10: Part 10 - 'True Contentment'

This Sunday, Rob Lea brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC Online services. Once you have watched the video, we encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.

To listen to the talk click here.

Readings:

Exodus chapter 20 verse 17

You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.

Philippians chapter 4 verses 12b to 13

‘I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.’

Ecclesiastes chapter 12 verse 13
 

‘Now all as been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of every human being.’  

Prayer & Reflection

Lord God you are our creator and as such we thank you for your commandments which we acknowledge to be absolute and in our best interest. However, although they give us the best possible guidance for how to live in a right relationship with you, we confess that there have been times when we have broken your guidelines – please forgive us. 
Lord God we recognise that in thirsting for contentment, we often drink from the wrong sources. The bible tells us that Jesus once sat by a well with a woman and told her he was the one who could give living water that would cause anyone who drank it never to thirst again. We crave to have the true contentment that was described by the apostle Paul, and so we ask that Holy Spirit you would guide us into a deeper and deeper relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ; and we ask all of these things in his name.
 
AMEN

Questions to Consider:

1. Have you ever obsessively craved something – money, power, fame/status, a relationship, or something else? What were the circumstances?
2. Do you agree that the 10^th commandment seems to be the easiest to live with, the least difficult? If yes, why do think that is the case?
3. It’s been said that ‘not all desires are wrong’. Do you agree with that? If so, what desires are good and positive?
4. In the book of Ecclesiastes 6:9 (GNB) it states that, ‘It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else.’ Do you agree with that? If yes, then how would you respond to the claim that the human race would never have progressed ‘out of caves’ if it had been satisfied with what it had?
5. Do you agree that advertising is largely responsible for people being dissatisfied with what they have? If yes, can you give some examples? If no, then what is?
6. In the book of Philippians 4:12b-13, the apostle Paul claims that he is always content whatever the circumstances. Can you explain how this can be true?
7. What are you currently doing to build a deeper relationship with Jesus? What more could you do? What more will you do?
8. What three things have you taken away from this series?