Psalm 119: Focus On God's Word Pt. 118 Contentment With Christ.

We are studying Psalm 119. This is the longest chapter in the entire Bible and it is the most "Word" oriented section of scripture.

Psalm 119 teaches us a tremendous amount of truth concerning the scriptures. The Psalmist shows how it applies to us, how it meets our needs and what God wants to do in our hearts with His Word. 

The first part of this text taught us about having our hearts turned to God's truth, by asking Jehovah to incline us. 

This post explores what we are being turned away from and this is very important for us.

Hearts turned away from being covetous.

Psalm 119:36  Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. 

 "Covetousness" means having an inappropriate desire for worldly things. We struggle with a desire to have more than what God has allowed us to have, in the course of His providential care of us. 

We may desire temporal, good things needed for this life, because we live in an earthly tabernacle of clay that needs certain things in order to survive. There are times when God does allow us to seek such things in moderation. 

It is when the desire of worldly things rages out of control in us, that we have a great problem in our soul. 

The love of money leads to evil actions.

1 Timothy 6:9,10  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10)  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

Notice how the scripture describes unchecked covetousness. It says that they who seek to be rich are subject to Satan's temptations and get trapped in his snares.

It does not condemn those who are wealthy but does warn against those who want to become rich. Many believers have sought wealth beyond what God has allotted for them, and this leads to a life of misery and independence from God. 

Proverbs 15:27  He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. 

King Solomon was the wisest person in history and he also enjoyed a great abundance of wealth. Yet, he said it is all vanity or emptiness (Read Ecclesiastes). 

In this text, the king simply says that those who are greedy because they want more money, more material things, more property, will trouble their own homes. 

The word "greedy" is like being a soldier after battle, running out to spoil the fallen enemy troops, eagerly taking their valuables. It is like a vulture with a voracious appetite, swiftly swooping down to eat a dead animal.   

The word "troubleth" means causing agitation within the home, a disturbance to its tranquil state.

God is warning us that becoming obsessed with gaining more wealth, will cause heartache and sorrow. 

Ecclesiastes 5:10  He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 

When we allow a love for money to shape our ambitions, we will never be satisfied with what we have. We will always want more and more. This is vanity, something that lasts only for a brief time. 

Contentment crowds out covetousness.

Proverbs 30:8,9  Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9)  Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. 

King Solomon's prayer is a good one for us to follow. He asked God to remove the vain things of the world away from him. 

Rather, we should pray for a middle ground where our basic needs of food, clothing and shelter are met. Pray not to be in poverty because we might be poor and tempted to steal. 

Seek not riches because in the abundance of wealth, we are full and become independent of Jehovah. We deny Him by living for self and wealth. 

Psalm 62:10  Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them. 

If God allows us to prosper, we are warned that we must not set our eyes nor let our affection focus on the wealth we have. 

Solomon warned about not being content.

Ecclesiastes 4:7,8  Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8)  There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. 

See how the rich man in this text is so focused upon gaining more wealth, that he neglects his family duties. He never stops working and trying to become wealthier. 

Achan was covetous and he lost his life.

Joshua 7:20-21  And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: 21)  When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. 

Achan's sin was the sin of covetousness. He saw the spoils of war that God specifically told them to destroy. He acted on what he saw, by taking gold, silver and a Babylonian garment and he tried to cover up his sin.  God exposed the sin and Achan was stoned to death. 

Gehazi coveted and was judged with leprosy. 

2 Kings 5:20  But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.

Gehazi was a servant to the prophet Elisha. After Elisha healed the Syrian captain Naaman of his leprosy, the solider offered riches to Elisha, but he refused them. Gehazi's heart was covetous and he ran after Naaman to take some things from him. 

Elisha knew what his servant did and commanded the leprosy of Naaman to fall on Gehazi.

Ananias and his wife Saphira, sold some property and held back some of the money for themselves. When they gave the proceeds of the sale to Peter, they both lied and died for their sin (Acts 5:1-11). 

Wicked king Ahab coveted the vineyard of Naboth and his vile wife Jezebel, found false witnesses and had Naboth executed, so that Ahab could take the property (1 Kings 21:1-19). God sent his prophet to pronounce judgement upon wicked Ahab and Jezebel. 

The believer's goal? Godly living and contentment. 

1 Timothy 6:6-8  But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7)  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8)  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 

Here is the vital lesson that the Psalmist is teaching us. Godliness with contentment is the greatest gain. 

In other words, seek first the kingdom of God and trust our Lord to provide those things that He said He would. 

All the wealth and property that we can ever accumulate will be left behind for someone else. Ultimately, it will all burn in the day of judgment. 

Therefore, having our basic needs met, let believers be content. 

Bob