Be content… vs. 17-24

• Accepting where God has us… vs. 17
  • You MUST accept every situation the LORD has put you in…
    • We often miss that our circumstances are arranged by God – we are where He wants us
    • God has put us in our current social / financial / relational status for a reason…
    • Yet most of us do not accept the potion that the Lord has placed us in…
    • Socially / financially / relationally – we are not content – we want more…
  • Like King Solomon – we think the grass is always greener on the other side…
    • Solomon who tried everything – looking for happiness – Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
    • But Solomon learned instead it was all vanity – like chasing after the wind…
    • Looking for happiness – answers to life in this world – is chasing the wind…
    • It’s not about chasing something that’s hard to catch – there’s nothing there to catch!
    • The love of money – desire for stuff – only get us into trouble – I Timothy 6:9-10
    • If we desire more money – we are missing the greatest riches of all – Jesus!
    • We cannot dedicate our lives to money and possessions – and to loving Jesus…
    • We waste our life on possessions that don’t last – rather than on eternal rewards!
  • The solution – be content…
    • Food & clothing – I Timothy 6:8 / Your wages – Luke 3:14 / With what you have…
    • Hebrews 13:5 – “Don’t covet – be content with such things as you have.”
    • The richest man in the world – is the one who is content with what he has!
    • We will never be content – not matter how much we have – if we want more…
    • * Philippians 4:11 – “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content…”
    • We learn to be content as we experience that nothing in life satisfies us but Jesus!
      
• Be content in you social status / work … vs. 18-23
  • Paul goes on to give two example of being content – socially / financially…
  • Socially – If we were saved while circumcised – a Jew…
    • Do not seek to become uncircumcised – a Gentile (and vise versa)…
    • It does not matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile – only that you keep God’s commands
    • The point is don’t seek to change your social status…
    • Becoming a professional / getting a college degree – will not bring contentment…
    • There’s nothing wrong with s degree – do not you get rid of it if you have it…
    • Just don’t make the mistake of thinking you would be happy if only you were…
  • Financially – If you were saved as a slave – do not seek to be set free…
    • It does not matter if you are a slave – though if you can be free use it for the Lord…
    • The one who is saved while a slave – if free in Jesus – John 8:36
    • The one who is saved as a free man – is the Lord’s servant – Matthew 10:39…
    • Jesus bought you – do not become the slaves of men…
    • The point – be content in your work – if you are a ‘slave’ to your job – be content…
    • If you are poor – money will not bring contentment – but your Father is filthy rich!
    • If you have lots of money – don’t think you rich – God owns it all anyway…
    • So it is not about being poor or rich – it is about being content in Jesus!
      
  • Bottom line – remain in God… vs. 24
    • Remain in God – remain means – meno – ‘Abide’ in God…
    • * John 15:4-5 – “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
    • Position / possessions only bring us fleeting happiness…
    • Buy a new motor / a new cell phone – happy! But it only lasts a day / week…
    • In the end we are emptier than before we started – it does not fill our life…
    • Bottom line – abide in the Vine! Contentment in life only comes in Jesus!

To those who are single… vs. 25-38

It is better for them to remarry – and begin a new family!

Be content with your relationship… vs. 25-28

Paul had no direct command from Jesus (like he did with divorce) but he had wisdom….

Because of the present distress – likely referring to Jesus’ soon return…

It is better be content in whatever relationship you are in – married / single…

If you are married – bound to a wife (Perfect/Passive/Indicative) – stay that way…

If you are not married – do not seek a wife (Present/Active/Imperative)…

There is a difference between desire and seeking…

It is not wrong to desire to be married – we just should not seek marriage…

Like Adam – who if he’d insisted on finding a wife – had limited options – pig/dog…

Adam instead ‘waited’ (went to sleep) and the Lord brought Him Eve!

If you want to get married – don’t go and do your best to find a spouse – dog…

Fall asleep (with your desire to get married) and wait on the Lord!

Or like Isaac and Rebekah – the only recorded engagement in the Bible…

Rebekah was busy about her Father’s business when ‘the Holy Spirit’ called her…

Isaac was not out looking for his wife – taking time to seek & pray to the Lord…

As they were both focused on Jesus – God brought together a great marriage!

If you want to find that perfect one – be busy about your Heavenly Father’s business…

Not seeking a wife/husband – but taking the time to seek and pray to Jesus…

Then as we wait on/ look to Jesus – in His time – He will provide us the perfect spouse!

Marriage is not the key to a happy life…

If the motivation for getting married is to be content – you are in for a shock…

Just like with money or position – relationships are not the answer to life…

If you do get married it is not sin – but those who get married will have many troubles!

Trouble – thlipsis – tribulation – literally a wine Press – the crushing of grapes…

Why would marriage give you tribulation – two sinners living one life…

When we are single we can do what we want – whenever we want to…

When you put to selfish sinners together – both with different ideas – ‘wine press’!

Tribulation is not a bad thing…

* II Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Tribulations (the challenges of married) make us dependent on Jesus…

I thought I was a good – till I got married – then I realized how selfish I really was!

God gave us marriage to humble us – He gave us children to finish us off!

Marriage teaches us about ourselves – shows us how much we need Jesus…

The time is short… vs. 29-35

Paul’s reason for his perspective – the danger of being attached to the things of this world…

Life is short – and Jesus is coming soon – so don’t lose perspective on what’s important…

Don’t get caught up in relationships – looking for them to make you happy… vs. 29

Don’t get caught up in money – looking for it to make you happy… vs. 30

This world – and everything in it – is passing away – it will not last…

Don’t waste you time in things that are temporary – focus on the eternal!

* II Corinthians 4: 8 – “While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

It is easy for us to forget that life is not about the 70+/- years we have here on earth…

Life – true life – begins when we step foot into eternity – when we go home to heaven…

Ever gotten so caught up in a TV show – you forget what is going on around you…

It is entertaining – but the whole time you are missing out on ‘real life’…

The warning is we can get to caught up in this life – we miss Jesus!

The advantage to being single… vs. 32-34, 36-38

The married man cares about the things of the world – how to please his wife…

The unmarried man cares for the things of the Lord – how to please the Lord…

That does not mean you cannot serve the Lord when you are married…

But when we are married much of our time and energy does go to our family…

When single we are freed up in our time and resources to only serve the Lord…

Married good – single even better…

So if you can be single – then it is better to be single and wholly serve the Lord…

But – if you are tempted by the idea of marriage – I Corinthians 7:2 

If you have dreamt your whole life about being married…

If you think every time someone looks at you they may be the one…

Then there is a good chance you are called to be married!

If you do choose to get married – make a wise choice!

Jesus disciples asked the Lord if it was better to be single – Matthew 19:10…

The disciples understood Jesus was saying – marriage was for life…

Whether you married a good spouse or a bad one – you were stuck for life!

Considering the potential hazards of marrying a bad wife – better to be single

Marriage is very good – Proverbs 18:22 – “He who finds a wife finds a good thing…”

Yet there is wisdom in being very careful on deciding whom to marry…

It is a decision that will last the rest of your life – for better or worse

Paul’s motivation…  vs. 35

Paul is not putting restrictions on us / Paul is not discouraging marriage…

The message Paul is endeavoring to get across to us…

We are not going to find the answer to our lives in Position / Possessions / People…

The only answer is Jesus – Paul’s desire for our lives so that we may serve Jesus…

Serve – euprosedros – sitting constantly devoted – only here in the NT…

Luke 10:39,42 – “She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word… One thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.’”

The one thing that will bring contentment to our lives – is to sit at Jesus feet!

To those who want to get remarried… vs. 39-40

Paul gives on final category in the subject of marriage – remarriage…

If your spouse dies – you are free to remarry – Romans 7:1-3

The one condition he gives – ‘only in the Lord’ – do not marry an unbeliever…

Paul gives his opinion – it is better to remain single – dedicated to the Lord…

Paul elaborates on this in I Timothy 5:3-16…

Only those widows or widowers over the age of 60 should remain unmarried…

Those who are under that age – if they stay single – will fall into temptations…