In this episode of the Weekday Podcast, Pastor Chuck discusses the true source of contentment. Contrary to cultural messages that suggest happiness comes from getting what we want, he explains that genuine contentment comes from wanting what God gives. Using Romans 12:2, he highlights that when we allow God to transform our thinking, we can understand and live in His good, pleasing, and perfect will. He also warns about the dangers of comparison and encourages listeners to focus on gratitude and praise to find peace and purpose.
Have you ever discovered that maybe you're just not as content as you wish you were? I've been there. I've lived it. Hi, everybody. This is Pastor Chuck Allen, and thanks for joining me on this weekday podcast.
The secret to true contentment is just not as hard as we've made it. It's not seven keys. It's not five books. It really is a thought.
Listen to what Romans 12:2 says, "then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." What does it mean to be truly content? Our culture tells us that contentment comes from getting what you want. But the truth is, contentment comes from wanting what God gives.
Okay, that's worth repeating. Our culture tells us that contentment comes from getting what we want. But the truth is, contentment comes from wanting what God gives. When we live out of our want, we'll always feel restless and less than. But when we live in God's will, we experience peace, purpose, joy, yes, and contentment.
You know, I counseled a fellow about, I don't know, a month or two ago, and he was ready to quit his job because he felt less than. I dug in a little bit. I mean, the guy's making plenty of money. He's been with the company a long time. He's highly successful, makes a good income, has a great office, has wonderful perks, has a beautiful family. The problem is, he's comparing his life to a college roommate who had been wildly successful as an entrepreneur, starting businesses, buying businesses, selling businesses, second, third, homes, cars. And he just kept looking at this guy thinking, if I could be more like him, I could become happy.
Where did he look and see all that? No, it wasn't Instagram. No, it wasn't Facebook. No, it wasn't X. It was LinkedIn, the businessman's Facebook. This executive wasn't unhappy. He was unhappy with his comparison.
This is what happens when we live in a state of wanting. We think, if I just had that job, that house, or that life, I'd be happy. But the truth is, we know that's not always true. But God wants to shift our hearts from wanting more to being content with his will.
Romans 12:2 says that when we let God transform our thinking, we'll learn how to know his will, which is good, which is pleading, and is perfect. True contentment, friend, isn't about getting what you want. It's about wanting what he gives.
So each morning this week, spend a few minutes praising God without asking for anything. Start your day with saying, God, I praise you for who you are. Thank you for your love, your grace, your provision. Thank you for your wisdom.
And when you focus on gratitude, and when you focus on praise, you'll find your heart shifting toward true contentment. And I encourage you today, don't let yourself fall into a comparison trap. You're never going to win it. There's always somebody going to have more. There's always somebody that's going to be able to succeed in a way you wish you could. But what if contentment is, "but I'm walking with God, and I know he's pleased with me." Wow, there's a unique thought, which seems to be eternal in its very nature.
God bless you, friend. Thanks so much for joining me on today's weekday podcast.
Message from Chuck Allen on January 24, 2024
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