Open Heavens 24 June 2016: Friday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Contented

Topic: Contented? [Friday 24, June 2016]
Memorise: And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. – 1 Timothy 6:8
Read: Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 (KJV)
 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
 12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
Bible in One Year: Acts 4-5, Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
MESSAGE:
 Lack of contentment is a sin because it is a sign of ingratitude to the Almighty God. There are many people who focus so much on what God is doing in the lives of other people and ignore what God is doing in their own lives. If you don’t want to end abruptly, do not give room for greed. Do not envy others. Envy is a sin.
 Contentment means a life that is satisfied with the faithfulness of God. It is to be delighted with what God is doing in your own life, even as you appreciate what He is doing in the life of others. A contented person is someone who is thrilled and captivated with the grace of God upon his life. When God is on your side, it doesn’t matter what your present level may be, you can be rest assured that your tomorrow will be much better. You need to remember that it is only the blessings of the Lord that makes rich and adds no sorrows. Instead of envying others, why not just talk to God and ask Him for what you need. He says whatever you ask in the Name of Jesus will be given to you. All of God’s blessings have their seasons. You need to appreciate the phase you are in before you can move to the next phase. There are many people who have not done anything with the opportunities given to them and they are wishing for the opportunities of others around them. If you don’t learn to be contented, you cannot be a happy child of God. If you will not wait for the mangoes on your tree to get ripe, you are never going to enjoy them. I know people who are so materialistic in nature; these people live in debt simply because they want to be envied by others. Never live your life for anybody. Appreciate what God has given you and continue to trust Him, and work towards a better life.
 Discontentment is an evil spirit that needs to be dealt with. It is a manifestation of the flesh and it should be crucified. This is why you need to know that it is not what you have that determines your state of happiness, happiness is a function of the mind. I know people who are very wealthy and do not have peace, and it is amazing that all around us, there are people who do not have much yet are very happy. One of the reasons why people lack contentment is that they always compare situations. Whenever people focus on what they don’t have, they become discontented. Be contented with what God has given you. That is not to mean that you can’t ask for something better, but it must not be from the point of ingratitude.
 Children of God should not be in any worldly competition. It is all vanity. There is nothing as pleasing as living a simple life. There is nothing wrong with wealth. It becomes wrong when one has made the accumulation of wealth his sole purpose in life.
 Key Point: Contentment gives peace of mind.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
 iOpenHeavens is the electronic version of the Hard Copy. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.