Be Content With What God Gives You (Message to Women) -- Annie Poonen - July 21, 2021
Also in
http://rlcf.church/media/sermons/learn-to-be-content River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The message emphasizes the importance of being content with where God has placed us, drawing parallels to the concept of 'godliness with contentment' from scripture. However, the speaker cautions against complacency, urging listeners to maintain a constant hunger for the Lord in prayer, spiritual disciplines, and personal habits. True beauty and worth are found not in outward appearance, but in the inner life cultivated through love, patience, and compassion, reflecting the image of God.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Learning contentment from Madame GuyonThe speaker recalls the autobiography of Madame Guyon, a saintly lady who found equal joy staying where she was or going elsewhere despite enduring severe trials and an unhappy home.
Why am I here?While thinking of sick and passing friends whom she could not visit due to being thousands of miles away, the speaker wondered why she was placed far from them in a time of sorrow.
Being content with where God has placed youThe Lord spoke to the speaker, reminding her to be content with where He has placed her and to bloom like a little flower planted in a rocky place.
Godliness with contentmentFirst Timothy 6:6 pairs godliness with contentment because true godliness cannot exist without contentment; otherwise, a person only has exterior religiosity.1 Timothy 6:6
Being content is different from being complacentWhile we must be content with our circumstances, we must never be complacent about our spiritual state, prayer life, or overcoming bad habits like controlling the tongue and temper.
Finding contentment with our physical appearanceYoung girls and daughters often struggle with discontentment regarding their skin color, height, weight, or friendships, needing encouragement to focus on God's image.
The true image of God is inward beautyGod's image is the inward beauty of love, patience, forgiveness, and compassion that we will take with us into eternity when we allow the Holy Spirit to chisel us.
Scriptures on contentment and the danger of covetousnessFirst Timothy 6 reminds believers to be content with food and clothing, warning that the love of money and covetousness cause many to wander from the faith and pierce themselves with sorrows.1 Timothy 6:7–8
The Apostle Paul learned to be contentDespite enduring imprisonment, beatings, and sufferings, Paul learned to be content in every situation and viewed his afflictions as light and momentary compared to eternal glory.
Jesus was content with His earthly lifeJesus, the Creator of the universe, was content with the humble home, simple food, and physical exhaustion He experienced as a man walking to bless needy people.
Remembering the cost of our redemptionReflecting on how Jesus endured a brutally disfiguring beating and death on the cross to take our punishment rescues us from taking His great love and mercy for granted.
Being content with daily provisions and familyThe speaker shares practical areas of contentment, including being satisfied with one's home, salary, appliances, children, and husband without constantly craving modern gadgets.
Thankfulness goes hand in hand with contentmentWe cannot be content or godly without thankfulness, which stands as the antidote to degradation and the proper response to God and others.
Seeking God's kingdom first and guarding against idolsBelievers must seek God's kingdom and righteousness first, keeping themselves from the idols of unfulfilled earthly longings and persistent worldly thoughts.
Look to the rock from which you were hewnIsaiah 51 instructs believers to occasionally look back at the wretched, sin-steeped quarry from which God picked them up, keeping us humble, thankful, and content.
