this week's OUTLINE
*Special Note: In one of the Care Facilities Dr. Spence visits, there is a Gentleman who attends the Church Services every week. His health is not the best in these years of his life. Before the Church Service, he always places Dr. Spence's chair. He himself sits close by. He respectfully hears the Sermon. Afterward, he returns Dr. Spence's chair to its proper place. This Gentleman once asked for a printed Weekly Outline, besides This Week's Sermon. This is that Outline. The Weekly Outlines have been made now for more than a year. Therefore when this Gentleman is present in the Church Services, the Weekly Outline he receives will be posted here. When he is in the Hospital, everything will wait till he returns. If anything happens, the Weekly Outline will quietly disappear. In the meantime, it is prayerfully hoped that these Weekly Outlines will be a Blessing to our Readers too. The Gentleman is specially expressive and appreciative for the Weekly Outlines. He often uses them in his conversations with others.
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What Is Contentment? Hebrews 13.5. “Be content with such things as ye have.” Question. What does the Word “content” mean? I. The Word itself. The Greek Scholar Dr. Strong defines the Greek Word that is used in the Text to mean “to ward off.” Isn't this a striking idea of contentment? Too often, it is thought that contentment presupposes a considerable degree of wealth. If you are rich, then you are in a position to be content. Whereas Dr. Strong reminds us that a real ingredient in the Greek Word points toward fighting off notions and feelings of discontentment. This speaks that some effort is involved in contentment. Yet Dr. Vine speaks the full thought. Dr. Vine defines the Greek Word to mean “to be sufficient, to be possessed of sufficient strength, to be strong, to be enough for a thing; hence to ward off.” Such reflections testify that contentment requires character. You first must have some spiritual strength and maturity to begin with, so that you might be able by GOD'S Grace to “ward off” the disquieting thoughts. II. The Verses. The Greek Word that is used in the Text only appears eight times in the New Testament. Four times the faithful King James Scholars rendered the Word “content.” Luke 3.14; I Timothy 6.8; Hebrews 13.5; III John 1.10. Two times they rendered the Word “sufficient.” John 6.7; II Corinthians 12.9. One time the Word is rendered “enough.” Matthew 25.9. One time the Word is rendered “sufficeth.” John 14.8. In the Verses, there is much that may be gathered relating to GOD'S mind concerning contentment. Even the very phrases speak to us. Luke 3.14 says: “Be content with your wages.” I Timothy 6.8 says: “Having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” In II Corinthians 12.9, JESUS says: “My Grace is sufficient [contentment] for thee.” And might not an element in Philip's declaration be admired? It even runs along the lines of II Corinthians 12.9. John 14.8 says: “Philip saith unto Him [Jesus], Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.” In Philip's mind, if he knew more of THE FATHER, he was aware that this would lead his soul into contentment.
-----The Instructions— 1. What contentment is. When the Greek Word itself and the eight Verses are taken into consideration together, it stands up from the Pages of the New Testament (rather from the mouth of GOD) that contentment is not a self-sufficiency of material things. Is not this perspective subjective? Instead, contentment is a real relationship with GOD that is coupled with a satisfaction in ourselves as to what we have. 2.The reason for contentment. The standard is not “owning a house” or “possessing a car.” In the New Testament, there are two reasons for contentment. First: A certain material standard. “Your wages.” “Having food and raiment.” If you have wages that enable you to have food and raiment, I concede, you are not the richest man, but in GOD'S estimation, you have reason to be content. Second: A real relationship with GOD. “My Grace is sufficient for thee.” “Show us the Father.” There is something precious about a real relationship with GOD. How did the Secret Service Veteran in the Care Facility say it? “Every day is a holiday, and every meal is a feast.” If you have GOD, you might be surprised what you can enjoy. 3. A misunderstanding of contentment has led to many ills in our Country. For years, America has been looked on by many people as “the envy of the world.” But how much discontentment fills our land these days! It is a practical proof that wealth does not give contentment. It is not wealth that gives contentment. Contentment is an inward grace. It springs chiefly from the inside. From there, it extends not only to the things that you own, but even to how you look on the goods of your neighbor. Are you satisfied with JESUS? You should be. GOD is satisfied with JESUS. GOD has given JESUS the highest place in Heaven. JESUS today sits at the right hand of GOD. When you are satisfied with JESUS, this is the great dawn, rise, and reign of contentment. “Where Jesus is, 'tis Heaven there.” Amen.