It today's world it is difficult to conceive of this word contentment as it seeks to instill envy and the opposite of contentment, resentment, and covetousness. We are bombarded with the bigger and the better and everything that makes the flesh envious. These things the world promotes stand directly opposed to the word of God. There is a danger for us to recognize the power of this world but also to recognize the weakness of our flesh and the propensities towards these things in our flesh as they are continually flashed before us. We have a heavenly treasure and must have Christian contentment!

What it is: Be content (positively) but beware of covetousness (negatively.) Scripture does not speak negatively of the coin here, but God goes way beyond that! The world things money is the end of all things and the end of all that ails them. They think it buys them security....but our Lord says "this night your soul will leave you..." And the question is are we rich towards GOD? Riches have to do with our relationship to our Lord! We must not be coveting but content in all things....satisfied with the present! The Lord tells us to be satisfied with the state in which we are in....that is contentment! Paul says he is content though he was behind bars in prison even. Contentment is SPIRITUAL and a gift of grace with a vision that we are the dear children of God in this world and the apple of His eye and live in the hand of our heavenly Father who cares for us as HE SEES FIT! This is right where we all OFTEN times stumble with this very concept.

How it is practiced: We live in His hand as He give us everything we need! We are told to "seek ye FIRST the Kingdom and all things you have need of will be provided." We understand that all these things will disappear when we have the gold, silver, and the treasure of the heavenly...praying "give us this day our daily bread!" Every day is distinct and God will have us face each and every day in its necessity. He directs to His good pleasure that we may trust to live out of and from His hand. "Go to the ant though sluggard." We must not fret, but trust in our Father who cares for us that He may receive all the glory and praise. What is providence? The Almighty presence of our heavenly Father whereby He will take care of us! And no matter where we are in this life, my soul is satisfied in the moment as we can depend on God! In time AND for eternity!

Basis: We are then lifted above this world where we have our heavenly possessions. "Give me neither poverty or riches." He will deal with us accordingly to give us what we need for our daily need. See how he takes care of His creatures. We can say this confidently because of the word of God...."for He said!" There is a change in leadership when Moses dies and the people stand before the promise land we read in Joshua 1 where God says "be strong and of courage...my word is GOOD!"