The Spirit of Discontentment and Financial Need

[changedman]

I just prayed about this last night and actually asked God "when is my turn".  This post is almost exactly the type of answer I'd expect God to give.

I went into a DEEP depression last night because coming up with the money ON MY OWN to successfully produce a play AND a CD (or either of the two) is taking so much more money, effort, or time that I have to offer in my current state. 

I told God that I was thankful for a job, talents that make me extra money on the side, FOOD TO EAT, a car to drive, and all that.  But I have watched my peers (some who are much younger than me) have a dream and seek after it, only to end up VERY successful at what they set out to do.  I told him that it was getting hard to be PROUD or SUPPORTIVE of them and that the seeds of jealousy had been planted in my heart because they are doing what I would love TO BE doing and honestly feel I was called to do.  I told him that I was not angry, but extremely disappointed in the way certain scenes of my life had played out.

Even when I went to sleep last night, there was no specific "answer" to all that I had asked.

But...through this post, I can hear Him saying "Dude...until you can have joy and happiness with what you've already got...why are we having this conversation?"

I stand convicted.

[SisterT]

But...through this post, I can hear Him saying "Dude...until you can have joy and happiness with what you've already got...why are we having this conversation?"

I stand convicted.

Praise God.

[Redy2bUsed]

The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, The new was written in greek. IWhen I study I usually do a word study from the original text, because remember, the Bible is translated.

I have already stated what the difference in the two words were.

.....ok

[themidiroom]

.....ok

just ok?   

[Redy2bUsed]

just ok?   

hahahaha!!!!

I find that sometimes its
best, to just leave it alone.

[changedman]

hahahaha!!!!

I find that sometimes its
best, to just leave it alone.

So I wasn't the only one who learned that lesson yesterday!?  Aw ferretts!!!!!!

[Mysteryman]

The Lord will bless us with the desires of our heart but many of us are just plain greedy. The Lord has given some people a dominion and yet they are still not content. The Lord will bring you to a place where you can benefit by helping others. At the time when we could be a blessing we are looking for ways to consume more lusts.

You play to the Lord for a nice paid off house in a good and safe neighborhood with excellent schools. He blesses you with that. You are now in a stable environment where you can get involved in community and ministry without distraction. We cant settle for that so we've got to go out and get more. Now you are in a state where you have another note and can barely manage your time so you can pay the bills.

I think in what ever you do to seek more the final goal should be to bless people.


I feel if you are satisfied at where you are then there is nothing wrong with that. When it comes to spiritual things that's a different story. ie Self improvement or wanting more of the things of God. Even with that you have to be careful of covetousness.

[changedman]

Satisfied?  Not really.  But content ONLY because the Word says I have to be.

[chevonee]

Thank you guys so much for sharing this, it is food to my soul.

[Lildrummaboy66]

Hello saints.

I am responsible now, I realize, to share what GOD tells me to share to His People. So real short, GOD spoke to me and revealed to me one of the secrets of prosperity.

This is what GOD told me.

"One of the secrets to prosperity is being content."

The Bible says that Paul received an offering from the Philippians, and he rejoiced . . .  but not because he was in need. Why wasn't he in need? Because he had learned, whatever his situation, to be content.

I realized that much credit card debt, consumer debt, and foolish spending comes from a spirit of discontentment. Not being content with what you have. Not content with just a cell phone, but a cell phone with a camera, one that can play music, etc. Next year a new one will come out, and even though there is nothing at all wrong with the one we have, we will get the latest model. 

Not being content with your job, so you don't excel. No excellence, no promotion for a saint . . . because we don't lie, cheat or sleep our way to a promotion.

Not content with your ministry, so you don't excel and train others. You don't train others to help you, you can't get promoted yourself because you are doing everything yourself. Not content with the church we go to, so we run around giving money / time / talents to every one when if we had been stable at one place, that ministry would be so much more of a blessing to everyone.

Churches aren't content with the musician they have, so they spend bigger bucks to bring in a hireling who is playing for money and, by the way, will leave as soon as the church down the street waves fifty more dollars under his / her nose. Meanwhile, the current musician who is working like crazy (and getting resentful too, by the way) can sense the spirit of discontentment . . . so instead of growing in their own anointing, they spend money on CD's trying to play the latest songs. 

The Bible is true. Godliness with contentment is great gain.

Be Blessed, everyone

BBoy

Thanks for the word bro- much needed!!!

[Churching]

Bboy I thank God for your message.  You are right on point.  You are absolutely correct learning to be content iin our current state is crucial.  Amen, Amen and Amen God bless you!!!!!

[BBoy]

Maybe when GOD gives me something I should just state it and then leave it alone.

But to the comments earlier, I can see confusion, so let me say this . . . .

The Bible says that we go from faith to faith, and from glory to glory. Of course GOD has more things to give you, to give all of us.

I was addressing the spirit of discontentment that causes people to charge things they can't afford and many times don't even need. We need to recognize that this is a spirit, because when we get that thing we aren't content with it either . . . and so the circle goes on.

It is a vicious trap, too . . . because many life skills are developped when you make use with what you have and thank GOD for it.

Not only do you have a testimony as to how GOD will bring you out and bless you with more, but you also know how to take care of what GOD gives you.

 

[Lady E]

No confusion here... got it the first time.

That was a good word, thanks for sharing!

[changedman]

Maybe when GOD gives me something I should just state it and then leave it alone.

To me, that's the biggest problem with a lot of ministers/conversationalists in today's society.  It's like....God gives you a word.  You sense in your spirit that when it is delivered, it will strike like thunder...so you give it and leave it alone.

But think about it....it's seldom during a thunderstorm (really reaching...but hope you get my point) that the rainbow (the seal of the promise) comes.  It's usually after the rain and thunder have COMPLETED THEIR WORK.

My point?  I am no philosophical genius, but the QUESTIONS that come AFTER the word is given (I'm sure) are only for deeper understanding.  Why is it that many of today's ministers can deliver a powerful, THUNDEROUS Word from God over the pulpit but never really remain available for questions, which is when the deeper level of understanding comes for most listeners? 

Sometimes Ministers (not saying you, Bboy, in particular) are afraid of the questioning phase IMO because it may force them to admit that it was a "recycled" word that they got from elsewhere...or that they weren't as prepared as they should have been when they delivered it (you had to be with me at Revival this week to know where I'm coming from).

But anyway, people asking what "content" means IMO is a way of saying "dude...you gave a GREAT word that really pricked my spirit...and I almost got it....but I need a little bit more".

I see it as evidence of a great work BEING done....not THAT HAS BEEN done.

Then again, who am I?

[bassthumpa]

My point?  I am no philosophical genius, but the QUESTIONS that come AFTER the word is given (I'm sure) are only for deeper understanding.  Why is it that many of today's ministers can deliver a powerful, THUNDEROUS Word from God over the pulpit but never really remain available for questions, which is when the deeper level of understanding comes for most listeners? 

I'm all for studying and understanding things in depth, but sometimes people let their desire to get "deep" mess them up.  Sometimes it's as simple as this... The Lord said it, it's his Word, and THAT'S IT.  It doesn't always have to be "deep".  We gotta descern when to take time to get in depth on things, and when we should just SHADDAP, SADDOWN, and take God at his Word, face value without questioning it.

[LaylaMonroe]

I'm all for studying and understanding things in depth, but sometimes people let their desire to get "deep" mess them up.  Sometimes it's as simple as this... The Lord said it, it's his Word, and THAT'S IT.  It doesn't always have to be "deep".  We gotta descern when to take time to get in depth on things, and when we should just SHADDAP, SADDOWN, and take God at his Word, face value without questioning it.

AMEN

[changedman]

To each his own.

[bassthumpa]

To each his own.

Let me put it this way... some people study further and ask legit questions in order to have a better understanding for themselves.  But some people want to have conversations and debates about the Word, and all their doing is poking holes and prodding at it with a bunch of "but what if"s and "but how can"s for the sake having a debate.  That's not getting deep, that's just questioning God's Word.

The latter is out of order, IMO.  And even with the first... yeah, get your understanding, that's Bible...

"Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth)...   Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding" Proverbs 4:5,7

...however, some things aren't gonna require a bible class to understand.  Some folks out there seem to need a breakdown of every little thing.

Not saying that was you, sorry if my first response seemed pointed your way, just making a point in general.

[changedman]

OK.  YOU WIN.  HE SOULD HAVE JUST DROPPED THE WORD AND SAID NOTHING FURTHER.

I never took it as though you were referring to me.

I just sensed "hesitation" (for lack of a better word) in what Bboy last posted and wanted to address it to "encourage" him in a sense.

However, I am not God and I can always be wrong.  Whoever was meant to get it got it and the rest can fend for themselves.

[brotee]

  Now that is what we should live by the gosple of the Kingdom.
Preach my brutha.

Philippians 4:11
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content