Christian Life Table Discussions
Contentment
Select Leader who will decide when to move from section to section. Select the person who was born the furthest distance away from this location.
Introduce one another and then talk about what the place was in your house where you felt the most safety and contentment as a child.
Bible Basis.
Luke 12:15 (New King James Version)
15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
Personalize. To help one another see the relevance of the topic for life today, please read over all the following questions, and then let people talk about any of them (it is not necessary to take them in order or to talk about all of them).
The Questions: Is “keeping up with the Joneses” a factor in your life? How do advertisements play upon a person’s lack of contentment? Have you known people who try to fill the void in their lives with “things?” God is sometimes defined as “what we look to for our identity, security, and meaning;” in what way do “things” tend to take the place of God?
God’s Word. From the ideas in the following two verses, how many different strategies can you find to fight against feelings of covetousness?
1 Timothy 6:6-11 (New International Version)
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Philippians 4:11-13 (New International Version)
11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Application. Based on the verses above, I think God’s will for me today is … (this may be different for each person)
Insight. What is there about me that keeps me from doing what I know God wants me to do in this area? (This will provide insight into your sin nature, whether areas of deliberate disobedience or weakness. Seeing our sin afresh leads to seeing our savior afresh).
Christ. How is he the answer to the particular insights surfaced above (these would include His forgiveness for what is past, and asking Him to strengthen your new life for the next time to temptation comes up). Prayer at this point could include repenting of sins, and asking God to bring about change.
Future. Promises to rely on next time the problem arises:
Hebrews 13:5-6 (New International Version)
5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”