The Virtue of Contentment / WK 3 / Day 3

Check Your Gauge!

You probably check the fuel gauge in your car every time you start the engine. It’s a habit…but, do you check your spiritual tank?

We certainly know what happens when we run out of gas in our car…

or when we fill up with bad gas…

failure to start, rough noisy ride, low mileage, unable to move forward.

Isn’t that what happens with our spiritual tank?

We “run out of fruit” – lack of joy, patience, peace, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and SELF-CONTROL.

When our “fuel level” is down, we see clear symptoms.

If we look at our second scripture study this week we can see that one of these symptoms is an anxious heart.

5 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

-Matthew 6:26-34

Most of us suffer from this symptom quite often.  Worry, fear, anxiety.  As if we have control over everyone & everything that happens to us. Not.

IF WE STOP FOR DAILY FUEL, WE WILL ALLEVIATE THE SYMPTOMS.

Priscilla Shirer shared this truth in her “SEEDS” study…

When going to the market, (during Jesus’ time on the earth) the cheapest purchase was a Sparrow.  In fact, they were so cheap that you could buy 2 for 1 and the shop keeper would often throw in a 3rd for FREE!

So, that 3rd sparrow had a value of zero.

BUT WE JUST READ…

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

Our God takes care of a sparrow that has zero value?

Did I read that right?

So, I guess He cares even more about me…He did DIE for me…for you…

for  US.

He is making this point so clear here…so “in your face” clear.

“Look, kids, I care about this little “worthless” bird…of course I care for YOU…my daughter…my son.”

Our God promises to take care of us…to provide all we need.  But, He is gentle and has great patience…He does not force us to LIVE  the full life He has promised us.

WE GET TO CHOOSE.

THE QUESTION IS…WHAT DO WE CHOOSE?

Choosing requires action…something we do.

Getting the FUEL we need…

FUEL STATIONS BELOW

…talk to God in prayer, listen, have personal Bible study time, sit under biblical preaching and teaching, “fellowship” with biblically-based authors and friends by reading sound theology and discussing the Bible with others…pray continually

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” -Matthew 6:33

BEFORE WE DRIVE, WE HAVE TO “FILL’ER UP!”

Then…”all these THINGS (the very “things” that cause us to be anxious and fearful) will be added to you.”

AN ANXIOUS HEART LACKS CONTENTMENT.

Spend some time asking the Lord what “things” you are anxious or fearful about…listen to what the Holy Spirit teaches you.

Take whatever ACTION the Lord is requiring for you to take

AND

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR FUEL LEVEL.

FILL’ER UP!

(make sure you get good gas)

in Him,