LIVING FROM CONTENTMENT

Hey friend! Let's see some realities about this world:

'Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.' - Ecclesiastes 1 vs 2 {KJV}

• all is vanity

'Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.' - Ecclesiastes 2 vs 11 {KJV}

Pay attention to what you are reading!

'But when I turned to look at all that I had accomplished and all the hard work I had put into it, I saw that it was all pointless. It was like trying to catch the wind. I gained nothing from any of my accomplishments under the sun.' - Ecclesiastes 2 vs 11 {GW}

'Then I thought about all that I had done and how hard I had worked doing it, and I realized that it didn't mean a thing. It was like chasing the wind—of no use at all.' - Ecclesiastes 2 vs 11 {GNB}

• it didn't mean a thing
• It was like chasing the wind

Pay attention!

'For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?

For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.' - Ecclesiastes 2 vs 22 - 23 {KING JAMES VERSION}

'You work and worry your way through life, and what do you have to show for it?

As long as you live, everything you do brings nothing but worry and heartache. Even at night your mind can't rest. It is all useless.' - Ecclesiastes 2 vs 22 - 23 {GOOD NEWS BIBLE TRANSLATION}

'What do we really gain from all of our hard work?

Our bodies ache during the day, and work is torture. Then at night our thoughts are troubled. It just doesn't make sense.' - Ecclesiastes 2 vs 22 - 23 {CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION}

• It just doesn't make sense

'Whoever loves money will never be satisfied with money. Whoever loves wealth will never be satisfied with more income. Even this is pointless.' - Ecclesiastes 5 vs 10 {GW}

Pay attention!

'If you love money, you will never be satisfied; if you long to be rich, you will never get all you want. It is useless.' - Ecclesiastes 5 vs 10 {GNB}

Seeing these things, how then should you live your life?

'But godliness with contentment is great gain.' - 1 Timothy 6 vs 6 {KJV}

Living from contentment! See this:

'We have a “profit” that is greater than theirs—our holy awe of God! To have merely our necessities is to have enough.' - 1 Timothy 6 vs 6 {TPT}

To have merely our necessities is to have enough. What a statement! Do you believe this? Think about it.

Living from contentment! Approaching life from the place of contentment. This is will be the beginning of your peace from fear, uncertainties and anxiety concerning life. You don't have riches? Unbothered! No wife? Unbothered! No husband? Unbothered! No luxuries which your friends have? Unbothered! You are content with the necessities of life that God has given to you, because you have an understanding that you came into this world with nothing, and certainly you will leave this world with nothing!

'For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.' - 1 Timothy 6 vs 7 {KJV}

'I walked through the fields and vineyards of a lazy, stupid person. 

They were full of thorn bushes and overgrown with weeds. The stone wall around them had fallen down. 

I looked at this, thought about it, and learned a lesson from it...' - Proverbs 24 vs 30 - 32 {GOOD NEWS BIBLE TRANSLATION}

• I looked at this...and learned a lesson from it

Learn to observe and learn lessons from life, just like Solomon. Observe the rich: they excel in wealth and influence, then they die and are forgotten! Their chapter in the earth comes to a close, their wealth enter into the hands of another, and they are buried with empty hands. Observe and take lessons from that your friend or colleague who was of the same life's pursuits as yourself who is now dead. That could be you! Observe and learn lessons. A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of things that he has - so the Lord Jesus taught:

'And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.' - Luke 12 vs 15 {KJV}

• a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth

Live with the superior goal in mind. Eternity! When you live from contentment, I tell you, you will be unaffected by this life, absolutely unfazed about the cares of this life. Undaunted! You may appear small, but you have Eternal Life! Your eyes and your gaze are on that one thing which is needful, eternal life!

'And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.' - Luke 10 vs 41 - 42 {KING JAMES VERSION}

• one thing is needful

Of course, go about your work, go about your business, make money, but do all you do from the place of contentment. You don't have this? No worries! You don't have that? No worries! You are grateful to God for that which He has given to you, you are grateful to God for that which you have. And you are even more grateful to God because He has given you the Kingdom. Glory to God forevermore.

'There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 

And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 

And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.' - Luke 16 vs 19 - 25 {KING JAMES VERSION}

It didn't matter that Lazarus was poor! He achieved the ultimate prize. But the rich man, of what use was his riches ultimately? Observe and learn lessons!

Heaven is the goal!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

- Jenning U. Angel