sufficient strength, to be strong, to be enough for a thing.” (Vine’s)

3. Contentment • Satisfied, moderation, sufficient, enough. • The opposite of covetous or dissatisfied. • An attitude of mind. How do you view your current state of affair!

4. Contentment • Does NOT mean laziness or complacency. • Laziness is refusal to act (Prov. 6:10-11, 20:13, 2 Thess. 3:6-7, 10, Heb. 6:12)Complacency – Rom. 12:11, Rev. 3:15-18, Jas. 4:17

5. Contentment • Discontent leads to… • Jealousy, envy, debt, worldliness, bitterness, etc.

6. Contentment • Philippians 4:10-13 • In whatever state I am - sufficient with what he has. • “Not that I speak in regard to need.” • WHEN needed – both in want AND abundance! Eccl. 5:10

7. Contentment • 1 Tim. 6:6-8 • “godliness with contentment is great gain.” • We brought nothing into this world…(1 Jn. 2:17, Matt. 6:19-21) • Content with food and clothing – Do we really need everything we have?

8. Contentment • Heb. 13:5 • “Let your conduct be without covetousness. Be content with such things that you have.”

9. Contentment • 2 Cor. 9:8, “sufficiency” same word as content! • Matt. 16:26, “What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world…” • Luke 3:14, “Be content with your wages…”

10. Contentment • Prov. 30:7-9, “Give me neither poverty nor riches – Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.”

11. Contentment • Prov. 24:19-20, “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked; For there will be no prospect for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out.”

12. Contentment • Prov. 15:16, “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.”

13. Contentment Developing a content heart • It is something that is learned – Phil. 4:11-13 • Count your blessings • Realize what is really important • Give thanks

14. Contentment Developing a content heart • Learn to trust God and appreciate Him – Phil. 4:13 • Live within your means!

15. Unselfish! • Selfishness is placing one’s own interests over that of others. Vanity, greed, hatred, lust, etc. • Unselfishness is placing the interest of others above your own. Willing to share!

16. Unselfish! • Problems with selfishness – we think about ourselves, even in helping others (cf. Lk. 18:12, Ac. 5:1-11, 1 Cor. 13:3)Tearing down others, division, stagnation in a congregation.Hindered prayers. Adversity in relationships. Lack of self-control, entitlement attitude, Gal. 5:19-21, Jas. 3:13-16, 4:1

17. Unselfish Examples • God, the ultimate example - John 3:16 • Jesus, John 15:13 • Paul, Phil. 3:7-9, 2 Cor. 12:15

18. Unselfish Examples • Barnabas – Acts 4:36-37 • Macedonian brethren – 2 Cor. 8:1-5

19. Unselfish • Phil. 2:3-4, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition...” • James 3:17, The wisdom from above is, “willing to yield” • 1 Cor. 13:4, Love, “does not seek its own”

20. Unselfish • Rom. 15:1-2, “bear with the scruples of the weak...” • Heb. 13:16, “Do good and share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” • 1 Tim. 6:18 • Luke 14:12-14

21. Unselfish Developing an unselfish heart • Consider the greatest giver – God! We can never outgive Him! • Strive to think about others! • Realize the true value of stuff!

22. Unselfish Developing an unselfish heart • Start giving and sharing! • Is there a sense in which we do think about ourselves? Phil. 2:12, Rom. 12:3 – we are to save ourselves, but to do so requires we think of others!

23. Are you content of heart? Do you think of others?