Have You Learned To Be Content?

The ways of the Kingdom are better than the opposite ways of man, and when it comes to the world of man, mind your own business and leave them to theirs.

Minister Monardo said:

Matthew 11:30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

This verse is often quoted out of context, particularly in regards to grace, and how
little is expected of us, because of Christ’s finished work on the Cross. Consider the
previous verses for context.

Matthew 11:
27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son
except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one
to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.


Everyone’s circumstances are different, but life has plenty of challenges offered that
enable us to learn from Christ. His yoke always brings the same results: a meek and
gentle spirit, and shalom. Notice that it has been granted to the Son to reveal the Father
to whomsoever He Wills. Who is He calling out to? Those who labor and are heavy laden.
Is the rest found in the removing of the burden, or the revealing of The Father?

Philippians 3:21 He will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His
glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all
things to Himself.

Consider another popular, oft-quoted verse.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Sounds like something you might hear from a motivational speaker, or read on the wall
of a sports locker room. Context?
Philippians 4:
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am,
to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in
all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and
to suffer need.

Paul faced labors and was heavy laden, and in the midst of those challenges, he found
rest for his soul. This is learning from Christ to be content.
1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

Are you looking for the Lord to take you to the next level? Find contentment where
you are now, or you aren't going anywhere. Are you seeking the Father's Will?

John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’
Therefore everyone who has heard and learned of the Father comes to Me.

Matthew 9:13 Now go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’
For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

Click to expand...

Since you're bringing up verses taken out of context, I'd like to add one:

Prov. 23:7 "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..."

This is often misquoted: "As a man thinketh in is heart, so is he."

The misquote radically changes the context of Prov. 23:7. The "he" in the verse is a certain man who is a deceiver, according to the context of the verse. It is not the generic "any man" as the misquote indicates.

Even Christians often think bad thoughts and struggle with sinful ideas. This does not make the Christian a sinner. I contend that the statement "as a man thinketh in is heart, so is he" is a false idea. What a person thinks does not make that person. What a person does is what makes that person, according to scripture. God will judge every man according to what they do, not what they think.

Proverbs also says that a fool speaks whatever he thinks. So thinking something foolish does not make a person a fool. Rather, it is blurting out whatever foolish thought comes to mind - that's what makes a person a fool. Restraint of thoughts (or lack of restraint) is what reveals the character of a person, whether they be wise or foolish.

It's the same with so-called "negative" thoughts. Christians have "negative" thoughts all the time. Misquoting a verse from the Bible to make people afraid of "negative" thoughts does not improve the maturity of any Christian. "Negative" thoughts can actually be a good thing, if it is used to motivate right living.

Obviously, unbelievers have evil thoughts that they don't restrain, because they have little to no motive for doing so. But the point I am making is about Christians, not about unbelievers. And it's about correct interpretation of scripture. The fact that Phil. 4:8-10 exhorts believers to think right thoughts does not justify the misquote and misuse of Prov. 23:7.
TD

This thread title reminded me of Ecclesiastes 4:6 and Matthew 6:19-21.

Christ's yoke and burden is easy, one can make their earthly life difficult preoccupied with worldly treasures/worries/materialistic things. So much so, they will put them before heavenly things, even break the Lord's day habitually and eventually willingly and care free.