Replacing Ungratefulness, Covetousness and Discontment with Gratitude and Contentment

Put Off-Ungratefulness, Covetousness and Discontentment

Romans 1:21  Because although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Luke 12:15 ]And he said to them "take heed and beware of covetousness, for ones life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses."

Put On-Gratitude and Contentment

Colossians 3:15-17

15.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

16.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms an hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conduct be without covetousness:  be content with such things as you have.  For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

I Timothy 6:8  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

I tend to forget that I have everything I need.  I live in a house that I wish I had more rooms and that they were larger.  I should be content that I have a roof over my head.  Instead of complaining about all the work that needs to be done in the house, I can do whatever I am capable of, such as painting and minor repairs.  For the more expensive jobs, God will provide for me when the time comes.

I have plenty of clothes to wear, so I should be content with that and not be content if I don't have designer brands.

When I open the refrigerator, I should be content that I have food to eat.  I should not be discontent if I don't have the money to eat in a restaurant.

I need to remember, on a daily basis, all that God has done for me.  With his sending Jesus-His Son-to live as a human and to die on the cross for my sins-I have no excuse not to be discontent.

The best way to show gratitude is to wake up and pray to God.  I believe Psalm 101 is an excellent way to show gratitude.  I should make it part of my every day prayer routine.

1. Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
3 Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
4 Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
5 Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
6 O seed of Abraham His servant,
You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!

7 He is the Lord our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.
8 He remembers His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
9 The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac,
10 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel as an everlasting covenant,
11 Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
As the allotment of your inheritance,”
12 When they were few in number,
Indeed very few, and strangers in it.

13 When they went from one nation to another,
From one kingdom to another people,
14 He permitted no one to do them wrong;
Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,
15 Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.”

16 Moreover He called for a famine in the land;
He destroyed all the provision of bread.
17 He sent a man before them—
Joseph—who was sold as a slave.
18 They hurt his feet with fetters,
[a]He was laid in irons.
19 Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the Lord tested him.
20 The king sent and released him,
The ruler of the people let him go free.
21 He made him lord of his house,
And ruler of all his possessions,
22 To [b]bind his princes at his pleasure,
And teach his elders wisdom.

23 Israel also came into Egypt,
And Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.
24 He increased His people greatly,
And made them stronger than their enemies.
25 He turned their heart to hate His people,
To deal craftily with His servants.

26 He sent Moses His servant,
And Aaron whom He had chosen.
27 They performed His signs among them,
And wonders in the land of Ham.
28 He sent darkness, and made it dark;
And they did not rebel against His word.
29 He turned their waters into blood,
And killed their fish.
30 Their land abounded with frogs,
Even in the chambers of their kings.
31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
And lice in all their territory.
32 He gave them hail for rain,
And flaming fire in their land.
33 He struck their vines also, and their fig trees,
And splintered the trees of their territory.
34 He spoke, and locusts came,
Young locusts without number,
35 And ate up all the vegetation in their land,
And devoured the fruit of their ground.
36 He also [c]destroyed all the firstborn in their land,
The first of all their strength.

37 He also brought them out with silver and gold,
And there was none feeble among His tribes.
38 Egypt was glad when they departed,
For the fear of them had fallen upon them.
39 He spread a cloud for a covering,
And fire to give light in the night.
40 The people asked, and He brought quail,
And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
It ran in the dry places like a river.

42 For He remembered His holy promise,
And Abraham His servant.
43 He brought out His people with joy,
His chosen ones with [d]gladness.
44 He gave them the lands of the [e]Gentiles,
And they inherited the labor of the nations,
45 That they might observe His statutes
And keep His laws.

[f]Praise the Lord!