Chapel Messages
Monday, March 16, 2009
Dr. Jim BergGod Is More Than Enough ~ 1 Timothy 6:3-6
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Difficult times give us an opportunity to see the sufficiency of God’s working in our lives.
Dr. Berg was diagnosed with heart problems and had open-heart surgery approximately ten years ago. During his time of recovery he spent much time in God’s Word and learned a transforming lesson that added a new brilliance to his Christian life. He learned the truth that, “God is more than enough,” which is contentment. We bring glory to God when we are content with Who He is and what He has done for us. If you are discontented, you are on a path to anxiety, anger, despair and many other problems.
In 1 Timothy 6:3-6 we learn the excellency of contentment from Paul. Paul is telling us that true wealth is having a degree of godliness that is mature enough to produce contentment in our lives. The mark of godliness is not health and wealth but whether you’re content in whatever circumstances God places you. Until you’ve learned that truth, you’ve not learned true Christianity. Humility is the root of all grace; contentment is the aroma of all grace. Those who are content and godly have a welcoming aroma about them. Paul lived a life of contentment (Philippians 4:10-23). His contentment, even in prison, won people to Christ. How many people would come to Christ if we were contented believers?
The essence of Christian contentment is being satisfied with things and having a sweet, quiet inward spirit, not agitated and frustrated with our problems. Contented Christians freely submit to and delight in God the Father’s disposal in any situation – they are satisfied with things as they are – they know that “God is more than enough.” A contented Christian doesn’t use human logic – “I’ve done all I can; now I guess I’ll just have to be content.” Being content is not passive resignation. Being a contented Christian is surrendering to God while praying to Him to change the circumstances, if He pleases. Some people have a passive personality; they’re “laid back” – this is not a sign of Christian maturity. You submit yourself to God so He can do as He wishes. Contentment is having a settled heart no matter what comes.
There is a doctrinal foundation for Christian contentment. It is that God is more than enough – it is the sufficiency of God. It is inconceivable to the thoughtful, surrendered Christian that he should ever lack anything for his present happiness. He knows that if he’s thoughtful and surrendered, he doesn’t need anything more to be happy.
Psalm 23 – “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” You don’t need anything else but this Shepherd. Unless you know God as this kind of Shepherd, you will be angry, anxious, agitated or depressed. God’s goodness never fails. We have a Shepherd – the world does not – and He is more than enough for us. In Philippians 4:19 Paul says that God shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. That means that what we have is what we need. He promised to give us all we need – whatever you have is all you need. You need the illness and problems you’re experiencing today. How do we know that? Because that’s what you have.
To be discontent means you have abandoned a biblical view of God – you think you need something more. Discontent means you’ve abandoned a biblical response to God – you’ve abandoned that absolute surrender. Discontent is rooted in unbelief. You’re saying that God hasn’t provided everything you need and that God Himself is not everything you need – you need something more to be content. That is a lie of unbelief.
Can you be content because God is here? When someone says, “God is with you,” does that settle your soul? If it is no comfort to you when God says that He will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5), you don’t really know Who God is. Covetousness means that Who God is doesn’t satisfy you and what He has supplied does not satisfy you. We’ll only be ruined by our own covetousness, not by our circumstances – ever. We’re ruined by our own heart’s lust for more. Where there is the smoke of whining, complaining and bitterness, there is the fire of covetousness. The root of covetousness is unbelief. The opposite of unbelieving discontent is the gratefulness of a heart full of joy and peace because of God (Romans 15:13). When we’re discouraged, we need hope. Contentment is joy and peace.
One aspect of Christian liberty is walking through a mall and not wanting anything – you’re free from the covetousness. You have the freedom to not be envious of others. You have to know God well to be satisfied with Him. You have to know what He is like. He really is wise, and He really does love you. Nobody loves you like God loves you – He proved that at Calvary. To think that God doesn’t love you should be a blasphemy in your heart forever. He doesn’t need to prove Himself, but He proves that He loves us in many, many ways. He’s in control of all things; He “runs” all things. Because this kind of God is in control, you can be content. Everything He brought into your life today was providentially brought there. He approved it all because He knows that with Him, you can handle it. Any whining or complaining indicates that God is not in your picture. Like Paul, you can learn to be content.
Psalm 73:26 – “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.” That’s our hope, not in getting something more, unless it is more of our God. Our God is more than enough. Ask God to help you be contented, to the praise of His glorious Name.