The Call to Contentment

Today I want to talk about contentment. I believe that one of our greatest challenges as believers is contentment. --- and I think it would be safe to say that most people never experience contentment. People are discontent with their singleness, people are discontent with their spouses, and people are discontent with their current jobs and salary. And I could go on. I don't know about you, but I just have a tough time being content. I always want more! For example, I never realized how pathetic my cell phone was until I saw the new Samsung Galaxy Note. I love something new ----- only to find that after the initial shine wears off, I am just as discontented and empty as I were before I began the quest. Interestingly, there is a certain discontent God does intend for us to have so we learn to rely on God. However, we could all learn from the apostle Paul who wrote about being content. Even the Apostle Paul said he was not easily satisfied in his life. He evens defined the circumstances in which he was content. In Philippians 4, the Apostle Paul himself said:

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11–13 

Twice in this passage, the apostle Paul reveals to us, he “learned” to be content. Look at v.11—“I have learned to be content.”  And then in v.12—“I have learned the secret of being content.”  Here we see the apostle Paul LEARNED to be content.  

Just by way of confession, I personally have spent the vast majority of my life with my heart displaced or discontented for one reason or another. But I am learning that I must learn to be  content. Now, if CONTENTMENT was something PAUL had to learn, that means we must learn the same thing.. How do we do that? Paul gives us the answer.

Look at v.13—  "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”

CONCLUSION

All of us, like the apostle Paul, must learn to be content! The Word of God says, "Be content!" Paul found the secret to CONTENTMENT in every circumstance he encountered, in both plenty and hunger, in abundance and need. Paul learned CONTENTMENT by leaning on and trusting in JESUS CHRIST completely. Though it is hard for us to believe ... the new husband or wife, car or job, increase in salary, healing of the body, or whatever it may be will not give us the contentment we seek. It might temporarily, but even as this world is temporal, it will not last. There's always something newer, bigger, or better to buy and someone else who has what you want ,but contentment is not having all that you want. The real key to contentment is focusing on what we do have and not on what we don’t have. You see the problem is not what we have or what we do not have, however strongly it may seem that this is the problem. The problem is us. Someone said: “All the world lives in two tents - content and discontent.” Which tent will you live In? Let me also say this, I have not learned what Paul is talking about here. I am still on my way to learning, by God’s grace. Like Paul, we “can do all things through Christ.”

 "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NKJV) 

Show Hospitality to Strangers

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)

I'm so encouraged by this verse! It clearly teaches us to show hospitality to strangers. But it also talks about the possibility of entertaining angels. Let me tell you, it was Thursday evening, a young woman asked if I had some money to spare for gas and while I don’t usually carry cash, I gave her my last. While the Bible tells us to give with a cheerful heart, it's also true that the good you have done for somebody may come back to you; BUT, I wasn't expecting the good to come back to me today. Today, on my way home from Walmart, I ran out of gas. Wanting to get home as fast as possible, I told myself I’d get gas closer to home, but within a few minutes, my car completely stopped. After minutes of waiting, I was then blessed by a stranger who appeared as an angel to help me out of this situation --- Not only did he push my car out of the road, but he brought me enough gas to drive to the nearest gas station. I felt so blessed, thankful, and lucky that this man was helping me out of the dilemma that I was in and he wouldn’t hear of me paying him anything for the gas. It was a moment of such astonishing grace – such unexpected hospitality.

Are you showing hospitality? Sometimes when we think of hospitality, we think of doing hospitality with the people we know, but in the Bible, God commands us to extend hospitality to our neighbors, friends and even strangers. Hospitality is not an option. This is what the Bible says about hospitality..... "Be hospitable to one another without complaint" (1 Pet. 4:9), "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it" (Heb. 13:2), "Contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality (Rom. 12:13).

As Christians, we must learn to trust God enough to do what He commands. We must be hospitable as possible while we are still here on earth! It is one of the ways we can show God’s love to others! It also helps us grow in service, humility, and putting other first. It helps us to receive God’s blessings as we share what we already have with others.In conclusion, hospitality is risky ... but the stakes are high if we fail as well.

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him,* saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? ’Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:41-46)

                                          A Person Who Show Hospitality Is . . .

H—Humble

O—Obedient

S—Sincere
P—Prayerful

I—Interested in Integrity
T—Trustworthy

A—Adopted into God's Family

L—Led by the Spirit

I—Instrumental in Producing Righteousness
T—Thankful
Y—Yielded

Impact Ministries

IMPACT Ministries is a ministry that exists to encourage, equip and empower young women. IMPACT is an acronym for Impacting Many People About Christ Today. 

IMPACT is all about women ministering/ mentoring to young women (ages 13-25). The young women in this group are from all backgrounds. Some are church born and bred; some are from single parent households, some have both parents at home, some rarely go to church at all. However, none of that matters, because the issues and challenges they face are the same. The issues young women face is acceptance of others, depression, faith/spirituality, family, the future, media, self-esteem, sex, stress, and substances. That’s why this ministry is designed to reach, teach and help young women...with application of scripture. IMPACT Ministries will be a place where we can come and learn what it truly means to be a Christian woman. It is a place where we can come together, eat, laugh, and build friendships. It is a place where we can share our struggles, our experiences, our testimonies, and our faith. It is a place where you can come and be you!

IMPACT is a place to belong, feel loved, be encouraged, make friends, grow and learn together, laugh, be real, be strengthened, and work together to do GREAT things!
 Through our groups, events, and resources young women are:

• Encouraged by life lessons, testimonies and godly examples of women and strong Christian girls who are striving to live lives that give glory and honor to God
• Equipped to apply biblical truths to everyday situations
• Empowered to put their God-given talents into action and serve as positive role models.

MISSION STATEMENT: IMPACT Ministries exists to encourage, equip and empower young women in the community with God's love, and to develop dedicated followers of Christ.

VISION: To see young women around the world actively and enthusiastically expressing love for God and others - young women equipped, motivated, and passionately engaged in living out their faiths

IMPACT's PURPOSE is what we believe God would have us to do as a ministry. It is the foundation of who we are. Are we perfect at it every time? No way! But we will try, and if we fail, we will try again. It is what God has placed us here to do and we will do our best to fulfill His purpose.

Meeting Dates & Times: 2nd & 4th Thursdays at 5 PM at the Central Park Recreation Center and 1st and 3rd Thursdays at Ensley Recreational Center at 5 PM.

General types of activities:

Movie nights, bowling,M, game nights, monthly study group, etc. 

Foundation Scripture: "Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in their behavior, teaching what is good..." Titus 2:3-5