1 Corinthians 7
Experiencing Contentment!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, September 24.
Today is my 46th birthday and I want to thank my mom for doing all the hard work! Today, I am thanking God for the birthday gift of contentment. Contentment is very different from complacency and they should not be confused with one another.
Contentment is defined as “the state of being mentally or emotionally satisfied” (dictionary).
We are called to this mental and emotional state by Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:25-33 and the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:12-13, as well as the author of Hebrews in Hebrews 13:5-6.
Contentment is more than an emotional or mental state; it is a way of life! First Corinthians 7 can be summarized with a faithful admonition from Paul to each of us in 1 Corinthians 7:17, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.”
A “rule” speaks to a way of life. Paul calls Christians to a deep abiding trust in the Lord. We are to find our identity and our provision in Him and not in what we do. Whereas, humanism calls our society to a trust in ourselves and our identity in our ability to provide for our own wants and needs. The prevailing humanistic philosophy of our culture is summarized by the saying, “He who dies with the most toys wins!” This saying gives to the person who adheres to it an inability to feel secure in who they are or content in what they have.
Seize the moment and live faithfully to Jesus and the relationships He has entrusted to you. Find your identity in Him and your daily bread as from Him. Being faithful to Jesus in your daily life is the key to experiencing contentment and a simple summary of 1 Corinthians 7. Contentment is experienced when you keep your eyes on Him.
Have a wonderful day!