How do you deal with sinful discontentment? Are you ambivalent, not caring one way or the other? Do you even view it as a sin? Are you willing to seek ways to kill discontentment in your life?

In my last post in this series, we began to deal with sinful discontentment. Today, I will offer a few ways we can kill sinful discontentment in our lives. As well as I will provide you with some specific scriptures to memorize and questions to ask yourself. Let’s get started by asking the question:

How Do We Deal with Sinful Discontentment?

We can deal with sinful discontentment through:

• Prayer – We have to ask God, through the work of the Holy Spirit, to reveal to us areas in which we are discontent. As well as we have to ask Him, through the work of the Holy Spirit, to cause us to trust in His wisdom and sovereign plan.

• Scripture Meditation and Memory – We need to meditate on and memorize specific scriptures, so that we can educate and remind ourselves that we should not be dissatisfied with our circumstances, finances, and possessions.

• Acceptance and Trust – We must accept our circumstances, our finances and possessions, trusting that God, in His unerring plan and love, knows what is best for us and has purposed what is best for us. When we trust and accept our position in life, we can then ask God to let us use whatever has happened to us for His glory.

• Purpose – We have to remember that our purpose in life is not for our glory. Our purpose in life is to bring God glory. Reminding ourselves our life is for God’s glory will help us to view and face even the most adverse circumstances with joy. The apostle Paul had this singular focus in life. It allowed him to rejoice while imprisoned and facing a trial that could lead to his execution (Phil. 1:12-26).

Scripture to Memorize

Hebrews 13:5-6; Luke 3:14; 12:15; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Philippians 4:10-13; Psalm 139:16

Questions for Reflection

1. In the past what have you done when you found yourself discontent? In other words, how did you work through the situation?
2. How might you handle the situation now?
3. Do you believe your purpose in life is to bring glory to God? How might viewing this as your purpose in life change how you look at your circumstances?
4. Can you think of any biblical examples of those whose sole purpose in life was to bring glory to God?

Resources

Post adapted from: Jerry Bridges, Respectable Sins, 71-77.

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