The Biblical Worldview on Finding Contentment: Gaining Godly Insight

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by Harvest Partners, helping people everywhere know God. To find out how to know God personally, go to knowgod.org. K-N-O-W, knowgod.org.

Hey, would you do me a favor? Share this message with someone who needs to hear it. Pastor Greg Laurie points out our strength is found in the Lord and the Lord alone, as we read in Philippians 4-13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Take out the word Christ and put in another word and this collapses immediately. How about this? I can do all things through education that strengthens me. I can do all things through money.

How about this one? I can do all things through politics that strengthen me. No, but we can do all things through Christ. This is the day when the lost are found. This is the day for a new beginning. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.

Oh, can you hear all the angels are singing? This is the day, the day when life begins. If you knew you had the resources to handle anything, anything that came your way, would that change your outlook on life? Sometimes our demeanor is soured when life has been harsh and we feel there's nothing we can do about it. Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie brings some good news.

You can have an attitude of contentment no matter what, because your Heavenly Father knows what you're facing and He has a plan to bring you through. Good insight coming your way today. This is the day, the day when life begins.

All right. Well, let's grab our Bibles and turn to the book of Philippians. The book of Philippians.

And we're in our worldview series. And the title of the message today is The Biblical Worldview on Finding Contentment. Philippians chapter 4 and we're reading verses 10 to 13.

Paul writes and he says, For I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last your care for me has flourished again, though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity, not that I speak in regard to need. For I have learned in whatever state I am in to be content. Underline that verse. I have learned whatever state I am in to be content. I know how to be abased.

I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer and eat. Verse 13. I can do all things to Christ who strengthens me.

So that brings me to point number one if you're taking notes. Contentment comes when we rejoice in the Lord. Paul found contentment because he rejoiced in the Lord. Verse 4 of Philippians 4 he says, Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.

And by the way that is a command as we pointed out in our last message. You are commanded to rejoice. It doesn't say rejoice in circumstances because sometimes it is hard. But rejoice in the Lord. Point number two.

Paul found contentment because he took life as a king. You cannot control what comes your way in life. I have tried.

It doesn't work. But I can control my reaction to it. I can control the way I think.

I can control my attitude. That is why you learn this. You learn how to be content.

Which brings me to point number three. Contentment does not come from what I have. It comes from who I know. Contentment does not come from what I have.

It comes from who I know. Hebrews 13 5 says, Let your way of life be without covetousness. But be content with such things as you have. For he has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. See because Christ will never leave me I can be content. It is not about what I have. It is about who has me. And so Paul had found this contentment in his relationship with God.

Point number four. Contentment comes from leaning on Christ. Not leaning on yourself. Contentment comes from leaning on Christ.

Not leaning on yourself. Look at verse 13. I can do all things to Christ who strengthens me. So Paul realized he needed God's help. Earlier in his book he writes to live as Christ and to die as gain. So Paul had experienced some hard times including being stoned.

Not that kind of stoned. Literal stoning with rocks. In fact he was probably killed. We know at some point Paul died. And many believe it was an incident in the book of Acts where he was stoned and thought of his dead and came back to life. And so Paul had the unique experience of dying and going to heaven and coming back again.

Imagine poor Paul. So he is stoned and he is hurtled into the presence of God. And there is the Lord Jesus Christ who says, Well done good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord. And Paul is rejoicing in the Lord.

I don't know what happened up there. But maybe the Lord said something like, Hey Paul I have got some good news and bad news. What is the good news? You are coming back again Paul. Again.

What do you mean again? You are going back to earth now buddy. Oh no.

No. I do not want to go back to earth Paul. People are down there praying for you to be raised from the dead. Lord don't listen to their prayers. They are sinners. I don't want to go back to earth.

I want to stay here. I know Paul. But I have a work for you to do. And then he is back there and they are praying that he would be raised. And the Lord gave him many years but the Lord also said, A thorn in his flesh. We don't know what it was. Some kind of a physical problem. Maybe a result of one of those beatings or stonings. Maybe it was eyesight.

That is what some commentators think. We don't know with certainty but it was a continuing physical issue it would appear. He described it as a thorn in the flesh. A messenger of Satan sent to buffet him lest he would be inflated with pride. So the Lord kind of kept him humble through life. But it kept him leaning on Christ and trusting in Christ.

So he found this contentment. Now we come to a very important verse. Verse 13. Let's say it together. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Let's say it one more time. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Don't you love that verse? The J.B. Phillips translation of that verse goes as follows. I am ready for anything through the strength of the one who lives within me. I am ready for anything. I can do all things through Christ. Now take out the word Christ and put in another word and this collapses immediately. How about this.

I can do all things through drugs and alcohol that strengthen me. Is that true? When are people in Hollywood going to get this memo? I mean we breathlessly follow their every move. Their every tweet. Their every post.

Oh they are so wonderful we think. And then we hear of this one checking into a rehab clinic for the tenth time. And we read of this other one getting another divorce. And then we read of another who overdoses on drugs. And then we read of some who commit suicide.

And we don't understand that. Because they are living the good life or so we think. They are living the life that maybe some of us wish we were living.

And why would they just take their own life. I will tell you Jesus cares for every one of these people. He loves them. Jesus cares about every little child. He cares about every unborn child. He cares about every middle aged person. He cares about an older person. He cares about the elderly person.

He cares for all of us and wants to forgive us of all of our sin. And that is how we need to take the gospel out and tell people about Jesus. Because there are people like this that you may know.

And they seem to have it all together on the outside. And you thought why would I share Jesus with them. Look at the car they drive. Why would I tell them about what Christ can do in their life. Look at their beautiful husband or wife and kids and this or that. No.

Listen. Deep down inside everyone is empty. Everyone is lonely. And everyone needs Jesus. Christ is the answer for everyone.

Not just some. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Not drugs.

How about this. I can do all things through education that strengthens me. Well you can do some things with education.

Getting a degree is a great thing. But He can only do some things through it. I can do all things through money that strengthens me. You can do some things with money. Money is not evil. Some say well you know the Bible says money is the root of all evil. The Bible doesn't say that. The Bible says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Which while some have coveted after they have erred from the faith. Money is neutral. It can be used for God's glory. It can be used for evil. But you can't do all things through money.

It has its limitations. Well I can do all things through friends that strengthen me. Well sometimes friends let you down.

Sometimes friends abandon you. How about this one. I can do all things through politics that strengthen me. No.

No. We can do some things through politics. And by the way Christians should be involved in politics. We really should. Now this is not. I don't agree. Look. We need to be involved in every part of culture.

Every part. And every Christian should register and vote. And to not do that to me is a bit irresponsible.

Maybe even worse. So you know we want to encourage men and women of God who want to do what they can in our nation's capital. There are good and godly people in Washington D.C. And there are bad and ungodly people in Washington D.C. So we want to be an influence where we can be. But we understand also we can only do some things through politics. But we can do all things through Christ. Christ is the answer. He is the answer for the future of America. In just a moment Pastor Greg explains how contentment is tied to generosity.

We'll see we're more content with what we give than what we get. More on that in a moment. In a new book Pastor Greg Laurie recalls his friendship with Dr. Billy Graham. He had this ability to connect from the beginning to the middle to the end of his ministry.

I remember seeing him in New York at his final crusade and flushing meadows there. And I remember he just looked at the crowd and said God loves you. And then he would turn to another part of the crowd and say God loves you. I read somewhere that what young people want and need from older people is first they want to be loved. And you want to be loved. And the Bible says God loves you. God loves you.

God loves everyone here tonight. He lived what he preached. There weren't two Billy Grahams.

He was the same in private that he was in public. And he was the godliest man I've ever met. The new book Billy Graham the Man I Knew from Pastor Greg Laurie. Yours for a gift of any size at Harvest.org. Well today Pastor Greg is presenting his message called The Biblical Worldview on Finding Contentment.

It's available online at Harvest.org. And that brings me to point number five. To find contentment. I must do my part because God has done his. Again I must do my part because God has done his. This verse pulls it all together.

It brings the perfect balance. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. It shows the place of God's power and it shows the place of our response. It does not teach that God does everything for the Christian. Nor does it teach the Christian does everything for God. It teaches that God has given the power and resources I need and I must appropriate them.

Listen. There are some things only God can do. And some things only you can do. Only God can forgive you of your sin. But only you can repent of your sin. Only God can lead you. But only you can yield to his leading.

So I have responsibility. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The flip side of that is a statement of Christ where he said, apart from me you can do nothing. Oh without Christ I can't live this Christian life. Without Christ I can't help anyone really.

Without Christ I can't do much but all things can be done through Christ who strengthens me. And that is good news. Last point now.

Point number six. Contentment does not come from getting but giving. Contentment does not come from getting but giving. Verse 19.

My God will supply all of your need according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus. This is an oft quoted yet perhaps misunderstood verse. We need to understand it doesn't just float out in space on its own because behind every promise of God there is a premise. Again behind every promise of God there is a premise.

What is a premise or the context? Well the context of Philippians 4 is Paul is commending the believers for their generosity. Look at verse 17. Not that I seek the gift but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all in abounding full having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you a sweet smelling aroma and acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God. Then he says, My God will supply all of your needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus.

Let me paraphrase that. Guys I received your offering. Thanks so much. It meant a lot. I know it was sacrificial on your part but I pray God blesses you for your generosity. So these are people that are giving and now he is offering them the promise God will supply all of their needs. I mentioned getting more stuff does not bring happiness or contentment.

Now let me add another statement. Giving more stuff does. Giving more stuff does.

Conventional wisdom says the more you get the happier and more content you will be. The Bible says the more you give the more happy and content you will be. Jesus said it is more blessed to give than it is to receive. Or another way to translate that it is more happy making to give than it is to receive. Now this certainly applies to our finances.

Let me say something. This is not really a verse you can apply if you have been foolish with finances. I mean if you just got back from Vegas and spent all your savings and go, Well praise God. My God will supply all of my. Yeah.

Really? Or because you won't go and get a job when there are jobs out there that you could get. You just are lazy and you don't want to apply. Well my God will supply all of my needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus while I take another nap on my lazy boy. Wait.

You know. Hold on. The Bible says if a man doesn't work he shouldn't eat. Get off your fat lazy boy chair and work like the rest of us. And God will supply all of your needs. Be a good steward. Remember to give to the Lord. Because God promises if we will give to Him He will give to us.

But let's broaden this. This doesn't just apply to finances. Maybe you are single and you are saying I am lonely and I am tired of them saying in the restaurant party of one. Well my God will supply all of your needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus. God can supply that person for you. Start praying for them. Maybe you are having marital problems. Well I don't know how we are going to save this marriage. My God can supply all of your needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus.

Well maybe you are having problems with your kids. My God can supply all of your needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus. Maybe you need a physical touch from God because you have not been given any hope by the doctors. My God can supply all of your needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus. No God doesn't heal everyone but He heals many. And we should pray for His healing touch. The Bible says if there is any sick among you call for the elders of the church who will pray and anoint them with oil and the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

If you need help in that way let us know and we will pray for you. That is what we are here for. So the point is God will supply all of the things that you need.

So let's wrap this up. Happiness does not come from seeking self-fulfillment but rather the fulfillment of others. Happiness does not come from seeking it but from seeking God.

Happiness and contentment do not come from getting. They come from giving. No one has ever been honored for what they received but rather for what they gave. You don't go to a person's funeral and have someone say, you know how much money this person made in life? Do you know how many cool things they had?

Nobody cares about that. We want to know what they did. We want to hear about a charitable act. An act of kindness. Something they did for someone else. Those are the things we remember about one another. So we keep that in mind that it is about discovering real contentment. Listen.

It comes down to this. What you are looking for in life is a relationship with God. It is not going to be found in a thing. It is not going to be found in an accomplishment. It is not going to be found in fame.

It is not going to be found in any outside exterior thing. It will be found in a relationship with God. Are you content? That is what I asked you in the beginning. Are you a happy person right now?

Are you thinking, well if I just had this and I just had that. No. What you need is God. Tell me what you think you need. I will tell you what you really want. It is Jesus. Tell me what you really want.

I will tell you what you really need. It is Jesus. It is Jesus that you are looking for. And He is here with us right now standing at the door of your life and He is knocking.

And He is saying if you will hear His voice and open the door He will come in. And I ask you in closing have you asked Jesus Christ to come into your life to be your Savior and your Lord. Because the day you do that your questions will be answered. The day you do that you will find the contentment you have been seeking in life. The day you do that is the day you change your eternal address literally from hell to heaven. And He is ready to forgive you but you must ask Him to come into your life. We are going to pray in a moment. And I am going to extend an invitation to any of you who maybe have never asked Jesus to come into your life.

Listen. Coming to harvest doesn't make you a Christian. Any more than going to a Krispy Kreme makes you a donut. I don't care if your parents are Christians.

I mean I am glad they are. But that won't make you a Christian. Or if your husband or your wife is a Christian that won't make you a Christian. Or if your friend that came here with you is a Christian that doesn't mean you are a Christian. There has to be a moment when you say Jesus come into my life.

You say well ok how do I even do that? Through prayer. And I am going to lead you in that prayer if you want to pray it. So in a moment we are going to extend this opportunity if you need Jesus today if you want to find contentment and the guaranteed hope of heaven and find the meaning and purpose of life it is here for you now. Let's pray. Father I pray now for anyone here.

Anyone listening or watching that does not yet know You. Help them to see Lord how much You love them. And help them to come to You and believe in Jesus who died on the cross for their sin. And shed His blood for every evil sinful thing they have done. Help them to believe in You today we pray.

Amen. And if you would like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord. Pastor Greg Laurie will help you do that in just a moment before this edition of A New Beginning concludes. So please stay with us. Now to hear any part of today's study again.

You can get a replay by going to harvest.org. Just look for the biblical worldview on finding contentment. And then it's such a joy to announce Pastor Greg's new book called Billy Graham, The Man I Knew. It's an evangelist's look at the life of the greatest evangelist of all time. And Pastor Greg he wrote in the book the two most important moments in a person's life are when they're born and when they realize what they are born for.

Yes. Over and over we see evidence of what Billy was born for. In the book do you help us sort of discover what we are born for?

Right. Yes of course because you know God has a plan for each of our lives. Now Billy wanted to be a professional baseball player. That's what he aspired to.

But after he accepted Christ at the revival meetings of evangelist Mordecai Ham, a calling came on Billy's life. And he was resistant to it at first. He didn't aspire to be a preacher.

He was a fun loving normal young man who as I said wanted to go play baseball. But God put a call on his life. And God puts a call on everybody's life. We're not all called to be preachers. Certainly we're not all called to impact the world like Billy Graham did. But we are all called to preach the gospel.

And we are all called to impact our world. So in this book that I've written on the life of Billy called Billy Graham the Man That I Knew, I show how the Lord directed him. How the Lord called him. And I describe in detail the amazing changes that happened in his life. And he wanted to go one way and the Lord led him another way. And how God was in control of his life from beginning to end.

And how the Lord will do that for you as well. I'm hoping that this book will introduce Billy to a whole new generation. Especially of young people that don't really know Billy. They weren't raised seeing Billy on television all the time.

They never went in person to a Billy Graham crusade. So I'm doing my best to bring this story in an understandable relatable way to you. I show his humor. I show his humanness. I show some of his vulnerabilities.

And you'll only love and appreciate him more after you've read it. Because he was the same guy in private that he was in public. There were not two Billy Grahams. He was the real deal. And that's why I decided to write a book about Billy Graham. Because people need to know about this man who was called by God to be the greatest evangelist in history. His life is worth studying. He's such a great example for all of us. And Pastor Greg and his co-author Marshall Terrell have done exhaustive research into Billy's life.

In fact, research that took them all the way back to the Civil War. So don't miss this opportunity to read this evangelist's look at the life of history's greatest evangelist. And we'll send you a copy, hot off the press, to thank you for your investment in making these daily studies possible. It's only through listener support that we can feature Pastor Greg's teachings each day. So send your gift today to A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514. Or call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime, again at 1-800-821-3300. Or go online to Harvest.org and look for Billy Graham, the man I knew.

And we'll only be mentioning this a short time longer, so get in touch right away. Pastor Greg, you spoke today about having a relationship with the Lord. Someone can enter into that kind of relationship with God right now, can't they? Yeah, they really can. That's the amazing thing. I think people are surprised that it doesn't take years to become a Christian. It doesn't take months. It doesn't take weeks. It doesn't take days.

It doesn't even take hours. You can believe on the spot. And I would like to lead you in a prayer where you can ask for His forgiveness. A prayer where you can receive Jesus Christ into your life as your Savior and Lord. So if you want Christ to come into your life, if you want Him to forgive you of your sin, if you want a second chance in life, if you want to go to heaven when you die, stop what you're doing and pray after me these words. Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I'm sorry for my sin.

And I turn from it now, and I choose to follow You from this moment forward. As Savior and Lord, as God and friend, thank You for loving me and calling me and forgiving me. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. Amen. And listen, if you have just prayed those words with Pastor Greg and meant them sincerely, the Bible assures us your sins have been forgiven.

We're told the Lord is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanses from all unrighteousness. And we want to send some resource materials to you that will help you in your new relationship with the Lord. We call it our New Believers' Growth Packet. We'll send it without charge if you prayed for the first time today with Pastor Greg. Just ask for it when you write A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514. Or call 1-800-821-3300.

That's a 24-7 phone number, 1-800-821-3300. Or go online to harvest.org and click Know God. In the meantime, Pastor Greg continues his enlightening series called Worldview with a look at what the Bible says about the afterlife.

It's literally a life-and-death discussion. Be sure to tune in next time for A New Beginning with Pastor Greg Laurie. This is the day, the day when life begins The preceding message from Greg Laurie was made possible by Harvest Partners, so people everywhere know God. Sign up for Pastor Greg's free daily email devotions at harvest.org.